Mykee the Ninja, Soccer Player, and Dancer!

I have felt a lot of guilt over the lack of attention Mykelle and Evan have received over this past winter.  Yes, it's true that I had a good reason for the lack, but a good reason won't give them back those six months of being 3 and 2 years old!  I've been trying to fit as much as I can into my time with them, while at the same time realizing I sometimes need my own down time (so starting the movie Tangled for the twentieth time would probably be okay).   During one of my ambitious moments I stopped by the Recreation Department in my town and signed the kids up for classes.  Mykelle is in three, Evan is in one (most classes are for 3-5 year olds). 

Mykee's first class is called Lil' Ninjas and is on Monday nights (don't worry, it's from 4-5 so there is still plenty of time for dinner and Family Night!).  Of all the classes she was most involved and "into" this one.  We arrived about 5 minutes early to the Martial Arts studio and my first thought was that I would not want to be in this area of town in the dark...  Then we walked up some creepy stairs in an old dark building to arrive in a dingy studio room that looked to be 100 years old.  I was worrying that maybe this was not the best class to sign Mykee up for but she of course didn't even notice!  She immediately took her shoes off and ran out onto the mat with the other kids.  I do love that she is not shy!

Mykelle is in black and pink, holding hands with Olivia on her right

Mykelle made friends with Olivia, a triplet that's taking the class for the second time with her sisters.  It was so cute to see Mykee holding hands with another girl she'd just met and to see how happy they seemed to make each other. 

Mykelle's version of a push-up (they weren't taught how to do them, just told to do them!)

The instructor was an older man (I'd guess 60-65) and was quite cranky- though he pretended to be joking with the kids.  I was really looking forward to a class with a respectable Sensei that would teach Mykelle a disciplined art to be used against people only when defending herself or others.  Instead, the class is teaching her to be yelled at if she doesn't follow directions and "sit on the white line!" for almost twenty minutes while watching two classmates play "Sumo."  How many barely 4 year olds do you know that can sit still for twenty minutes, let alone on a line watching other kids play?!  The Sensei kept yelling at two or three kids that couldn't follow directions (they were NOT disobeying on purpose, they're just young!).  Two kids were forced to either sit alone on the mat or with their parents, and one child was told repeatedly by Sensei, "I'm gonna punch you out!"  And the parents just laugh, because Sensei was laughing, pretending to be joking.  I do not want Mykelle thinking she can use her new talents to "punch out" any of her friends!

Karate moves while counting to ten in Japanese

Mykelle's Awesome Kicks

Mykelle would rather talk to Max and Olivia than sit still on the white line and watch her classmates!

It wasn't all bad though.  When they were practicing their moves the kids were really into it.  They counted to ten in Japanese and with each number they did the movement that corresponded.  This part Mykee really enjoyed.  She was very good at copying the sound of the number and yelling it loudly.  Her punches were pretty good, her kicks were terrible but super cute.  She loved the class, and is looking forward to going back.  I will give it another shot and see if the instructor improves. 

Mykelle's second class is called Goal-den Kickers.  Yeah, it's a soccer class!  I was of course super excited to get her in this class but it has been her least favorite.  It's an hour long which is already hard for her and she's supposed to keep the ball with her at all times- it turns out that this is VERY hard for her!  She is often seen running around carrying the ball in her arms or just running without it! 

Just chillin'

Mykee Roaring!  Notice, without the ball

Best picture- following directions AND has a ball!

Soccer?  Who needs soccer when you have a net to walk on!?

Pouting because I told her to go play.

Straddling the cones- all of the other kids were supposed to be sitting and listening to the coaches (at least Mykee is not the only one that can't follow directions!)

The first class was so funny to watch.  Mykee went right out and started playing without any pushing from Adam and I.  But then Evan wanted to go out too.  It was sad to have to tell Evan he couldn't go play ball with his sister because he was too young!  Adam ended up taking Evan outside while I stayed with Mykee just so he wouldn't throw a fit.  After about 1/2 hour of playing Mykelle was done.  She kept coming over to the sideline to sit with me and would run out to play for about 3 minutes before she'd come right back over to me.  It was the same thing last night, her second time at the class. 

 Just ignore the blurry ending, I thought I stopped the camera!

Believe it or not, Mykelle was actually WORSE the second class than she was the first week!  The coaches this time were much better with kids but I think they made her too excited to play- They kept pretending they were animals and would run around the field acting like lions or elephants while dribbling the ball.  Mykee just ran around roaring or waving her trunk a lot! At least she was cute doing it huh?  We'll have to see if anything changes by the end of 8 weeks...

Mykelle's third class is a Creative Movement class.  It's supposed to expose children to a variety of music and dance moves and types.   I don't know that it will give the kids much exposure to variety but they will have fun goofing around together.  Mykelle is in the class with one of her best friends Calista (she's dressed in red and white with the beautiful long blond curly locks).  The instructor has dance experience and is a Special Education elementary teacher so she deals well with these young kids.

Mykee and Calista had to be reminded/told a few times to follow the teacher and not do their own type of dancing.  Calista likes to float around and do fancy sweet ballet type twirls and jumps while Mykelle likes to jump around to the beat and run like crazy.  Gratefully this teacher doesn't mind a little craziness and was not threatening to punch anyone out! 

Evan's class is a Mommy and Me reading and craft class on Wednesday mornings.  I am excited to try it out next week while Mykelle is at preschool.  From the description we will be reading a story and then doing a small craft together for about 45 minutes.  Sounds like some good one-on-one time for Evan and me.