She wears them at night

Natalie is one of those girls who just loves ballet. At times she must wear a tutu. And we can do her no greater favor than letting her take a ballet class.

Today was the first day of her new class. She was thrilled to wear her new apparel. The whole day she kept her ballet shoes on. She is asleep now, probably dreaming of piques, positions, and pirouettes. She is certainly wearing the right shoes for them ...

Proud

Today Natalie surprised me (again). I asked her what she had learned at school today. She said she had worked with a pentagon. Yes, you read that right: a pentagon. Never mind she is three years old (well, almost four). She knows about pentagons. That's my daughter.

I am so glad I can have her attend the Montessori school. So glad.

Back to school

Now that Natalie attends pre-school, the whole family is being educated. When daddy (after a long and tiring day!) lets his elbows rest on the table during dinner, she is quick to remark:

No elbows on the table, papa!

And she is right. Proper posture yields superior results. Can't wait to find out what else I will learn again...

Feedback

Natalie has reached a new milestone. She now teaches others what she has learned. This means that at every traffic light she tells me whether to stop or continue. I can handle that.

It is harder, however, to accept feedback on the way I eat. "You need to sit straight in front of your plate, papa!" That's right. I have to be careful what I teach her because it can, no, WILL be fed back to me.

Go away!

Natalie has a little brother. This week she taught him his first full sentence: "Go away!" He does not really know what it means and he uses it quite a lot. So now we have a toddler running around in the house telling everyone to go away.

Soooo sweet

Natalie has learned a very sweet song at school.

I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
in my heart

I've got love like a mountain
I've got love like a mountain
I've got love like a mountain
in my heart

I've got joy like a fountain
I've got joy like a fountain
I've got joy like a fountain
in my heart

I got my daughter back!

Natalie has had her third ear infection this year. Before we realized this she was not herself - she kept whining and refusing anything we proposed. The moment she got her medicine and the pain went away I recognized my sweet little girl again. Hopefully the probiotics undo the harmful side-effects of the antibiotics.