Emma was in a ballet recital on Friday evening. Actually both 'ballet' and 'recital' are misleading. Emma's class did a tap 'number' and really no one else did ballet (although I hear the second act had something that might be construed to be ballet, we didn't stay that long). And it wasn't so much a recital as an exhibition of all that I find amazing, and indeed repellent in America today.
For a year Emma has been going faithfully every Wednesday evening to dance for an hour with a lot of other little girls at a sort of rundown badly lit generic dance studio in downtown Binghamton. We have stuck it out because the little girls are nice and the teacher is pretty and young and fresh faced and Emma loves her. They worked all year on a dance to the popular (if dated) 'Under the Sea' from the Little Mermaid. Emma hasn't seen this movie yet (as per my planning, I think its scary and weird and I'd rather her not see it this young) and so didn't have any idea what the song is about or why her costume was bright red (I presume to make them all look like little lobsters), and I think she was secretly disappointed that she wasn't wearing pink. Well, not so secret, she asked several times why they were wearing red instead of pink, and why the song was 'blue'.
The day of the dress rehearsal she didn't dance at all. She stood steadfastly on the stage, immobile, with her fingers in her mouth and watched everyone else do the dance. Afterward she said that she hadn't known the dance perfectly and therefore wasn't prepared to do it in front of everyone. We had a long talk about perfection versus doing the best you can, and how only God is perfect. This appeared to disturb her just as much as it does me. Why can't we be perfect? She wanted to know. Because we're not God, I said. And she was disappointed.
The day of the recital I cleaned in the morning and took a super long nap, so that I would have energy to get through the evening. And then I charged up the video and ran to the store for a cheep camera and flowers (pale pink roses) for Emma at the end of the evening. And then I gave everyone a bath and carefully fluffed and sprayed Emma's hair and applied vast quantities of red to her cheeks and lips, so that we would be able to see her from the audience. And then she and I ran screaming out of the house, late, leaving Aedan, Rowan and Matt to follow in an hour. (Matt was in charge of the flowers and forgot them and had to run back out directly after Emma danced to come back and get them, allowing him, unfairly, to miss most of the rest of the dancing.)
Of course everything was badly marked at the high school, where this important event was slated to take place, and so we trudged all the way up to the 3rd floor looking for the right dressing room, and then came all the way back down. It was wretchedly and sickeningly hot and loud--dozens of various sized girls is garishly and inappropriately tight costumes and make up, tapping around the hallways and giggling. The little ones were overwhelmed by the heat and noise. We lined them up along a wall and tried to keep count. Eventually I did have to leave Emma who looked at me mournfully as I sped away. 'Please dance' I begged her. She just looked at me and didn't say anything.
But she did dance, and she was very cute. If only Matt will figure out how to get the video off the tape so I can link it or something. And eventually we'll have some pictures. But that was length to which the pleasantness of the evening lasted. She was number two on the program. Number three through twenty-five were uniformly awful. The music, as I mentioned before, was miles too loud, and the choice of music left a lot to be desired. I took exception, for instance, to the 6 and 7 year olds having to dance to 'Nothing can take me away from my guy' a fun popular tune, but if you listen to the words, actually not the least bit appropriate for little children. And pretty much ALL the dances, excepting the little ones, were highly sexualized-young girls in tight things jiggling their way through song after song. I was shocked, especially as I glanced over at Aedan and saw him gazing, transfixed, at a line of girls shaking themselves around the stage. But actually, even more shocking than a lot of little and young girls dancing thusly, was the group of older, shall we say, mature dancers, also in tight outfits, dancing to overtly sexual lyrics in a crassly sexual way. Whatever happened to ballroom dancing, I ask myself, or English country dancing on the lawn?
And so Emma will not be dancing at this little studio next year (in spite of the lovely young teacher). We will look for something a little more classically inclined, and should that not present itself, her dream of being a famous ballet dancer will have to be postponed for another place and time.
Pondering all this, after congratulating Emma on her stellar performance, we all went out for ice cream and watched our young offspring eat green apple ice cream with sprinkles, and blue cotton candy ice cream with sprinkles. And then we came home and went thankfully to bed.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Conversations with Aedan
Saturday Morning in the Kitchen baking mini muffins for Bible Study
Aedan: Look, Mommy, there is a baby lion over there.
Anne: Where?
Aedan: Over there, by the stove.
Anne: Oh, that's nice.
Aedan: Yeah, there's a baby lion. He is walking with his daddy and his mommy. He was sad before because he was by himself.
Anne: But he's not sad any more?
Aedan: No. He's walking. He's a baby lion.
Emma coming into the kitchen: Where is the baby lion?
Aedan: Over there. See.
Emma: Oh, yeah. That's a nice lion.
Aedan: Look, Mommy, there is a baby lion over there.
Anne: Where?
Aedan: Over there, by the stove.
Anne: Oh, that's nice.
Aedan: Yeah, there's a baby lion. He is walking with his daddy and his mommy. He was sad before because he was by himself.
Anne: But he's not sad any more?
Aedan: No. He's walking. He's a baby lion.
Emma coming into the kitchen: Where is the baby lion?
Aedan: Over there. See.
Emma: Oh, yeah. That's a nice lion.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Conversations with Emma
Emma: "Let's get one of those big houses. Our house is so small."
Anne: "Our house isn't small, its enormous. If you have a big house you have to get more stuff to fill it up."
Emma: "I want more stuff."
Anne: "Really? Why? Stuff is such a hassle."
Emma: "I like stuff. I want a big house and I want to be a grandma and I want a lot of stuff. Tatchie doesn't have any stuff. She just has a Bible and some toys. I want stuff."
Anne: "But stuff is so much work. When you have stuff it distracts you from paying attention to Jesus because you have to work so hard keeping up with your stuff."
Emma: "I don't get distracted from Jesus by having too much stuff. I want to be a grandma."
Anne: "Me too."
Emma: "Being a Grandma is the best."
Anne: "That's right. I look forward to it very much."
Anne: "Our house isn't small, its enormous. If you have a big house you have to get more stuff to fill it up."
Emma: "I want more stuff."
Anne: "Really? Why? Stuff is such a hassle."
Emma: "I like stuff. I want a big house and I want to be a grandma and I want a lot of stuff. Tatchie doesn't have any stuff. She just has a Bible and some toys. I want stuff."
Anne: "But stuff is so much work. When you have stuff it distracts you from paying attention to Jesus because you have to work so hard keeping up with your stuff."
Emma: "I don't get distracted from Jesus by having too much stuff. I want to be a grandma."
Anne: "Me too."
Emma: "Being a Grandma is the best."
Anne: "That's right. I look forward to it very much."
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Catch Up
Well, I DID NOT Mean to take a month of posting on this blog. I know, I say that every time. But I've taken a few pictures and I'm too tired to get up and take a shower, so here's some splattering of Family Life.
Here's the three, on the floor, playing with blocks, while I try and ignore them and read stuff on the computer. At this point in the day I'm barely awake and they're all clamering for food. Not usually my best time.
And Another One
And here are some new shoes, picked out by Emma, bought by Kay. Emma says her's are "just like Babba's" because they have holes in them, not because they have disney pictures of Cinderella.
Aedan has been cut off from an afternoon nap and now has trouble staying awake through supper.
Emma is learning to do dishes. Here she has stacked them carefully, as seemed good to her. She's actually very good at it and a big help. And of course, at this age, she thinks its a lot of fun.
Other General Information
The baby loves Matt. He likes me but he loves Matt. If Matt walks in the room and doesn't pick him up, he cries hysterically. He can now also climb all the way up the stairs which is deeply upsetting for everyone on hand.
Aedan is completely potty trained, even through the night, and basically a much happier person. His first inclination is to whine and cry, but we're all working on the difference between a Regular Boy Voice and a Whiny Annoying Voice and he's beginning to get it.
Emma is learning housework. She makes her bed, cleans the play room, cleans the living room, does dishes, clears the table, and puts away laundry. I can't tell you what a huge thing this is for me. Matt has been training her (and Aedan too some). He has taught her to rince and load the dish washer, and pick up a room and keep it picked up so that things don't get out of control. And she's happier with these various responsabilities.
And New Baby seems fine, although I'm not having that much movement so I hope you all will pray. I have an appointment in a week.
OH, and the baby loves to kiss people, especially his father, with a wide open mouth full of slobber. I've never met a baby who would do this with so much consistency. Its very sweet but also completely disgusting.
Alright, now I really have to go get in the shower, even though there's no hot water, because at 11:30 I have to go get my credentials for the festival, badges and so forth.
Here's the three, on the floor, playing with blocks, while I try and ignore them and read stuff on the computer. At this point in the day I'm barely awake and they're all clamering for food. Not usually my best time.
And Another One
And here are some new shoes, picked out by Emma, bought by Kay. Emma says her's are "just like Babba's" because they have holes in them, not because they have disney pictures of Cinderella.
Aedan has been cut off from an afternoon nap and now has trouble staying awake through supper.
Emma is learning to do dishes. Here she has stacked them carefully, as seemed good to her. She's actually very good at it and a big help. And of course, at this age, she thinks its a lot of fun.
Other General Information
The baby loves Matt. He likes me but he loves Matt. If Matt walks in the room and doesn't pick him up, he cries hysterically. He can now also climb all the way up the stairs which is deeply upsetting for everyone on hand.
Aedan is completely potty trained, even through the night, and basically a much happier person. His first inclination is to whine and cry, but we're all working on the difference between a Regular Boy Voice and a Whiny Annoying Voice and he's beginning to get it.
Emma is learning housework. She makes her bed, cleans the play room, cleans the living room, does dishes, clears the table, and puts away laundry. I can't tell you what a huge thing this is for me. Matt has been training her (and Aedan too some). He has taught her to rince and load the dish washer, and pick up a room and keep it picked up so that things don't get out of control. And she's happier with these various responsabilities.
And New Baby seems fine, although I'm not having that much movement so I hope you all will pray. I have an appointment in a week.
OH, and the baby loves to kiss people, especially his father, with a wide open mouth full of slobber. I've never met a baby who would do this with so much consistency. Its very sweet but also completely disgusting.
Alright, now I really have to go get in the shower, even though there's no hot water, because at 11:30 I have to go get my credentials for the festival, badges and so forth.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Emma's Thought of the Day
"We're all exhausted of taking care of so many babies and Aedan. Yeah, we don't get any sleep at night from all the babies."
Birthday Festivities
Aedan is unrelentingly introverted. He was excited and delighted all day up until the point when everyone started arriving for his birthday. From thence forward he was downcast, mororse, unhappy. He didn't want to play potatoe on a spoon. Rather than running with his potatoe to the finish line, he walked angrily back and forth with his potatoe, while everyone else had a good time. He wouldn't do any races at all in fact. Cake time was equally unhappy. He scowled when presented with it, tried half heartedly to blow out the candles and then ate ice cream as though a funeral were going on all around him. Presents went over better, of course, but you'll notice in the pictures he was extremely solomn. And finally, he refused to play pin the tail on the donkey. When everyone finally went home he cheered up immensely and chased balloons all over the house and played with all his toys. The rest of us had a very good time.
I would just like to draw your attention to the cake, below, which was made, as it were, out of nothing. Its Nigella's fool proof birthday cake that can be made into any shape. Its very dense and pretty moist and worked really well. Its in How to be a Domestic Goddess, if anyone is curious.
I would just like to draw your attention to the cake, below, which was made, as it were, out of nothing. Its Nigella's fool proof birthday cake that can be made into any shape. Its very dense and pretty moist and worked really well. Its in How to be a Domestic Goddess, if anyone is curious.
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