First Snow

It was really only a dusting but the girls were excited to get out and play and have snack (of course) in the snow!

Daddy Blog (11/17/11)

Words Can Be Like Huggles

if you’ve read my blog before

this may be a case of stating the obvious

but, I’m going to state it anyway

I love words.

I love language

and wordplay

dialects

and dialogue

I believe that language is an organism

a rhizome

that it is meant to grow and evolve

just as we do

just as our minds do.

from an early age, the 2nd grade I believe,

I realized that I had a home in words…

that language was a place for me

and it had to do with learning about poetry

and e.e. cummings especially…

the idea that language has rules

but you can deign to break them

if by breaking them

you express yourself more deeply

if not more clearly…

ohhh I get jazzed just thinking about it now…

thinking about that feeling

words

i grew up in a house that fostered those feelings

a house of bookworms

a prominent feature of the house I grew up in

where my parents still live

is a built-in bookshelf.

my brother and both of my parents

are voracious readers

it’s no surprise that I married a voracious reader too!

in my house

growing up

wordplay

and word games

were the usual

and long conversations

about this news item, or current event,

or that philosophical theory or mythical allegory

over dinner

were standard…

to the point that family friends

still talk about

the banter

at our house.

and even my grandmother

would comment about our

unique, stimulating dinner dialogue…

now here I am

as a parent

on the brink of experiencing all of that delight

in a new way

it’s wonderful.

The five-year-old is learning to

read and write!

sounding out words and phrases like

love, and donut, and do not disturb…

and I realize that

our dialogue

and our game play,

our relationship

is taking on a whole new dimension

and I am thrilled.

The three-year-old is not far behind…

but her language development is at a different

fun stage

words and wordplay

using words to express herself

means sometimes making up new words out of thin air,

or

combining words she knows

some are for play, nonsense words (I love these a lot)

and some are utilitarian (these I love too)

and some are just for more clear expression of what she’s feeling

a direct line to her heart, as it were. (I love these the most)

my favorite of these

made up just this morning

combines hug and snuggle

huggle

how can you not love huggle?

and how amazing that

my three-year-old

knows that a huggle is what she needs

and knows and understands our strange language

well enough to make up the word.

miraculous.

Gymnastics

We have taken a few months off of gymnastics class but Fin had been expressing interest in taking classes again. So we got our act together and got the girls enrolled. Maya is in Red Stars and Fin is in Little Sparks. This is the first gymnastics class that Fin is doing without a parent and she loves it!

Some pics of the girls.

Ballet Class

We decided this fall would be a good time to get Maya enrolled in a dance class. Her interest in it hadn't waned and so we sort of happened upon Gasper's enrollment period and a signed her up. She is in Ballet 2 and is loving it!

Some shots from the class.

She is always under a watchful eye!

Grease

Mom has been away an awful lot these days and the girls were finally able to come see the reason behind the hours away!

They've been able to stop by several rehearsals and were very excited when the time finally came to see the entire production.

Maya took great pains in figuring out her outfit for the day. It was determined by how she could best look like the girls in the show! It's only a matter of time before she enters the stage officially.

A few pictures with the cast.

The girls with Rizzo!

Fin and Jan.

Maya and Doody.

And Fin with A LOT of attitude!

Swimming Lessons

We are doing Saturday swimming lessons right now. This is the first time we've done the weekly schedule and I'm not sure we will do it again, but it is a great activity to do because it is just across the street!

Maya is in Level 2 and is doing fabulous. Fin is still in Beginners to develop her muscles and coordination. Neither of the girls has an ounce of fear of the water, so at least we don't have that to contend with.

Here are some pics of the girls having fun during lessons!

A Walk to the Bus

I have a new toy. A toy I've been desiring for about 7 years. A toy I told myself would be my graduation present. Finally, a year and a half after graduation, I found a screaming deal and congratulated myself for surviving the MA/PhD process!

I took the new toy with us to the bus stop and got some good shots!

Enjoy.