Friday, May 31, 2013

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama, {this moment} is a single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Dance concert!

Cadence has completed her first year of an extracurricular activity, since she finished up her year of Creative Movement class (an introduction to ballet and basic dance technique).  I didn't know what to do when 4:30 rolled around on Monday afternoon and we weren't headed to the dance studio.  She loved it, especially being a part of the huge dance concert that included all the "big kids".
Ready to dance!  She's practicing one of the steps
She had to work hard to remember all her steps and even then she didn't get all of them on stage.  But we were very proud that she didn't get flustered or upset when she missed something, she just listened to the music and looked at her classmates and got back on track.  And kept smiling!


Before the concert with some buddies in the studio/dressing room
She had 3 of her grandparents here for this, so that was pretty exciting too.  Plus, since the show was in the theater at daddy's school and included the aforementioned "big kids" from daddy's school, many of our friends and daddy's co-workers have been affirming her performance. It was adorable.  I think the girls in her class almost could have just stood on the stage with their cute costumes on and still would have gotten applause.
Cadence and Dassa

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She was really tired when it was all over.  Two concerts and a dress rehearsal is a grueling schedule for a 4 year old!  I can only imagine in a few years when she wants to do ballet, and tap, and cirque.  And play t-ball too.  Yikes. (We won't really let her do all those activities.  Two, maybe.)


This Saturday is her end-of-the-year program at preschool.  Once that's done, summer can really begin!


Sunday, May 19, 2013

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama, {this moment} is a single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.




Monday, May 13, 2013

Sunday, May 12, 2013

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama, {this moment} is a single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


Thursday, May 09, 2013

Cadence is 4 and a half!

It's hard to believe that in a few short months, Cadence will be five.  This kid.  She is so insightful, and curious, and has the memory of an elephant, and can't seem to stop talking.  Even in her sleep.
She's come up hard against the fact that things aren't ever going to totally go her way and it's out of her control to do anything about it.  One of her frequent prayers is that God will make something she doesn't like end or go away.  Like, "...and please make no more leaving before our friends."  Or "...and make no more clean-up.  Amen."

She is very excited about her first dance concert next weekend and about going to a new school next year (though she is worried about the friends from her current school she won't see anymore).  

Here's her current faves - 
favorite book: "my Cinderella book"
favorite song: abc song
favorite animal: ponies
favorite color: pink
favorite toy: princess kitten
favorite game: soccer ball
favorite TV show: Dinosaur Train
favorite dessert: ice cream

Friday, May 03, 2013

Playing Beauty Shop

As a children's librarian, I could go on too much about all the benefits young children gain from reading good books.  I can throw out terms like phonemic awareness and print motivation.  So, I've been surprised at how suprised I am at a book-inspired game Cadence has been playing the last few days.  I forgot that one of the things that happens when kids read great books is that they learn about the world and are inspired to test out and play with what they've learned.

We got this book at the library this week:


And now, for the last three days, Cadence has been playing beauty shop.  She even painted my toenails.  (Not well.  I fixed 'em up later.)

Here she is painting Hip the Hippo's toenails.  

Her desk at the shop Thursday afternoon.  See the pretend phone?  She answers it for appointments.  "Beauty Shop Hotline."  And she has the library book for her clients to look at.  To decide what they need done.

This was Wednesday when the shop was in Piper's room.  She's got the book again.  And as long as they don't get a hold of my real make-up, like Piper did yesterday while I was getting lunch ready, it buys me a lot of time to fold laundry.  Fun for them, good for me.  Thanks, Rosemary Wells.  

Thursday, May 02, 2013

first day - May




Modern dance time.




Dinner time.  Are we surprised several of these pics are of food?  No, we are not.