Dancing makes the world go 'round!

Today we are off to practice our "medieval" dancing, SCA style. While we are at that location, we will utilize the space to practice our ballroom and Latin dancing. Our new house has a room that has been designated as the "dancing room" but we really like more room for tango, foxtrot and waltz. (It works great for swing, lindy hop, cha cha or West Coast Swing.)

Then later tonight Jacob and I have an intermediate waltz class with a different instructor than we usually have. It is a group class which takes a little bit of readjusting to get used to after taking so many private lessons with Sam. The boys and I, along with Alysha, started a triple time swing class on Tuesday evenings with the guy--Bruce--last week. As is often the case, the class is all adults and they are all surprised at how well the teens dance. The kids are a little disgusted with that kind of attitude, but the dancing is worth it.

We have taken lessons in several locations across the state now. Maine, as you might guess, is not exactly the ballroom dance capital of the world. Bruce is actually local for us--for a change. Our favorite group lessons have been with Chuck up in Eddington at Back Door Dance Studio. He taught us Savoy style lindy hop and we love his method of teaching. Sam teaches at Swing and Sway in Rockland. (We actually knew him from the SCA first though, so he is a good friend as well.)

Jacob especially wants MORE DANCE. And so do I, actually. Kelsey and Kaleb love swing, and lindy hop of course. But Jacob likes them all and wants to learn them all--even the ones he is not crazy about. I know more waltz than Jacob from dancing with Sam, but I think Jacob is up for the class. We are going to find out tonight.

Music is also huge in this house. Lately we have been searching for more cool music to dance to--some less "traditional" stuff, but also just different stuff. One of our latest finds is a Dutch guy named Guus Meeuwis whose song "Brabant" is an awesome waltz. Beyond that, we just think he sounds really cool. So far our biggest challenge has been finding rumba music. I think it is mostly because it is a really slow dance and we don't dance it often. We tend to gravitate more towards faster stuff. Even for waltz or foxtrot, we like the ones that you get to move.

I notice that Kaylin(7) and Josie(4) often take advantage of the dancing room. It is so cute to see them emulating their older siblings. Dancing cha cha and swing. They are not interested in being "taught" but they are starting to show interest and pick up some moves.

And Josie is an amazing singer at 4. Her retention of lyrics is much greater than Kaylin's. The other day she was going through the house singing, "She wouldn't spit on me if I was on fire..." (from Use Me by Hinder) and all I could think was, "Wow, how did she learn that? Gee, I hope she doesn't sing this at Grammy's house..." Or "Crazy Bitch" by Buckcherry or something similiar. And you just know that is what will happen. Not the Colbie Caillat or some other more innocuous song.

Where does the Time Go?

I was told last week that I spend too much time with my kids. Too much time?!? What is that? But then I look at this blog and think "It has been that long since I've been here?" I don't know how some people do it. Granted we were without a computer for about six months. And we bought a house and moved. And we are now in the midst of renovating said house...

Too much time with my kids... The concept simply blows my mind, to be honest. The time flies by and they all grow so fast. Before I know it, they are verging on adulthood. Talking about roadtrips across the country with friends from Not Back to School Camp that I have never even met.

And I learned the hard way that you never know how long you may or may not have with them. It has been almost 2 years since Jossilyn's AML relapsed. It is still hard to watch the others grow and always know that she never will. I expect it always will be. Not that I am sunk in despair--far from it in fact. That was not what she was about at all.

I have never gotten to the point of saying I have 5 kids instead of 6. That is always awkward for others. And now I have 6 in the house once more. Kelsey's friend Alysha has been living with us for over a month now. It changes the dynamics of the household somewhat but we love her as part of our family. I forget how different schooled kids can be from my own. She is going to go to the local high school, since I am not a legal guardian yet. But we plan on broaching the subject with her father soon. It will make our lives so much easier--both for schooling and SCA purposes.

Too much time with my kids? They have got to be kidding!