1st Day of Gymnastics Class

Time for everyone to stretch out. 

Balancing on the beam....smile and all. 

I see both 'Knowles' and 'Kies' in this picture. 

Balancing on one foot IN a ring....check out the pointed toe on the left foot!

This is probably my favorite picture of the bunch....little brother looking on....a little bored.  This might be the first of many dance classes/gymnastics classes/recitals Kennon looks a little bored at :) 

He was actually extremely good and almost dozed off to the sound of the happy kids/music.I did get his hair cut on Monday.....he is looking so little boy.  Love the BLUE eyes.  

The little boy in the background is named CARTER and he was WAY more interested in the balls that were not really part of our class.  So funny. 

So we have had LOTS of firsts for the kids the last couple of weeks.  Yesterday afternoon Maddox started her first gymnastics class at the YMCA.  I really wanted to get her into a dance class ( to follow in the footsteps of mom and after seeing her moves at the street fest in Breckenridge Colorado with her cousin CJK ) but none of the YMCA classes matched up with our busy schedule and unfortunately she has to be 3 on or before the 15th of September to get into the dance classes at the Children's Museum. So we settled for gymnastics. I have to say, most if not all of the activities Maddox has already done as they have all the equipment she used during class at Kindercare. She has been doing all these 'moves' since she started there last year in the 2's but it is still a nice workout for her and another social setting for her to adapt to. She did really well you can see from the pictures.  She has a little work to get more proficient at the balance beam and with the somersaults but I was really proud of her. She only got a little scared one time in class and she was easily re directed when they started playing the FREEZE game.  So we will go every Tuesday afternoon 4:30-5 for the next 8 weeks.  I"m hoping to eventually get her into a dance class next fall though....so the activities begin. Kennon spent almost the entire day last Friday in the toddler room. He slept for 1.5 hours on the cot, did art, and ate at the big boy table. He only got  slightly, to put it mildly, upset when his favorite infant teacher didn't come outside onto the toddler playground to play with him. Her name is Mrs Lisa and she has Kennon wrapped around her little finger.  He LOVES her and apparently doesn't let her out of his sight all that often. Thank goodness the toddler room really is just the next room over and he can still see her through the small partition they have. We are very thankful for the infant room teachers. They are so loving and really care for the kids like their own. In the toddler room Kennon will get to do ART everyday, his favorite time and he will just take one nap which we are trying to do at home as well.  Kennon got his first major boo boo on Monday evening.  The Cozy Coupe got away from him on the driveway and pulled him down about 1/4 of the way before it came to a stop at the end. Unfortunately he didn't have on pants.  Boo boos on both of his knees which Maddox was VERY quick to offer a "bandeed" for as she calls it. They are all scabbed over today.  She seems to be liking 'Church School' on Monday and Wednesday mornings. She usually comes home all smiles. Today she sang the new prayer they do before they have snack, which is different than the song the sing at Kindercare before they eat lunch.  I am going to have to start writing things down so I know which jingles go with what school.  Anyhow she is going potty there ( which is fabulous...given her continued fear of public potties) and loves that they have JUICE for snack sometimes. I am, for the first time ever, taking my birthday off on Friday. Looking forward to having the day to myself and preparing for Grandpa Jim's 65 birthday party Tyler and I ( with dad and jean's assistance) are throwing.  Should be a fabulous time!! Eric and I got to go to the Hawkeye game on Saturday.  A big thanks to Grandma Jean and Grandpa Jim for watching the kids.  As usual they came with gifts!!  A new Tee ball set for the kids.  Kennon is all about balls and LOVES to literally launch them at anyone and anything. I think he actually has a good arm.  He was quick to pick up the bat and swing it at the ball....although I'm sure he got a lot of good teaching from Grandpa Jim.  Eric and I had a nice time away despite the horrific game. C'mon Hawks...get in gear.  Better luck this weekend.

Mom and Dad at the Iowa vs Iowa State game 9.8.12 

Happy boy in my warm up suit from Veta Mark Jaci and Alex 

Playing with the 'boy toys' at the neighbor's house.  They have 2 girls older than Maddox but still have a few boy toys around from when they did daycare.  Denyse has bailed us out a couple of time watching our sick kiddos so Eric and I can work. A great neighbor. 

New Tee ball set from Grandpa and Grandma Knowles. 

'I did it'....one of Kennon's favorite phrases.