Classes

I wanted to document the craziness of classes we've been experimenting with lately. Some have been great and others, not as great. 

To start- Hazel's tumbling class has been great! She LOVES it and she is so proud of it. She looks forward to going every week and loves to talk about it to anyone. She even talks about it in her prayers often, 'Heavenly Fader, tank you for my tumbling class tomorrow" even though it's only "tomorrow" one day of the week, that's what she says every day. 

She has also excelled in the class. She is best listener and loves to try new things and has proven to have great balance, bravery, and is a quick learner. So, like, not to brag or anything but she's basically on her way to be an Olympian. *ahem

One week during fall break June was able to attend and Hazel was thrilled. Another week Buck was able to go as well and she loved showing off. She is so freaking cute it's made this somewhat over priced class worth every penny.

strangely yellow photo June took

For June we tried something new this fall. It was an acting class. They go over singing, acting, and dancing. Instead of a recital at the end of the year they all put on a play, this year is Beauty and the Beast. So here's how it's gone... The teacher is truly amazing. She teaches great things and does so in creative and innovative ways. She maintains high energy every week with new creative lesson plans. June seemed to enjoy it while she was there, but each week she would fight me and not want to go before hand. So for a few weeks I watched closely to see why this may be. My prognosis? There are WAY too many kids in the class. Probably over 30 of them. So each kid may get to participate sometimes, there is no way to know each kid and see if they are learning or progressing in any way. And because of the high numbers, to keep sanity in that room, they have to sit in lines and keep fairly quiet, understandably so, but there was never a chance for the kids to really mingle and become friends. I think June felt alone there and lost in the shuffle. SO- That is fine for some people and that's great! But we stopped this class after October and are planning to get June back into dance, like she's requested. In the meantime I am going to see if there is anything else like this with smaller numbers of students. I do think she would love it more if so. The end of that long explanation.

This fall Hazel and I have enjoyed library story time once a week. It was simple and nearby and she loved having another place to go for herself, since she seems to feel a little left out from not going to school yet like her big sister.

And then I decided to be a crazy person and institute two "classes" at home with the girls. The original plan was to give me one on one time with each girl. So Hazel's would be one day a week while June was at school and June's would be one day a week during Hazel's nap. Easy enough, right? For June I wanted to do a cooking class since she is really into that, and for Hazel I wanted to do an art class since of course she would love that. But what's really happened is inconsistent days and times and thinking about both cooking and art, "But the other sister would love doing this too!" and we ended up doing these things all together, even for family night half of the time. And they don't happen every week. But it's the thought that counts right? I realized it was best to not force it and to go with the flow. I'm pregnant and trying my best and I feel good about the goals I made because in the end they at least gave us some good activities together and now I am prepared for many more! 

Cooking: Granola bars

I even got Chef hats to make it official. I think we made a smoothie this day

The making of that Apple Pie

Some art time!

And lastly, the one that seems to really stick the most: Swimming lessons. It's both enjoyable for the girls and a super important life skill! It's been life changing for June already and Hazel is getting old enough to start taking lessons alone too! This fall the owner has been kind enough to let Hazel and I just get in one side of the pool and hang out while June has her lessons.

So that's what we've been trying out and doing so far this new school year! I think it's so important never to over schedule, we all need down time and time to be bored so that we can get creative and imagine. But I also think it's important to keep growing and learning and find what we love and or talents. I'm new at trying to find this balance, obviously, and even though this may look like we are super busy all week, believe me, there are many down times too! But it's been fun to have things the girls look forward to during the week as well. The end.