Infectious

I'm slow on posting this, it got lost in the shuffle of computer transfer/holidays/etc so if FFM looks a little shorter then 1)you have sharp eyes and 2)you're right. Back before Christmas FFM went to his super pal Emma's birthday party at her Tae Kwon Do class. He had a total blast, I mean they cut the cake with a SABER, who wouldn't love that? The party included lots of activities, like kicking and hitting foamy stuff. FFM's was pretty cautious about this activity, witness:
 It took pretty much his whole turn for him to get into it. However, while waiting in line listening to the groovy music he has no problem getting busy. So busy he's a blur!
 
 And then, it spreads to the other kids to...infectious groovy energy! Yes, he's like this all the time. Yes, it wears us out. I'm wondering if I can task Travis in his role as Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Regional Business Lead to somehow harness this energy to power our furnace this winter.

Look out Mozart

FFM started music classes three weeks ago.  I'd call them piano lessons but he learns so much more than piano in them that it's hard for me to call them just that.  His small group class sings, they dance, they beat tambourines and sticks, their wonderful teacher even has them writing notes on the staff already and expanding their musical vocabulary.  On the second week they were already going to the 'big' piano and playing in front of the class to pass songs in their book.  I'm floored by how fast these little kids are progressing and absorbing absolutely enormous amounts of information.  I'm not sure I can keep up!

The first two weeks FFM was so excited during class that he literally vibrated so much he couldn't sit still and the other kids complained that he was yelling too much when Miss Kelly asked questions.  By week three he could sit and had apparently been doing listening during weeks one and two because he managed to get answers out, this time without shouting.

FFM has requested that I make a video of him playing so that 'everyone' could see.  I cannot express how much he loves his music, and I'm a very proud parent and happy to indulge him by posting his performance of "Sugar Cookies."

Snow and Skis and Horses and Speed

Skijoring!  We've been chasing down this sport since last winter and finally caught up with it in Minturn, CO this weekend.  If you are uninitiated in the finer points of skijoring here's a quick tutorial.  Skiers or snowboarders are pulled along a course by a rider on a horse.  The goal is to make all the jumps, go through all the gates, and spear four rings with a short lance as fast as you can.  The jumps, gates, and rings all switch sides several times so the skier slaloms back and forth along the course swapping rings and lance lickety split.

Do they crash?  Heck yes.  Are the horses wound up and excited?  Oh yeah.  Is it a totally insane sport?  Well, I believe so but it sure is fun to watch.

It was beyond freezing on Sunday when we made it to the races, the windchill was unbelievable so we only stayed for an hour.  The racers and horses were still going strong when we left, and fans were still pouring in.

The fans standing next to us asked FFM if he was going to race in the kids race next year.  Our cautious kiddo said "Probably not!"

Things You Only Say When You Are A Parent

"Yeah, time to go home.  I have a poopy sock in my pocket."

Hoovering

Chores are a big deal around here.  We are firm believers in the chore chart, it's a proven system for FFM and it leaves him feeling empowered and me happy about not having to do everything myself.

He was working on his chores this weekend and decided to pick up a few extra by helping out Dad.  I was busy painting downstairs when Dad came down to chat, and meanwhile I still heard the vacuum running upstairs.  Really?!  Yes, Travis explained that after a brief tutorial FFM was vacuuming the upstairs all on his own.  Time to add more chores to that chart!