Lucy

SUNDAY. MARCH 7, 2011.  BUDDING BALLERINA
Well, after the difficult hip hop class (see post below), we were able to find a dance class for Lucy that was right up her ally!  In contrast to the first class, she fit right in- she even had on the right colors. :)  I tried out another rec center's dance class that looked more focused on ballet, and it was great!  Lucy showed up in the same little outfit, and blended exactly with all the other little girls in their tutus.  They were cute.  I thought she did a much better job too, at mimicking the teacher's steps and looking like a ballerina.  So, I think she'll have a lot of fun and it'll be a good beginner class.  Willie was a great support during Lucy's class, but at the end he was upset because we hadn't found him a class yet.  He's had to sit through two dance classes this week.  Unfortunately he's still too young for organized sports, there's just tumbling class for his age.  I'm not sure I want to pay for tumbling classes though, so he might be left out for a little while.  We'll see what we can find.

WEDNESDAY. MARCH 2, 2011. WHITE GIRL CAN'T DANCE
I was talking to the kids about different classes we could take at the rec center. The excitement that Lucy had to learn ballet took flight out of this world, without any aide or instigation. She was floating on a cloud for two days waiting for her dance class to begin. Well, we got to the rec center early because I wanted to make sure it was okay to sign her up for the 5-6 year old class even though technically she wasn't quite five. This was a combo dance class- teaching ballet, jazz, hip hop, etc. The time was approaching and I told the kids to get ready to go. With no prompting from me, Lucy runs upstairs and comes down in her pink leotard and pink ballet petal slip, with some velvet black shoes she has for church. She was ready. On the door of the classroom, the sign read the class didn't begin until half hour later than what we had read before. Also, it said ages 6 and up. Hmm, I thought. We went inside to find a family, mom and 3 kids, ages 10-16 I'd say. We start to talking with them and find out this class is ALL hip hop; the teacher is nice, but not the most effective in teaching style; and by the way, you'll be the only white girl here. :) Oh rats, I thought, I don't want to pay for this, but Lucy will be heart broken if we don't get to do it. I knew it wouldn't hurt to try things out at least. I wouldn't mind a little entertainment trying to watch Lucy do hiphop, so we waited. The instructor shows up and has this
welcoming, yet "are you for real" aire in her voice. She was more than happy to let Lucy try the class. The kids were all older, but there was one other little girl that came for her first class that night too. The next hour was quite comical to me. The two little girls hit it off, Lucy gets along with everyone you know. But it was more than obvious that Lucy had no rhythm, no skills, couldn't mimic very well- which quite the opposite of this other little girl. That girl, could dance! I politely left the rec center that night knowing I wouldn't be back, and knowing that my little white girl can't dance, but still, I couldn't help the smile on my face. She'll be a dancer...someday... :)

TUESDAY. JAN. 25. 2011  MOVING TIME
Right now I'm listening to Lucy and Willie play with their toys and, besides calling each other "Dad" and "Mom" which they do often, they've begun to play out our moving experience with their toys. Lucy just said, "Mom, can I watch a movie while the movers, I mean the builders, and working?" They have the routine down. ;) They watch movies while Mom or Dad tends to moving-related tasks. Such is life for a couple weeks- though this time around, it's been a drawn out process. But I supposed military life will have plenty of these times of our life.


SUNDAY. JAN. 23. 2011  JEEPERS!
There is so much to catch up on with your life Lucy. You have been learning things right and left (including, right and left) what a busy 4 year old you are! Just within the past few months you've learned to tie your shoes, floss your teeth, zip your jacket well. You've also decided you want to learn how to write all the alphabet. The cute thing is that you've decided you like fancy writing and will often add "curls" to the ends of the letters, of your name espeically. It kind of reminds me of a 3rd graders handwriting and I can't believe how quick you've been to learn how to write. You also have this thing where you like to draw a line first and then you write your words on the line. As probably all the paper we've used doesn't have any lines anyway, it's become a signature thing for you do to.
You have such an amazing imagination. Your imaginative play, espeically with Willie, could go on for hours! You really use your creativtiy to come up with solutions to problems. I love watching you tinker around espeically with things like ribbons and string or even pieces of fabric. You always use them to tie things together or make a new part of your dress up wardrobe or as a part of your backdrop to the princesses you currently have in action.
You and Willie play so well together. Hours, and I mean hours, you spend together in your shared room playing princess and prince. You fight the "Naturals" in their forest. You swim by the beach looking out for the Modo Shandu, oh "jeepers!" You and Willie crack me up how you're always in animated conversation to keep the story going, even if it means having to prompt the other what to say. I will admit that I get so tired of the high-pitched girl-voices you seem to think you need to voice while you're playing, but I usually can tune it out. It sounds the most weird when Willie does it. :)
You look forward to your birthday everyday. You just cannot wait to be 5- that's when you get to be a "grown girl." You and Willie both can accurately tell me who's birthday is next, and after that who's next, going through every birthday in the family. I spoil you guys with big parties and lots of pomp and circumstance around not only birthdays but all the holidays. It's lots of fun!
I love that you get so excited about our Scripture Power at night. You do a good job remembering the stories you learn as we study the gospel pictures together. One of your favorites has been the Good Samaritan and the story of the 10 Lepers. You also like seeing the pictures of Nephi and his family.
Cooking brings you lots of joy though I don't think I let you in the kitchen enough.
You got a bike- princess bike of course- for Christmas from "Sarah." You were not excited to ride it right away, but it took a few weeks for you to want to even try. You kept telling me when you turn 5, then you'll be able to ride a bike. It wasn't until I showed you the helmet, knee pads and elbow pads that you couldn't resist the chance to get ont he bike anymore. It's been some chilly hours out riding your bike, but that hasn't made you like it any less. You've loved riding your bike with Willie and Suriya and Sanvee too. You took a spill the first time you went out, but you did get back on and just keep getting better and better. I'm sure as the weather warms up, you'll be even more insistant on getting out to ride your bike.
You have a tender heart and never hesitate you say I love You, or to tell me when I'm yelling too much. Which I'm glad you're that way. You get sentimental over many things and adjustments come with work- Daddy going away to work, leaving friends and things. You are very excited about our new house. You often say you don't like our house now- the apartment in Windsor Shores- but you can't wait to have a house "like Grandmas. It's a good house." Fortuneately our new house has 2 pluses that have you excited- a purple door and a prominent staircase kind of like Grandmas. :)
Well, Lucy, this is your life on January 23rd, 2010. As it is easier to write on computer, I hope to update this blog for you, in journal fashion, and keep track of the events of your life while you are young. This is the first post on your blog, but I hope to write a few posts about your younger years in addition to keeping up on life as it continues to unfold and you continue to grow.
love you,
Mom