Golden Dragon Acrobats

This past weekend I took e to see the Golden Dragon Acrobats. This was the first time I have taken e to a Performing Arts Theater. The show was at the Touhill Theater on UMSL's campus. We had balcony seats in the first row so that he could freely move about without anyone obstructing his view.

I had talked to his Daddy about taking him prior to ordering the tickets since it would cut a bit into his time. He loved the idea and got him ready for me before to the show. I wish I had a picture to post of how handsome e looked when I picked him up. Daddy had spiked his hair, layered his clothes, put him in a pair of skinny jeans from H&M and (best part according to e) he got to wear Daddy's cologne. As e walked out of the house to meet me he was holding his shirt out, with a large grin on his face, for me to smell.

I had talked up our date and went to YouTube with him to get a small preview of the performance ahead. We were both ooohing and ahhhing over the acts. e: "look Mom, they're juggling!" me: "look e, it's with their feet!"

e was quite taken by the theater. He was ready for the show to begin and he found it more exciting to stand at the balcony and watch. At first he was still and quiet, then he went from exaggerated applause to (by intermission) getting a little too comfortable with the railings on the stairs. I was starting to notice his little gears working out how he could maneuver such moves/stunts. It was then I knew I was going to have to drill in his little (almost) 4 year old head that we don't attempt these "tricks" at home. The Acrobats are trained professionals and if little boys want to learn they have to go to Acrobat School.

We had a nice rest of our evening, after the show we went to dinner and then on home. After putting on our PJ's I told e how I could help him continue to learn some gymnastics. I have been teaching him a few skills sharing how I was a gymnast for many years myself and then moved on to teach little boys and girls his age. With great enthusiasm he wanted to practice and when giving him some direction I could clearly see that all he was interested in was learning to scale the wall or do a "flip". I'm not exactly sure why there weren't more disclaimers to that show, I'm definitely taming a little Acrobatic beast within him now!

I'm thankful for...

At bedtime I encourage e to list some things he's thankful for during prayer. This evening we made a game out of it. He would say one and then when I would go to share mine, he'd giggle and interrupt me with another one of his. Our dialog went a little something like this...

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my elbow (he fell and scraped his elbow).

me: Yeah, that's a good one.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my belly.

me: Oh yeah, how's it been feeling? That's so great e.

e: How does he talk to us?

me: He speaks to our hearts.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing my knee. Remember that one day...I can't remember, but he healed it.

me: Yeah, I remember you once having a hurt knee, that's a good one too, He's so faithful. Isn't it cool how he made our bodies heal?

e: Can our bones break?

me: Yes. And do you know our bones can grow back together?

(I then went into a description of how they heal using my hands and fingers to show a break and then how they come together/fuse back together. Then I told him it was my turn.)

me: (rushing while e was interrupting) I'm thankful for a nice dinner.

e: I'm thankful for Jesus healing your back.

me: (again rushing while e giggled to get his in) I'm thankful for you.

(And then I stepped it up a notch and started naming a bunch of people.)

me: Daddy, Janine, Pop, LaLa, Grandma, Papa Joe, Uncle CJ, Great Gran, Aunt Celine, Our Church Family......(by this time he's really silly and laughing).

e: I'm thankful for my Daddy creating my house.

me: Oh e! That's wonderful! I've gotta tell your Daddy that one, that's so sweet.

e: (very seriously) You know...we have bones and they heal. (Gesturing with his hands) they go like this and then we put soil with them and they grow back together.

me: (I said nothing but rather made mental note of blogging this entry.)

e: Why do you have that in your hair?

me: It's my barrette that keeps my bangs out of my eyes.

(And after a long pause and time of me convincing e it was time to go to bed e says this to me:)

e: I'll hold your hair back Mommy so it's not in your eyes.

e you are such a sweet boy.

love you son, good night.