Cuties

My little "cutie" has been gobbling up the tangerine "Cuties".  Today Grace ate three of them in a row!

I think she likes that she is able to peel them herself.  I like that, too. But I don't love the peels all over the coffee table!

Dancer

Grace will be starting ballet and tap lessons next Tuesday.  She asked to take ballet classes, but I didn't want her to give up gymnastics.  Luckily, the gym she has been attending has a combination gymnastics/ballet/tap class.  It seemed like the perfect way to let her try it out before we commit to a "real" dance studio.

Ever since she got her tap and ballet shoes a week ago, she has been prancing around the house in them.  So cute!

Might as well enjoy it

There is no doubt that winter is here.  Since we can't hibernate like bears, we might as well find ways to get out and enjoy it....in small doses!

We went to the sledding hill early before it got crowded.

Next time we'll bring Daisy.  

She would love to run around in the snow!

 "Old school" sledding....Kyle bought this Radio Flyer sled

and refurbished it.  It was F-A-S-T!

Hold on!  Here we go!

It looks like there wasn't enough snow...but it was packed down

and slippery enough to make both of our sleds fast and fun.

No pictures of me....but I DID go down the hill a few times.  When we were leaving Grace said she has the best Mom and Dad because we take her places like ice skating and sledding.  That is nice to hear!

Ice capades

We took Grace ice stating for the first time today.  I wasn't sure how it would go, but she was very confident all morning telling us that she can balance and that she would do spins like the Disney princesses we saw last week.

The ice arena we went to is at Kent State University.  We told Grace we were going to the college to skate.  Inside the arena there were three birthday parties going on, a lot off people, and a big fireplace in the center of a sunken area with tables and benches for eating and resting.  As soon as she looked around, Grace asked, "Is this college?"  When we told her it was she said, "I like college."  Yes, my dear, most people do.

Like most things athletic, I figured Kyle would be the one to help Grace the most. But, it turns out my one or two lessons in the Poconos when I was a kid trumped his current skating abilities.  Really, don't ask me how. But I wasn't arguing because usually Grace chooses him for most activities.  I was happy to be the one she wanted today.

After a short break for a snack Grace wanted to go back out on the ice.  I was trying not to support her too much but she wasn't ready for me to let go and her legs were too wobbly to just hold my hand.  The bad news - bending over hurt my lower back a little (no "getting old" comments, Mom!).  The good news -  it was also a good butt exercise!

In the end, Grace liked ice skating and I feel confident enough to take her back alone.  I was impressed with how great she did for the first time!

Shadow Puppets

I thought Grace was asleep but when I checked on her this is what I found.

She told me she was making shadow puppets. Now, where did she learn that?

Dare to Dream

"Dare to Dream" is the title of the newest Disney on Ice production.  We went to see it this afternoon with Dawson and Mayna and their super-cool moms.  Thanks to Kellie, we had perfect seats in the second row for non-stop princess fun. 

The show highlighted the stories of three of the Disney princesses.

Princess Tiana from Princess and the Frog,

Cinderella,

and Rapunzel.

Grace said her favorite part was when Rapunzel and Flynn Rider were flying through the air on her hair.  It was very Cirque du Soleil.

 At the end of the show, all the princesses came out for one song....I guess that is the way Disney avoids disappointing all those Mulan, Jasmine, Belle, and Ariel fans who waited two hours to see the princess of their dreams!

Welcome 2012!

I don't know about you...but we are jumping into the new year!  I hope it is full of happy times and great memories.