Gymnastics update on Natalie

Natalie loves loves loves gymnastics! She's been eagerly waiting a whole week to return to Hawkeye Gymnastics for her next lesson. She also was tickled "pink" when her new leotard came in the mail. I almost couldn't get her to take it off after trying it on!

One of the first exercises she tackled was on the uneven bars. It's the kind of flip around that seems easy while you're watching Olympic gymnastics on NBC, but it obviously takes lot of practice to get up on the bar,...

do it with grace,...

and finally succeed!

Then, the basic cartwheel was next. I remember doing these all the time during my childhood. I'm hoping that Natalie will enjoy them as much as I did...looks like that won't be too far off in the future!

One of the last things they practiced was floor exercises, like galloping forward and then sideways. Natalie seems to be a natural for this routine. She had so much fun with it that she could have galloped right out of the gymnasium!

Independent Elaine

Elaine has become Ms. Independent these days. She's discovering what she's capable of...and most times, she's capable of a lot! Less and less she needs (or wants) Mommy or Daddy's help. It's great to see her growing this way, but also sad...our little baby girl is growing up!

Dan Wardell in Iowa City

Oh, how we love IPTV! Why? Not just because it's the only channel we currently get on our TV, but because they have excellent educational kids shows that our kids LOVE. For months, Peter has been telling us (or rather loudly announcing) "DAN WARDELL IS COMING TO IOWA CITY ON JULY 18th!" So, it was set on our Google calendar!

The big day started off when we parked in the garage and saw what Peter claims was Dan Wardell's car.

Natalie promptly said we had to take a picture of it and everything else we saw so that Daddy and Elaine could see it too.
(Elaine was out of sorts that afternoon and stayed home with Daddy)

While waiting in line to get into the story time room, I turned around and there he was in the flesh: Dan Wardell. I literally flipped out and don't know who got more excited, Mommy or the kids. :) I asked to get a picture of him with the kids. He is such a swell guy and did with pizazz!

Story time began it was so entertaining for the kids and adults. It was so great to see how the kids responded to him (he had an amazing power over all the kids in that room...he was magnetic)!

His story took them on a treasure hunt for the orb of fabulousness. On their way, the kids turned into pirates and the whole crowd had a blast giving their best "Aaaaargh"s and "Hi ya' matey"s.

They also had to make a whale laugh to get their first map, so get ready for some funny faces!
I just loved Natalie and her friend Thomas' exchanges of funny faces!

I think they were pretending to be minotaurs here:

After some more pirate jokes* and finally getting to the orb of fabulousness (the free beach balls), the kids snagged one last picture with Dan.

This guy was so awesome and energetic. If you live near Iowa City and missed him, don't worry! He's coming back to Coralville library on July 27th at 10am. I might just go for an encore presentation with Elaine next time. He was THAT entertaining and the kids LOVED it.

*Here's a pirate joke:

Why shouldn't you talk to a pirate?
Because they like to arrrrrrgue.