Happy Valentine's Day!!

The Gymnast

It is safe to say that Ella loved her first gymnastic lesson. She was the only one in the class last week so she had a lot of one on one attention from her instructor. Her instructor also complimented Ella on her listening and was pleased Ella attempted everything she was asked to do. The lesson was a complete success and Ella is already anxious for it to be Tuesday again! Sitting in the foam pit.

Feeling secure on the lower beam.

Being brave on the high beam!

When Grandma's too busy....

...Grandpa has to babysit!

Lately, my mom has been overbooked for her babysitting services. My brothers and I are fortunate that our mom is able to babysit so much, but sometimes Grandma double books. When that happens, Grandma sends Grandpa Jim over to babysit our kids while she watches Ella and James' cousins at the farm. Ella and James love this and my dad seems to enjoy it as well. As an added bonus, Grandpa gets to watch cable T.V. while the kids nap. This is a treat as they don't get cable on the farm.

Grandpa babysat yesterday and when Mark came home, he took this picture. Both kids were enjoying some cuddle time with Grandpa. This past week has been hard on James. He had a lingering cold, is getting some new teeth and to top it all off, he got the stomach flu. He's still recovering and not eating or sleeping well. Lucky for James, Grandpa Jim was happy to snuggle with him for a while!

Gymnastics!

I've enrolled Ella in some gymnastics classes. She loves to do somersaults and headstands and much to our horror even perfected a flip from the couch onto the couch cushions piled on the floor. (Mark and I put a stop to that new routine after she showed off her new skill!) Ella has been very excited for gymnastics to begin and tomorrow morning is the big day. Tonight, however, she is a little anxious about the first day of class tomorrow. At bedtime she told Mark in a very matter-of-fact little voice, "Daddy, sometimes when you do something new you get a little nervous." When I was tucking her in, after we agreed on what she would wear to the class (Ella is insisting on a leotard because "that's what gymnastic people wear") she gave me a little insight into why she might be feeling a little nervous. She asked me where her number would go. I guess in her little mind she was preparing to be in a gymnastic competition, just like she has seen on T.V. No wonder she was feeling a little nervous! I would be too!