A Golden Gatorade

Isaac loves ballet.  

Like anyone who has something they really love, he studies it carefully.  He doesn't live in New York or San Francisco or Moscow (or Dresden, London, Houston, Havana . . .) so the only way he can see the masters of his craft is on You Tube.

On Monday, to Isaac's absolute delight, he saw one of his idols, Taras Domitro, back stage.  He wanted to run to the guy and tell him, "It's you!  I see you!  I know you!  I watch you on You Tube!" but he was afraid it would sound creepy.  

(I'm sure the guy would have taken it as intended: as a compliment.  It would have been like if I met Emma Thompson and I gushed about her performance in Much Ado About Nothing or Sense and Sensibility.  They want their work to be seen and appreciated, right?)

Fast forward to Wednesday.

Wednesday was another dance day in Orlando.  A dance day includes warm-up class, stage time, costume and make-up, performances and waiting.  A lot of waiting.  At one point, Isaac was back stage between performances.  I was in the lobby talking to a group of very friendly and baby loving Singaporeans.  (Did you know that Singapore is the only country in the world that has banned chewing gum?  True story.)  He came running up to me, holding a Gatorade.  Patiently joining in the banter for a few minutes, he finally turned to me and said that I was wanted backstage.  

Once he had pulled me away, he confided, "No one needs you, Mom.  I just have to tell you something!" 

 I asked if it was about the Gatorade, because I knew I hadn't given it to him.

"Yes, Mom. Taras Domitro just gave it to me!  I was standing back stage and he asked if I wanted a Gatorade!  I said, "Sure" and he gave it to me!"

He wasn't even going to drink it until he realized he wouldn't be able to take it on the airplane.  

This picture will keep the story of Taras Domitro and the Gatorade immortalized.

Too funny, that kid.  He must have been fired up because his performance after this was amazing.

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It Begins

Competitions always have all these rules about picture taking so I didn't take many pictures at the theater.  The first day, Monday, was long.  All of the competitors danced one classical and one contemporary piece.  The jury made immediate judgement and points were displayed just like in the Olympics.  They knew the name of the piece and the dancer's number, but they didn't know the student's name or studio leaving no room for politics.  It was nice to have the scores tallied right away, but it also meant a delay between every dance.  T.I.M.E.  

Isaac performed a variation from Satanella and his contemporary piece entitled Awake.  

He scored very well and made it to the second round.

The long day in the dark theater and jet lag was too much for these two!

Tuesday was a break day.  As long as Isaac was still in the competition, we couldn't do anything too physically taxing (like a theme park).  We decided to go to the ocean.

This is me in the Atlantic Ocean.  

I really wanted to go running right into the waves, but I was holding this precious cargo.

The kids could, though!

After a while, one of them was beat up a bit by the waves and needed a break.  

My turn!

Of all of the events of the week, this was the one day I know Justin would have liked.  

He hates crowds and traffic and sitting for too long, so most of the time he would have been miserable on our trip.  But he would have loved the ocean.

The water felt so good.  It was a fairly overcast day, which I liked.  

We did take the baby into the water several times.  

He didn't love it.  The waves were big and unpredictable.  

He much preferred the hotel pool.

Just another Tuesday afternoon.

I was very proud of the fact that I only got sunburned on one unreachable area of my back.  I was constantly slathering sunblock on me and the baby.  The big kids did get a little pink.  (I hate the aerosol sunblock.  I've tried it several times and from several brands and each one covers inconsistently.  In addition, bottles are used up quickly and are more expensive than the lotion.)

After the ocean, we went to Cape Canaveral.  Tickets to the museum were $50 per person.  I'm sure it was amazing, but I didn't have $150 for a couple of hours at the museum.  

We took pictures through the gates.

It was fun to try to identify the different rockets; we did pretty well, having studied them for so many years.

I am more impressed with astronauts than ever before.  You have to have some serious balls of steel to climb into the little capsule at the top of all of that explosive material.

We were all there.  

Even if we didn't want to be.

Just kidding.  Once again, he was very good.  He was throwing a bit of a fit here and it was so halfhearted.  I snapped a picture instead of consoling because it was kinda cute.

All in all, it was a good start to the week.

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Florida, Here We Come!

Eliza, Baby, and I spent a total of six hours on an airplane.

Besides being sleepy and not being able to sleep, our travel was good.  Our little one was perfectly behaved.  His tactic was to charm all of the passengers and crew, 

then fall sound asleep for most of the flight.  

My other traveling companion was excited to fly again (it had been a few years) and I thoroughly enjoyed her.  

I did remind the baby that he was being spoiled.  

Everyone else in the family had to wait until they were 8 years old to fly.  

He did not react.

As soon as we got off the plane, that singular weight of humid air hit my skin.  I was transported back to my first moments in Hawaii 18 years ago--my freshman year of college.  

The papers in my hand went limp and I began to melt.

Isaac was waiting for us at our gate (we flew out of different cities because he was already at Summer Intensive).  It was so good to see him.  He and Eliza started their antics right off.

That has been the highlight so far.  These two are great companions.

We went to Lake Eola, which is nestled right in Downtown Orlando.  I told them to stand by the benches so I could take a picture with the city and the lake and the fountain and all.

This is what they did.

Most of the time I don't know what they are doing, but they keep laughing so I just go with it.

It was a super gorgeous day, but about 2,000 degrees.  I was melting right into my shoes.

It was a beautiful park.  We wandered along on the shady pathway that circled the lake.  As soon as we saw a sunny patch, I'd hustle through just to slow back down to a crawl in the shade.  

I'm such a baby.

 Lots of swans and ducks and many other kinds of birds we don't have in North Idaho.

And crazy massive trees with witches hair hanging all over them.

We don't have those either!

As usual, the cool places to see and the fun things to do are only cool and fun when you have someone with whom to share them;

The brothers are together again.

Cue music: 

When you're with me,

baby, the skies'll be blue,

for all my life.

So happy together!

nah, nah, nah, nah,

so happy together!

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As Ready As I'll Ever Be

Done.  

Everything that is going to be checked off my list is done.  

I am now going to go cuddle with this darling baby.

My two oldest, my youngest and I will be meeting up in Florida tomorrow.  

After some great advice, some deep breaths and my own acceptance of the fact that I am headed to a cool place and there's no backing out so I may as well enjoy it, I am actually excited for the vacation.

We are going to see some fabulous dancing.

We are going to ride on an air boat.

We are going to see alligators and dolphins and rockets.

We are going to swim in the Atlantic Ocean.

(I have already been swimming in the Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea.  It is important that I add the Atlantic to my list.  I'll also need to add Indian to that list some day.)

We are not going to get sunburned.

We are not.

No, I'm serious.  We freckled, pale northerners are really going to not.

We are going to watch jousting and feel some free Disney magic.

We are going to watch our boy doing the thing he loves.

I'll check in now and again to give you updates.

Florida, here we come!!

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Appointments

It had been five years since I visited a dentist.  While we were in school, Justin and I didn't have dental coverage and so couldn't afford even a routine visit.  Up until that point, my six month visits were a reliable part of my routine.  Since it had been so long, I was a little nervous.  I don't have terrible teeth, but they aren't amazing either.  I do brush regularly, but I store the floss in my baking cabinet because I use it to cut cinnamon rolls more than I use it between my teeth.  Yesterday, I went to the dentist.  It was a long appointment because they had to do some intensive cleaning (especially around the permanent retainer behind my front teeth), but I feel like a new woman!  I was very happy with my new dentist and my teeth are so clean!  (Did you know that saliva contains calcium and phosphorus?  That is why tarter looks like hard water build-up on our teeth.  I had no idea.)

My youngest girl is turning five next week so I took her in for her Well Child doctor's appointment.

I'm having a hard time internalizing the fact that she is almost five.  She was my baby for so long and was always on my lap for a cuddle when I so dearly needed that cuddle.  She is a handful, but is also delightful.  Yesterday meant four shots in the thighs so she is now immunized against just about everything.  She was not pleased with the shots, but as she was crying, I reminded her that now she won't ever have her back broken by her own tetanus-infected muscles, she won't be crippled by polio, she won't go deaf as a side-effect of measles.  She didn't really care at the time, but when she came home and report to Dad, she was proud to explain that she didn't have to worry about many different illnesses.

And our sweet baby continues to fatten.  His two month appointment saw the scales tip at 12 pounds (up 5 pounds since birth).  He has put on 2.5 inches in length and 2.25 inches in his head circumference.  That is a lot of milk--which is good for me.  I've lost 30 pounds since he was born.  (It sounds like a lot but it still doesn't put me in my pre-pregnancy jeans.  Whatever.)

Ah, paparazzi, go away with that flash, all the live-long day!
Look at that chin!  :)

He was also not thrilled with his shots, but is now immunized against whooping cough which has been deadly for infants in our state this spring.  Phew!

As if our day wasn't long enough already, I took the 12 year old shopping for a new swimming suit.  You would think that would be fun, mother-daughter time and all, but no.  This child hates shopping and hates trying on worse than anything.  We found a cute and modest suit for a reasonable price, though.  Barely.  Almost as tough as helping two children through shots!  The big baby.  :)

Today promises to be a glorious spring day.  As much as I hate my trailer, it is more than made up for by our beautiful land.  The wildflowers are blooming all over the meadow, the fir trees are putting on their bright green new growth, the garden is poking through the soil and beginning to flourish and the intermittent rain is doing her best to keep things moist.

Have a wonderful day, my friends.

And go make those appointments you've been putting off!

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All Those Waiting Mothers

Last night, while driving, my nine year old saw this sign

and asked, in an incredulous tone, "Adopt a highway?!  Who would ever want to adopt a highway?"

Our quick witted (and a bit snarky) 12 year old responded, simply,

"All the mother highways who couldn't have children!"

I could feel the duh clear up at the front of the suburban.

Eliza with her equally witty and  even more snarky Aunt Mollie
and Daniel who doesn't get the jokes, but laughs the best.

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Definition, Please

This girl is our comedian.  She has been from the time she was tiny.  Part of what makes her so funny is her innocence.  She isn't trying to be funny. 

Case in point:  The other day, she was holding our new baby boy.  I reminded her to support his neck.  

She immediately looked him right in the eyes and shouted, with one fist pumping the air,

"Go baby's neck!  Go baby's neck!"

Um.  Different kind of support.

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