Children's Museum

This was Evie's first week back to school after Christmas break and the transition back went pretty well.  She was very excited to go back to school and see her friends and, even more, her teacher who had been out since just before Thanksgiving with knee replacement surgery.  Drop offs all week were easy which was a relief.

One day when we were on the way to school, we saw a woman out jogging in the neighborhood.  She didn't have a stroller or a dog, just going out for a run.  Evie said, "Mama, who is chasing that lady?"  I was confused and said, "I don't think anyone's chasing her, baby."  Evie said, "Then why her running?"  I have often wondered myself why people go running for a hobby...

Yesterday, I took Evie to the Children's Museum and she had a blast.  She is now tall enough to go in the skyscraper which is a series of platforms enclosed in very thick and sturdy grid wire with one or two holes through which the kids can climb up and down.  It goes about 15 feet up in the air, but it feels like a lot more to me because just the thought makes me claustrophobic.  It's been there since I was a kid and I remember one time feeling like I'd gotten stuck in it.  But I try not to discourage Evie from doing things that are daring but safe, so up she went.

She's very strong - her upper body strength is amazing! - and so she had no problem getting herself through the maze.

She also enjoyed playing in their life size airplane cockpit and milking the cow.  It really is a great museum.

Evie also started back to ballet class yesterday.  She's gone up to the next class which is 3-5 year-olds instead of the 2.5-3 year-olds and she's much better for it, I think.  She does well with structure, routine, and direct instruction and now has the ability to pay attention for the full half hour so I think the new class is a better fit.  Plus it's the same age of kids as she has in her Montessori class and she is good at rising to the level of expectation and maturity of the other members of her class.

A couple of language things.  She was watching Aladdin at my parents' house and I just have to record for posterity the way she says "magic carpet": mæʒɪ t͡arpɪt (mazhih tarpit for those who don't read IPA).

And last night I called out to her from the study, "Evie, are you putting your shoes away?"  She calls back, "Indeed!"