All Things...

Today has been one of those days. I woke up at 5:45, read my Bible, drank lots of coffee, woke/fed/and shuttled off kids to their various schools, ran to the store for 5 things including milk, came home to find that milk was leaking everywhere, got back in car to go exchange said milk, home again to do some minor chores, shower, go pick up Noah, take Noah to chik-fil-a for playdate, back home AGAIN to do more chores, get girls going on homework (ugh), and here I sit. I did all of this while feeling like my head is spinning. You see, yesterday during my *baby* classes, I learned a valuable lesson. When 3/4 year olds are hacking and drooling all over their hands and they then try to hold your hand.......RUN.FOR.THE.HILLS!!!!! Also, that Germx stuff......it DOESN'T work, which I proved by putting all over my hands at every opportunity only to come home with a headache, drainage, and congestion! So, I am sitting out on my back patio while Noah plays with his play-doh and I am not having one of those days where the birds are singing, the flowers are gorgeous, and all is well in my life. No, like everyone, I have my problems and issues. I was asking the Lord today to give me an encouraging verse, something I could claim and reflect on. This is the one he reminded me of:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

What I am struck by today is that he doesn't say in some things, he doesn't say in good things, he doesn't say in perfect things....he says in ALL THINGS he is working for GOOD. Today I have to persevere and choose to trust that he is working in the situations in my life and it is going to be for my good. Even when my nose is pouring and I am tempted to never teach 3 & 4 year olds again!!! ;)

Lord, grant me energy ( and patience)...

Being a ballet teacher requires lots of things. It requires ability, skill, a good understanding of technique ( which just because you took dance for 10 years doesn't mean you have), patience, and when dealing with young children, TONS and TONS of energy! I can usually be the peppiest of people, but Mondays are testing me big time. To start with, my classes are HUGE and let's just say that me and eighteen 3 & 4 year olds doesn't always go well. Here are some excerpts from this past Monday:

~ I always go in the studio early and take my time getting my shoes on and thinking through my class...oh who am I kidding...I pray, pace, breathe in and out and tell myself that it is just 4 hours!!! Anyway, I am sitting there in the CLOSED studio putting my tap shoes on and this dad barges in with his daughter and just stares at me " uh ..oh...she just wanted me to see her classroom". I nod and we just stare at each other and he very quietly backs up and closes the door behind him....AWKWARD!!!

~ I turn my back for one minute to put the music on and one *precious* little girl decides to be a monkey on the barres and when I run over to grab her off, I realize she has left scuff marks from her tap shoes ALL.OVER.THE.WALLS! Grumble grumble!!!!

~ Another *precious* one REFUSES to hold my hand in the circle. I have never in all my 18 years of teaching had someone NOT want to hold my hand. They usually fight to actually hold it. Yes, it might have hurt my feelings a teenzy tiny bit!

~ On that note however, I do not want to hold the hand of a child that has just coughed and sneezed all over it! ICK!

~ I had several little girls that went to the bathroom and came back undressed! Lovely!

~ No, I do not give suckers after EACH class. That is a special treat and "wouldn't you rather a stamp on your hand"? Uh....NO!

Fun days ahead I tell you....;)

Six Random Things:

Christy tagged me for this ( link is on my sidebar) Here goes:

1.) I absolutely HATE working out! I know some people say it gives them more energy, relieves stress, etc, etc. It does NOT do that for me. I exercise purely for selfish reasons. The happiest part of the workout is when it is over...which leads me to my next random thing....

2.) I am a big procrastinator! Gosh, I hate confessing that but it is true. I can find a million excuses why to delay something. I can also talk myself out of going places or doing things that take me out of my comfort zone....however....

3.) I used to be extremely disciplined. When I was in highschool, I had ballet class and rehearsal five nights a week and all day Saturday. I LOVED it. I got up early every morning, had all my homework done on time, ate the same "lowfat things", and absolutely loved every minute of the hard work. I had focus and determination and nothing could sway me from my goals!

4.) I am a total girly-girl. My favorite things to play growing up were house, store, Barbies, and paperdolls. However, I LOVED to climb trees. We would go visit my grandmother in New Orleans and I would climb these huge trees in City Park. I even fell out of one! Oh to be young again....

5.) My favorite love song is 'Everything I do (I do it for you)' by Bryan Adams. Everytime I hear that it takes me back to being 18 and all the craziness that comes with that age! I was watching the original video on YouTube and then surprise surprise I found the song paired with a video using my favorite show 'Robin Hood'. Enjoy:



I tag Diane, Kearsmom, Katie, Katrice, and anyone else who wants to participate!

Oh Nastia, how you amaze me!

I am sure there is absolutely no person that is interested in my talking points about gymnastics, BUT since it is my blog, I don't care. I have always loved gymnastics. In fact, I took gymnastics before I ever started ballet. I must have shown some talent, because they moved me up a few levels and the coach wanted me to be on the team. For some reason, after that I quit and turned to dancing. Anyway, I can remember where I was when saw Mary Lou Retton win the gold. We were at the beach and I remember how my sister and I were practicing our cartwheels and roundoffs in the hallway! I digress....last night was AMAZING. I stayed up until well past midnight to watch Nastia Liukin take the gold. She is usually in the background next to Shawn Johnson, but she is my personal favorite (big surprise). She combines the power of gymnastics with the beauty and grace of dance ( she so obviously takes ballet classes). She doesn't even have the typical "gymnast" body. I was so impressed with how she handled the extreme pressure and how she basically rocked all of her routines. I think most impressing was when they showed her and Shawn on the today show and how they are actually good friends and very kind and supportive of one another. How awesome it was to see someone on top of the podium that a.)is an American b.)was well deserving & c.) has definitely lost all of her baby teeth!!!!!!! ;)

First Day of Pre-K!

Today was our first day of our last year in preschool. Where did the time go? Noah will be going 5 days a week to the same school he attended last year. He has two sweet teachers and I think it is going to be a great year. The reason I chose this school ( and stood in a line for 2 hrs to get in) was because of the Pre-K program. It is supposed to be very good and he will be well prepared for next year. Noah was very excited this morning! My little boy is growing up! I picked him up and we got to go enjoy lunch at Chikfila with his best bud! :)


My big boy!




He picked out a Transformers backpack ( his favorite)! :)



Who wouldn't want to teach that cute face? ( I might be a tad bit biased)

Back to the Barre....

Yesterday was my return to teaching. Oh how I have enjoyed my summer break, but it went by far too quickly! I thought I was ready though to get back into the swing of things. Monday is going to be my long day. I teach 4 classes in a row with NO break. I know that doesn't sound like alot, but when you are teaching dance and have to be peppy and energetic, it is a LONG LONG afternoon. Here are my thoughts on my first day back:

1. 18 three and four year olds is too many and enough to make one want to run and hide.

2. 19 five and six year olds is also way too many. It will make you want to cry for your own mommy!!!!

3. Putting the numbers I listed above in tap shoes is enough to make you want to numb your eardrums.

4. Most 3 year olds do not understand the concept of making a circle.

5. If one child needs to go to the potty, suddenly they all do.

6. Certain children think it is funny to pull their nametag off and just throw it on the floor.....for no apparent reason. Those same children think the ballet barre is really MONKEY BARS!!!

7. By the time you get to your last class which is Ballet 2/3, you want to hug every one of those girls because they do what you say and can actually DANCE!!!

I.AM.TIRED.

I LOVE IT!!!

Gymnastics and swimming are my favorite things to watch in the Summer Olympics. I really like the relay competitions in the swimming. Last night was AMAZING. France was talking all this smack about beating the U.S.A and even the announcer guy was saying how he just didn't see them winning. You can hear at the end how the announcer was going hoarse...that last guy was incredible!!!

First Day of 5th grade...

Meredith was up before 6am! I will not hold my breath that this will be a normal habit. Let's just say that both the girls were very excited. They hopped out of bed, got dressed in their chosen outfits, made their beds and were ready to go way before it was time! Here are some pics of our morning:

Our traditional first day of school breakfast .....cinnamon rolls. I did make them some eggs too for the protein!


My TALL girls! They are very close to my height ( which isn't saying much....I always said that by 5th grade they would pass me up...could be???



Madeline:


Fun backpacks they picked out while we were on vacation!


Meredith:




Look how far apart two girls with very long legs and independent personalities can be!
(walking to the neighbors for carpool)

Tomorrow is the day....

5th grade!!!! Can you believe it???

We met the teachers last night and dropped off supplies. Madeline has a male teacher ( but he seemed VERY nice and he is apparently a great math teacher...hallelujah...thank you Jesus). Meredith got the "most desired" teacher and is in the same class with a bunch of friends including a neighbor. The teacher is even letting them all sit together for now! Stay tuned for first day pics tomorrow!!!!