Bailey loves to dance and move her body to the music. She’s always been that way. Her hands are really expressive when she hears music, even her expression changes and takes on a more serious, thoughtful, I’m-working-hard-here sorta look. It’s good fun to watch. Here’s an ok photo of her at a family dance the other day at Art’s school:

(That’s Jessica nice butt and boots in the background…)

(Art is top center)

Lovely photo from Ms. Jen

I spent the day volunteering last week at Art’s school. Read kid books, had them read to me. Played with them at recess, ate a surprisingly tasty and nutritious lunch and watched them sing and dance in music. It was a great time.

This is an I’M-SO-PROUD-AND-EXCITED-MY-DAD-IS-HERE-IN-CLASS expression Art makes.

Two classes combined listen to a story.

Arthur and Asa dancing in music class.

Arthur and his dance partner.

Recess.

This is Arthur with his new and very good friend Archer holding a bird a fellow student brought to share.

This photo gives you a good sense of the educational utopia that is Arthur’s class. His teacher Patrice, seen here, co-teaches with a woman next door. They even broke out the wall between the classes. And each teacher has a student teacher, so there are lots of opportunities to for stuff like this to happen. Arthur is learning!

Abdigani, counting.

Arthur’s long-time friend Evva is in a different 1st grade class. But they have recess together everyday! And twice a week after school they have Spanish together. Which is a good thing since I’ve decided they will get married one day.

Block building.

Arthur and Archer at recess. I watched them as they zoomed around the playground playing ‘ninja’ doing all sorts of COOL MOVES. Lately Arthur has been coming home caked in dirt and grime, apparently the result of recess. Archer only lives four blocks away, a parenting gift! The two of them have a real friendship blossoming which is just wonderful to watch from a distance.

Over the last several weeks Bailey has finally begun addressing Netta

by name, however she has been calling her by her OWN name. That's

right, both girls were calling each other Bailey. In fact, when faced

with her own reflection a couple weeks ago Netta alled herself Bailey!

Well, true to Bailey's usually verbal form, she took a weeks longer

to use a particular word or phrase and then used it out of blue and

superb clear. Today she woke from her nap saying "Net-ta! Net-ta!!!"

and has been addressing her sister by name all afternoon.

P.S. I am caught up with the laundry for the first time perhaps ever.

My failed balloon-holding photograph turned into a successful balloon-looking photograph.

Bailey and her balloon.

Netta and her eyes.

Bailey is actually gearing up to throw the balloon at me. She did this to Jessica a few times, so violent!

Lewis and his mama made cupcakes for the girls.

Today Bailey and Netta turn a whopping 2. It’s been a blur. It really has. But the emotional quality of the blur has been mostly wonderful (and sometimes horrible). Here are the photos from Jessica’s warrior birth two years ago today. And, if you haven’t read it, this is the birth story Jessica wrote a year ago:
http://followart.blogspot.com/2011/10/buzz-that-never-fades.html

I spent a few hours today volunteering at Art’s school. I don’t want to use this space to brag about how awesome his school is but it’s AWESOME. He’s just so happy there right now. Jessica and I are just thrilled for him. Here he is dancing with [forget her name] during music class today. I took a gazillion photos and will post them when I’ve got time.

Lewis wearing a leaf hat he made at preschool.