Tiny dancers

Well, the whirlwind of dance recital is finally complete. It was a wonderful recital today, and I think my blood pressure has returned to normal. I volunteered to be a mother helper this year... possibly just a one-time gig. I think I'm just too selfish to do it again... I just wanted to focus on Chloe and her special time, but found myself distracted with other less-well-behaved girls in her class.

This year Chloe did tap, ballet, and tumbling. She really came out of her shell just at the right time, and blossomed on stage today. She remembered to smile and did her best performance I'd seen all year. She was so proud of herself, which was so great to watch. Even in tumbling, when other little girls got messed up, she was able to focus on her own thing and work around people in the wrong place. And, while she has been timid with cartwheels all year, she really went for it today. She did such a great job and I had so much fun watching her!

Lucy took a parent-toddler dance class this year since she wasn't 3 years old yet. She towered over all the other 2-year-olds all year long, and her advanced gross motor skills didn't help either. The other moms all thought she was older, but really she's just a very coordinated giant child. :) She wasn't very excited when I told her she didn't get to dance on the stage during the big show, so she got to pick through Chloe's old costumes. She wore last year's Alice in Wonderland costume today as she cheered on Chloe from the audience (as well as some dancing in the aisle, I hear).

So now recital is done, and we can relax for Mother's Day tomorrow. I'm planning to sleep in as late as possible, but from the excitement on Chloe's face at bedtime tonight, I think she may have other plans in store for me. But all I really want is to have a wonderful family day tomorrow... and maybe a day without any sister-fights! :)

Fun in the Car

I got a new car today, so most of our interesting moments revolved around travel today. Very fun for Chad and I, since we got a new Chevy Volt. This is new technology as it is mainly electric power with a gas generator. Chloe is quite intrigued by the novelty of plugging in my car. I initially was going to compare it to a toaster, but she quickly chimed in for me... "Just like Patty (the iPad)" Of course that would be her frame of reference. I'm so old. In my head I can picture her reading this in 10 years, thinking "What's so cool about an electric car?" But for us it is new and exciting and we feel really green. :)

So my first memorable moment of the day was driving home from the car dealership when Lucy's favorite song came on the radio... I'm ashamed to say her favorite song is "Bangarang". (hanging head sheepishly) So we had a little mobile dance party. I realized while watching her imitate me in the rear view mirror that she is going to think I'm an awful dancer in a few short years, but for now she thinks it is the thing to do to bite your lower lip, point your index finger, and awkwardly bop around. I'm going to enjoy being cool while I can.

Chloe was very excited about having a new car that is nice to the earth. But I dread the first time she rides with Chad driving. He hates back-seat driving and this car allows her to take it to a new extreme. It has a digital speed readout she can see from the backseat and she takes every opportunity to tell me anytime I'm going too fast. And it also has a little green ball that indicates whether you're efficiently using energy or not. If you accelerate or brake too fast, the ball rises/lowers and turns color. As the traffic light in front of me turned yellow and I had to brake quickly, I heard an anguished squeal from the backseat... "Mom, you're hurting the Earth!" Uh oh. :)

10 minutes in the life of Chloe

You can really imagine what it's like in Chloe's head with this picture. And get a great snapshot of what a typical Andersen family afternoon is like! :)

Chloe's writing has really taken off. But here's the interpretation in case it is hard to read the scanned version:

I felt angry when I was playing with a black horse named Black Beauty. My sister took Black Beauty away from me. I was very angry. (And in the picture captions, Chloe is saying "Dad" and Lucy is saying "My horse"... exactly how a typical argument goes!)

I felt really mad. I ran right up to my room. I talked to my dog, stuffed animals and piggy and kiki and my iPod up to my room. (The caption says "Why"... that always makes me smile)

I played on my iPod a little bit. Then I felt better. Then I went downstairs. I felt very better. Then I asked Lucy if it was my turn and she said Yes. Then I hugged her. (Picture shows them hugging and saying "I love you")

As in real life... everyone ends up happy :)

Here goes nothing...

Hmm. Lots of pressure for the first post. I've been trying to make myself keep a journal or start a baby book or scrapbook or something, but it is time to accept that isn't going to happen with our current level of craziness in the Andersen house.

Today was a pretty typical day, except that our calendar actually didn't have a single thing on it! That almost never happens. But then we're faced with the daunting task of keeping everyone entertained and happy all day long. :)

Chloe filled up her chore magnet board last night, and chose breakfast in bed as her reward. She made her little order last night and gave it to Chad (our resident short-order cook) before bedtime. Sadly for him, she was so excited about it that she woke up at 5:30am ready for breakfast! And he dutifully got up and made her a wonderful breakfast... then came and laid back down while she watched cartoons. :)

Lucy is in the middle of potty training. It is finally going well... on our 5th attempt! She is a stubborn little thing, but I think we're getting close. All week long she's been running around the house with a bare bottom, but we've finally graduated to Dora panties. Hooray!!!

And Simon had a typical day, filled with lots of eating, smiles and giggles. Chad had out his photography set-up from a photo shoot yesterday, so we got some impromptu shots of Simon. I'll post some once I figure it out. :)