Series of Firsts

Well we have had many firsts happen the last week or so. Let's make a list!

1.) Besides starting first grade this year, Jake also got to start going to gymnastics class. The boy does the most amazing things with that little body on any given day that we thought it might be good for him to learn the correct way to leap off of high objects, crash into things and fall down. He had such a good time! It was an hour of stretching, jumping, parallel bars, high rings and trampoline fun. He loved all of it but was a little unsure of the high rings. Because they were really high. He asked me if I saw his "worried face" when he was on them. Still, he is counting down the days until his next class on Friday. He would go every single day if we let him.

2.) I had my first experience losing a child at Target. Emma Mae and I made our weekly Thursday trip to Target because I had some things I needed to return. And she needed a cake pop from Starbucks! We got there and went straight to the customer service line. There were two women in front of me who seemed to be causing all sorts of trouble. The poor ladies working the desk looked a bit frazzled. And whatever they were doing took a long time. Now, Emma Mae was not in the cart at this point. She wanted to walk like a big girl. I allowed it. However, she got bored about one minute into the waiting in line part and asked if she could go look at the dollar aisle. I allowed it. The dollar section was in full view of the customer service line. Except for the part that wasn't. And of course that is the part she went to. There was also a man standing off to the side watching Emma and what I assume was his son playing with the toys.  I left my place in line to go tell her she needed to stay on the part of the aisle where I could actually see her and she complied. I was thrilled! Who was this obedient mama pleasing child I had with me? Well, then she started skipping back and forth between me in line to the dollar aisle. And when she wasn't doing that she was dancing on this big wooden pallet they had sitting in the middle of the floor. And talking. Always talking. Loudly. Finally, it was my turn to talk to the frazzled customer service lady. I made my returns, grabbed my purse and turned around to tell Emma that it was cake pop time. Only I couldn't find her. So I went over to the part of the dollar aisle that was not visible to me ready to give her a talking to about not being where she was supposed to be. Only no Emma. So then I panicked. I just knew that man I saw earlier had taken my baby. I went back to the worn out customer service ladies and said "did ya'll see where my daughter went?" Just blank stares. So I said "you know the cute little loud girl that's been running around, singing, dancing and calling me MAMA!? Did you notice where she went? I can't find her!" So then one of the ladies looked at me and said "she's missing? how old is she?" I said "four." They looked at each other and the one lady told the other one to call for a code yellow. Three times. So that's what she did. She got her walkie talkie out and screamed "code yellow!" three times while the other lady ran to the front doors to start locking down Target. Just then an older looking mom type who had also been waiting in line looked at me and said "did you check the bathroom? sometimes they like to go to the bathroom." So I did. And there she was! I hugged her and asked her where she had been and told her that she had scared me beyond belief. Well, it seems she just got bored and decided to go potty by herself. Because she's big and all. And while she was in the bathroom she visited with some lady about the bracelet she was wearing. Just then I realized that the Target employees were all still scrambling so I poked my head around the corner and said "FOUND HER! You may cancel the code yellow." To which the weary customer service ladies responded "that is so scary! I hate it when that happens!" All I have to say is kudos to Target and their quick response time in dealing with missing children.

3.) You may remember that Emma Mae has been wanting to take dance lessons for some time now. Well, yesterday her dream became a reality. She was so excited she couldn't even get to sleep the night before. So we got her all dressed up in her tights and leotard. But she started complaining that the tights were too tight. Try telling a four year old that tights are supposed to be tight. That was a great conversation. Then she decided that the size four underwear she had on didn't feel right under her tights. Hmm. Perhaps because the size fours are at least a size too big for her. But she will only wear them because proper fitting underwear feel, you guessed it! "too tight." Anyway, she became a hot mess. Then her ballet shoes were too tight. Well. I finally got her loaded up in the car and had the great idea to ask her if she was feeling nervous at all. So then of course she was! By the time we got to the dance studio she was begging me to let her take off her underwear. Since I'm not an official "dance mom" yet I didn't have any idea if that would be acceptable so I made her wear them. And she spent the first thirty minutes of class laying on the floor crying her poor little blue eyes out. Her teacher was amazing and smiled the whole time and eventually Emma got up to participate for the last half of class. She says she wants to go back next week but she does not want to wear underwear!
Here she is before the drama started.

4.) Emma also had her first day of her last year of pre-school today. She just loves her school! She got to see her beloved teachers from last year and she seems to already love her new teachers for this year. I'm so glad I get to experience all of these "first times" with my sweet kiddos! (well, except for the missing child part)