Rock Star Ballerina

Except for a brief "girlie phase", Paige has spent most of her life adamantly declaring that she will grow up to be a rock star. There is not much to make us doubt this proclamation, since her attitude, clothing choices, and penchant for singing loudly off-key all fit the rock star description! However, a new love is slowly growing: ballet.

She fought the ballet lessons with everything in her at first. But after explaining that NO SCHOOL in town will give her jazz lessons (what she really wants) without at least a year of ballet, she finally gave in. And though she may not declare it loudly, she loves it! For the hour she is there, she is transformed into a (semi)graceful creature who walks with her shoulders back and her toes pointed. She is one who holds her arms lightly at her sides, who gladly dons the long-sleeved black leotard and pink tights.

When her hour is over, she immediately returns to a jeans-and-Converse wearing tomboy who can burp and fart with the best of them. However, I've seen a few glimpses that the ballet lessons are having an impact on her. When she is putting on her pants, she points her toes daintily as she pulls them on. Sometimes when she is standing in her socks, she places one foot behind her on tiptoe. She's letting me pull her hair into a ponytail instead of having it hanging in her face all day.

Whether ballet will continue to grow into a full-fledged passion remains to be seen. For now, I'm treating it like a butterfly in your hand: Don't breathe on it and make no sudden movements. I feel like if I point out the things I'm noticing, she might make a beeline back to the land of electric guitars and ratty clothes. I guess if she really wants to be a rock star, that will have to be the dream that wins. But Mommy's dream is for a graceful ballerina. Oh, how we live vicariously through our children! Either way, she is adorable!

Paige's dilemma: To be a dancer....


Or a rock star?

Time Flies....

Yesterday, I was reminded by two different people that I haven't updated my blog in over a month. It hardly seems like a week, much less a month! But, we have been rather busy....
Paige began taking ballet lessons the last week of August. For those of you who know her, she is about as far away from a graceful, demure ballerina as you can get! The first week of class she flatly refused to go inside the room, no matter how much pleading, convincing or downright bribing we tried. We finally just sat and watched, and then we watched the "big girls" dance too. Now she is loving her class, and even made me go buy her a flower for her hair so she'd look prettier while she danced. I'm counting on ballet lessons to make her more of a girl! :)

Garrett has been absorbing every minute of second grade. I get daily reports on each activity they did in class! We were very proud of him because he had 3 pieces of artwork displayed at the New Mexico State Fair in the School Arts section. He's quite the little artist! We also watched The Karate Kid with him, and now he's considering karate lessons. However, in true Garrett style, he wants to wait awhile to think about it before he makes up his mind. Meanwhile, he's happy digging elaborate tunnels in our not-yet-landscaped backyard and building his Lego creations.

A few weeks ago, we decided to take our first family camping trip. The kids have been motorhome camping with my parents several times, but we've never gone as a family, and never in a tent. So, we pulled together all our almost-forgotten camping gear and headed up to the Pecos for a one night trial campout. It was a huge success! The weather was fantastic, the kids absolutely loved it, and the tent wasn't too bad either. It would have been a little more comfortable if we'd remembered pillows, but our rolled up sweatshirts weren't too bad as substitutes.

Since we were out in the woods, Dave "borrowed" a BB gun for Garrett to try out, since he really, really, really wants one for his birthday. (A hint we hear about 10 times a week!) Dave had told him he wouldn't get one until he turns 8, because that is the youngest a child can be to take the gun safety course at the shooting range. So Garrett has been counting down the days 'till he turns 8. Dave secretly bought him one for the trip, but told him it was just something we borrowed. (Sshhh! Don't tell Garrett - he still thinks we gave it back!) We all had a great time trying to hit the target and knock Coke cans off the stump. Annie Oakley has nothing to worry about with me -I apparently need to try NOT to hit the target before I can actually hit anything. Garrett was a fairly good shot, and even Paige got in on the action! We had a fantastic time, and plan on going camping again when we can.

Here's some pictures from our adventure....

Paige took her turn trying out the BB gun -and did quite well too!


Garrett lines up his shot



A beautiful way to start the day!

And a little bit cold for the start of the day too!

What's camping without s'mores?