August 19, 2009

Sweet sisters before dance class. Can you believe that humidity caused this gauzy effect? It is miserable here.

Kate is undaunted by big kids. I have no idea what the girl in the butterfly shirt was thinking about, she followed Kate, tried to hug her, and then sort of started in with an indian burn -- the teachers and I intervened and Kate moved on without any comment on the situation.

Such a flexible Grace.

A suspended Suki.

Kate ran down the hall and into the princess room (you knew there had to be one at this place, right?). I found her very interested in this carton of goldfish snacks.

Seniorita Subtle makes off with the box, in her lumberingly casual fashion.

Arabesqueing.

Jumping!

Kate's hair is a little Seussian today.

Listening to the instructor.

Suki's favorite thing is running around the room.

Do you see how she doesn't have a single foot on the floor? She is propelled by enthusiasm.

Duck feet, or as the ballerinas call it, first position.

More running!

Jumping over the little pillows.

Grace was a little tired this morning and needed a some cuddle time. And if you know Grace, you know that means the fatigue is serious.

Music box time.

Some distracted jumping. Suki is mesmerized by the mirror.

Putting the tiaras away.

Why the smile? Because she put the tiara on me!

Polly prissy pants :)

Reading.

Miss Lori lifts Suki from her perch.

Kate's walking has come such a long way since we started this class -- it's amazing what she can do at the studio now, even moving up and down a small step.

I asked Grace and Suki to stand near Kate and give her a hug at the end of class.

This is how it wound up.

The lollipop girls make their way down the sidewalk to the grocery store.

In a surprising amount of forethought and delayed pleasure, Grace decided to wait to enjoy her lollipop until after the grocery store so that she could hold the monkey she loves so much. It belongs at the store because that's where she enjoys it the most, I know that if I bought it for her it would probably turn into another animal on the heap before too long. But this way I can use it as leverage and she gets to look forward to it every time we go shopping.

Today I told the girls the tale of Old Milk Shoe. Once when we were living in Boston, David dropped a gallon container of milk while walking home. It hit the sidewalk and exploded, sending milk all over his shoe. He walked the rest of the way home with an empty container and soggy footwear. Grace wanted me to tell her the story three times, then she ran around reenacting it for her sisters. This is certainly not her best rendition but it was the one I managed to record:

My favorite part may be the end, when Kate has irritated Suki to -just- this side of a hearty wallop and so turns her attention to Grace's ducks, running out of the room to try to drive Grace up a wall.