It’s the hamster dance!
My apologies for the photo quality but I was laughing so hard I had to lean on the kitchen sink. Our kids may not be at the head of the class when it comes to brains or looks or musicality or manners, but they’ve certainly got silliness to spare! 
Now, smile. . .you look great! If this little exercise makes you feel better, thank your mother (or perhaps your dance teacher) for all those times she told you to sit/stand up straight. If it feels awkward, just keep practicing. . .you’re never too old to stop slouching!
While catching up on the week’s happenings at the Hen House, I realized I’d forgotten to share pictures from the kids’ dance classes last week.
On Tuesdays, C & R are in the same ballet/tap class. C is probably a little bored with what they’re learning so far, since most of the girls are R’s age; I keep telling him if he were in a class of girls his own age they would all tower over him! 
Anyhow they are working on a ballet dance for this year’s Festival of Trees to Mannheim Steamroller’s rendition of Kling Glocken.
My pictures were all a bit blurry, maybe because I was holding baby D and maybe because I never had a straight shot with the camera. But here are my dancers, tapping side by side:
R is taking baton again on Thursday afternoons. They are also working on a routine for the Festival. Here is a (blurry!) picture of Ms. Sarah talking R through a double arm roll:
There’s no doubt about it; recital weekend is insanely busy. Don’t get me wrong; it’s worth the hassle to see the kids show what they’ve learned in dance this year. But 3 kids + 4 dances + 2 different performances (each with its own rehearsal) = 1 tired family! As much as I have missed getting to dance this year, in a way it was a relief to not be in the performance myself.
L-R:
R, age 7, in her costume for pre-ballet. She also took intro to baton this year.
C, age 10, was in ballet/tap.
N, age 4-almost-5, was in Intro to Movement.
As an aside, I made the boys’ costumes~not just my boys, but most of the male costumes (and some of the girls) in the show were made by me. I enjoy doing it & am glad they are kind enough to pay me even though sometimes I am learning as I go!
I promise~this is the last dancer picture until recital in June! Today was C’s ballet-tap class. Here he is warming up to practice their tap dance, to Glenn Miller’s In the Mood.
Today I got to watch R’s pre-ballet class. . .without any boys, as Larry is working at home this week! 
Her dancing has really improved this year, and she knows her dance terms quite well.
Technically, next week is observation week at our dance school. But next Thursday happens to be Maundy Thursday so I asked to watch R & N’s classes tonight.
N is so funny to watch! Being the only boy in his class, he doesn’t play much with the other kids but instead is quite serious and tries his hardest to remember what Ms. Debra asked him to do.
R had baton tonight. She started with a summer class last year which included all ages (at 6 she was the youngest, and only beginner) and according to her teachers caught on quite quickly. All I know about baton is what she’s shown me, but tonight it seemed to me she is one of the better twirlers in her class. Ms. Sarah is her teacher but she was away today so Ms. Ranae, the school director, filled in.
Simul Justis et Pecatur Under Construction Boots on the Ground I shouldn’t be doin’ this Susan’s Pendulum The Elephant’s Child
