For the past several weeks, Alexandra has been taking weekly tap dance lessons with Small Fry Dance Club here in San Mateo. She loves Teacher Christa almost as much as she loves her tap shoes. Yes, indeed – our percussive princess who notably made her presence & personality known prenatally by kicking in rhythm to the drums of a parade in Panzano, Italy in April, 2012 definitely has a performance style that pleases her.

I shot this video through the window between the dance studio & gallery today. Alex would only allow Mommy to sit with her in the studio, but that was a-okay by me since that meant I actually got to see her face rather than her back! (You can see Lara in the background recording from the reverse, since she’s keeping clips of Alex’s progress for her – and yes, we are actually watching Alex with our eyes rather than looking at our phone screens.) I synched the video up to the music they’re dancing to behind the glass, so you can get a sense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5uUbTBYkD8

She’ll have a recital on June 26 if anyone is around and wants to join!

What this video doesn’t contain is Alexandra giving me golf instruction. “Daddy, this is the ball. You have to get the ball closer to thing. Even closer!”

Still cute, though. 🙂

http://youtu.be/ZBVH4kFfbdk

Not much to see in this video (although who doesn’t like fairy wings?), but turn up the volume and give a listen! Sure, yeah – it’s just a three and a half year old playing around on a piano, but it’s not random and actually somewhat beautiful. (Says the performer’s incredibly biased father.)

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-8iZJbCOjA

(The venue is the Ferris house. You can see Alex’s friend Amelia make a few passes in front of the camera.)

Hi folks! We hope you’re enjoying the last bit of 2015. We know it’s been a quiet year on the blog, namely a result of our exhaustion, combined with Alexandra’s general dislike of having her picture taken.

However, when we spent the weekend in Colorado in October (meeting up with Ian’s family to celebrate his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary), our very generous sister Sarah rounded us all up for a family photoshoot and Alex LOVED the photographer. (If you’re ever in Denver, we highly recommend Swinson Studios.) Here are a few of us and Miss A.

Also, for those of you who’ve asked, Alex is currently 3’4″ tall, weighs 38 pounds and exclusively wears dresses these days.

This one didn’t make the cut for the Christmas card but it’s a classic family pic.

Yes, she really is that cute.

Look! We showered and put on clean clothes! (Lara’s even wearing makeup!)

Possibly my favorite picture ever.

Bonus pic: Alexandra after viewing her first ballet performance, the Nutcracker “Sweet” (a 45-minute, preschooler-friendly event).

http://youtu.be/2lLSGepZtR8
“Computer.”

“COMPUTER.”

“Hello, Computer!”

Alex’s 3rd birthday was on July 19, and so she’s now officially outgrown the “Toddler & Me” swim class. She’s now in a Level 2 class and swimming solo.
http://youtu.be/-xOo3sKuQkA

Revisit the post from her first swim class for some perspective on the passage of time!

Our posts may be few and far between, but this is too adorable not to share. Alex had her first class at Tutu School in Redwood City today. Our dinosaur-loving, firefighting, Frozen fanatic of a daughter is delightedly adding “ballerina” to her resume. 🙂

http://youtu.be/dvDmgzMW8N8

From last week’s class at Little Wonders (the co-op preschool), I give you…Cinderelmo.

Dress is hers. Elmo is a costume at school.

The Foster City Fire and Police Departments had an open house this morning. It might as well have been a recruiting drive for the mid 2030’s!

Someone is sportin’ a new do today!