Dance & Gymnastics

Amelia has been in dance class since August, and she really doesn't enjoy it - although I REALLY like the other Moms and have such a nice time while she's practicing. Amelia has been in gymnastics off and on since she was about 18 months old and LOVES it. We just started a new session - after MUCH begging and pleading on her part. Doing both at the same time makes it pretty obvious to me which one she enjoys more. I wish I had the time/money to allow her to continue in both and Chinese school, but we really needed to make a choice, so after her recital next month, she isn't going to continue with dance.

Tuesday night at dance the girls practiced their dance with the younger girls who they will be combining with for the recital - I'm pretty sure Amelia is going to be doing a solo...not because the other girls won't be dancing, but because Amelia will be out in front spinning in circles the whole time. It isn't that she can't do it - oh no, she does it beautifully at home - but put the kid in front of a mirror and all she does is stare at herself and spin:) After they finished their dance it was time for tumbling - I looked up to see her do a PERFECT cartwheel. As someone who has never been able to do a cartwheel I was amazed. Charlie her dance teacher even said, "That was perfect!" She just beamed up at him.

Last night was recital pictures -oh how Amelia LOVED putting on her make-up. She didn't even scream when I put her hair up in a bun. The girls looked SO SO cute in their little purple tutus. I can see how a Mom could force a child to be in dance just to see that:) She took a picture of herself with my phone before we left the house, you'll have to wait until the recital to see more.

Tonight it was off to gymnastics. I have noticed that it is IMPOSSIBLE for Amelia to sit still while waiting for her turn - I decided tonight that it's because she's SO excited to do the next thing. Tonight they were "testing" to see what skills the kids have learned. Amelia's teacher Annette was using her to show the other kids how to do the skills, and I could tell by Amelia's face that she knew that was really special. I was so proud of her! She was doing such a good job - except for the not sitting still. At the end of gymnastics Amelia learned that she had moved out of Level 1. Neither of us have any idea what this really means - but Amelia was so excited to FINALLY get her name and sticker on the poster:) I don't think I've ever seen her so proud!