Carmen

C had a busy week last week, practicing and then performing in the premier of a ballet version of Carmen by the NC Dance Theater, Charlotte's professional ballet company.  He had been chosen by the director to dance one of the mill worker kids parts.  He had rehearsals every night last week, which made him tired and cranky, but on stage, he was all smiles and full of energy.  So he has the ability to turn on the adrenaline or he's a really good actor.  He did not seem nervous whatsoever about being on stage...but did get annoyed when middle aged women would fuss over how cute he was.  He and the other kids did a great job with their parts--as did everyone.  It was a first rate performance.  And Bizet's score was pretty good too!  The ballet was 50 minutes--it's remarkable how short you can make an opera when you cut out all the singing...

M has been doing well in gymnastics and now looks forward to going every Monday.  In fact, she'll excitedly ask if it's Monday yet so she can go to gymnastics.  She still doesn't follow instructions very well while she's there, but none of the other kids do either.  It's interpretive (or I'll do my unique version of it) gymnastics.  Last week, her behavior was especially good all week without C around and I've noticed it continuing this week.  When she's playing by herself, she's fine too, but as soon as C comes into the vicinity to "observe," they start mixing it up.  She's doing much better in preschool the past week or so too.  She had been unhappy because the class only had 2 other girls and both of them were also divas.  She is now good friends with one of the other girls so is back to enjoying herself.

E has started to potty train in exchange for Princess Sophie undies that T promised her.  She still won't go to the potty any more consistently for me, so we'll see how it works.  She may be shifting out of naps too.  She naps inconsistently at preschool but sleeps consistently on the drive home.  She misses going to the pool.  She'll often ask if we can go to the pool when we drive past it and clearly does not understand that it is a long wait until May.  Given that she often didn't want to get in the cold water in the summer, getting in the water in Oct probably wouldn't be too enjoyable.

The Art of Campaigning

C has won his first election!  He has been elected Vice President of 4-H of the afterschool program at Carl Furr Elementary.  I asked him how he won:

C:  "I got 14 votes.  The other person got 36."
E:  "That made him president?"
C: "Yup." 
E:  "How did they know who to vote for?" 
C:  "We couldn't use our faces." 
E:  "So they didn't know what you looked like?  Didn't some of them know who you were?" 
C:  "Yea, the people who knew me voted for me." 
E:  "What about everybody else?  How did they vote if they didn't know either of you?" 
C:  "They just picked somebody."  [Dr. H observes:  Much like every other election.  God Bless America!] 
E:  "Did you campaign?  What did you tell people to ask them to vote for you?" 
C:  "Put the vote in the back.  I'm more sweaty!" 

[Dr. H:  After several attempts at clarification, I still have no idea what that means or why in the world anyone would vote for someone with that campaign slogan.  If there is a political science explanation, I suppose it is:  1)  C came in second; 2) campaign slogans don't matter in 3rd grade either.]