Little Gymnast

winter sport?  gymnastics!

With super large tramplines, balance beams, monkey bars, an obstacle course, a giant foam pit, and a cool coach - gymnastics proved FABULOUS.  Ainsley adored it.  We were very impressed.  This gym is set up like a reverse fish-bowl - with the middle carved out and surrounded by plexi-glass for parents to watch their kids through.  We are fans! (Perhaps we'll have to do gymnastics again next school year.)

Ains on the far left, learning tricks on the tampoline!

her personal favorite thing

'tuck' - she also learned 'pike' and 'split legs' on these bars

that's Ains about to jump in the giant foam pit from the balance beam!

Ainsley's favorite thing was the monkey bars.  Her personal goal was to cross the bars all by herself.  No matter how often she fell, she insisted on clamboring back up to the platform to try again without help.  She has asked on many occasions to get monkey bars at home so that she could practice.  Finally, on the last day, she did it!  Video below.  (check out her face!)

A Moment To Think: Daybook ~ in March

Outside my window...
Windy.  Today reached near 70 degrees. Spring is here!  Got a few prolific weeds pulled today after school. (so satisfying)

I am thankful for...
This feeling of being able to breathe - it's been so incredibly busy around here lately.  It's nice to get my head above water again and look around.
my sweetest snuggly monkey girl
family
dreams coming true
good friends. such good friends.

I am thinking about...
plans.
actually, to be honest, my head oscillates between spinning wildly in 10 different directions and simply turning off.  The School Musical, ballet class, literacy committee, kindergarten, professional development needs to happen, laundry, cleaning...

I'm looking forward to visits from some dear people!  Susan Petterson and her husband (yeah!) arrive this weekend and Auntie Rachel and Nathaniel shortly after that. 

Learning all the time...
Me - at this moment, brushing up on how to teach the comprehension strategy of "asking questions" to kindergartners.  And learning about Common Core Standards, and best practices in literacy - and gathering more and more information for our committee work.  Also learning to be a cell-phone girl.  honey - am I getting better?

Ains - she can do buttons!  She's learning how to ride her training wheeler and is really focused on learning how to cross the monkey bars.  She asks to practice often. She has asked us twice now for monkey bars in the house so that she can practice more. :) hm.

From the kitchen...
Tonight - DELICIOUS if I do say so myself!  (and I do!) - baked salmon with fresh garlic, salt and pepper.  Roasted baby dutch gold potatoes - with butter, rosemary, a few spices.  Still smells good in here.  Even made banana bread last weekend. I'm on a roll!  (oh, I won't mention that we had bowls of cold cereal for dinner the other night.  whoops!)

I am creating...
ideas

I am working on...
getting to bed earlier.  Why is it that this goal seems to crop up again and again for young mothers??? Why am I sitting here typing instead of crawling into bed?

I am going...
to meet Posy-Pie soon!  I can. not. WAIT. Ains and I are going to have a blast of a trip.  I hope the airplane is everything she hopes it will be.

I am hoping...
to keep my head above water for a bit. And to get this darn dog hair OUT of my house!
I am reading...
The Dancer Within - Rose Eichenbaum

Actually quite compelling and a fun read!  Rose is a known photographer of dancers, and she interviews many dancers (ballet, tap, jazz, Broadway, modern...) who were once in the lime-light (some still are), setting their interview alongside an insightful photo.  Good reading for my dancer-heart.

I am praying for...
good health. long life.

I am hearing...
nothing. now, that's nice!

Around the house...
well - it got a good cleaning awhile ago for the birthday party.  In need of another one now.  Toy bins need serious organizing. Laundry waiting.  bday presents need a new home. dog hair everywhere. i'd better stop before I freak out. Tonight, I rest.

One of my favorite things...
The wit and candor of preschoolers. Especially mine.

A few plans for the rest of the week... (er... the next week)
groceries on the way home tomorrow, burgers from Tunnicliffs for dinner!
Susan and Wayne arrive Saturday
last gymnastics class (Ains pouted... maybe we'll have to sign up again sometime)
see "around the house" comment
a dance class for me
Rachel arrives
school and all of its accouterments

A picture thought I'm sharing with you...
      ~our monkey princess

Birthday Bash

She's 4. 

She's FOUR YEARS OLD!!!  How did that happen???  Our angel-girl is a full-fledged pre-schooler with the wits, personality, curiosity, and bravada of one.  Enjoy her PRINCESS PARTY pics!

prepping box-recipe cupcakes for school

 

school cupcakes

birthday morning! (the balloons were the bigger hit at first)

birthday at school - mommy just walked down the hall to my party! :)

blessing before the snack (yes, those nails are blue... apparently little girls remember when their mommies promise they can have their nails painted for their 4th birthday...)

Ainsley and her BFF - reading side by side after the cupcakes

that night -- boxes from the mail!

she could not tear into this one fast enough - and has worn it 98% of the time since.  It's her favorite.  Thank you, Auntie Sawah!

she demanded to wear this that very night proclaiming: "I LOVE these pants!" Thank you, Dasha & Papa Jack!

wearing one of her new princess dresses while testing the twirl factor on her new pink skirt - THANK YOU, NANA!

birthday night treat

Mom's creative masterpiece! 

 After slaving over this cake (completely from scratch: cake, frosting, the works) - my own creation inspired by pics I found on google. Ains promptly declared: "Well, I don't like the way it looks. But I love the princesses on top."  I wish I had a photo, however, of her leading her gaggle of friends to the cake every time the door rang with a new party guest "Come see my princess cake!" They stared at it in appropriate awe and wonder.  Each and every time.  Satisfaction!

can't miss ANY of that chocolate!

 We made princess wands (how did I miss getting a photo of THAT mess!?) andn the kids took over the house.  What a fantastic crowd of friends!  Kids and parents alike.  It made for a great afternoon!

 

the cake moment:

 

4 year old milestones:

• nails painted at a "salon"
• is allowed to chew gum (her favorite part of being 4)
• can dress herself (mostly)
• first bike
• chooses her own breakfast
• hilarious