She loves to dance. She can’t seem to stop dancing. It’s SO funny.

Here’s a moment when we were hanging out at the columns on campus.

Here’s a moment as we walked home tonight after running around and playing outside.

OH! And here’s an awesome moment last Friday when we took the kids to the St. Louis Cardinal’s game. Jordan started blowing kisses to all of the players. Sorry for the shaky video – she was sitting on my lap, so that was tricky to make sure she was in the shot.

I’m pretty proud… After school Jordan went straight to the swing set in the backyard… She’s fallen in love with it again recently. While I was away in China, Jordan upgraded from a baby swing to a big girl swing. She’s figuring out how to pump her legs and swing all by herself. Of course, I’m proud. I was rushing around the house cooking and getting ready to go to the gym, so I didn’t take really good pictures of her successful swinging. But either way, I’m proud.

But Jordan didn’t really notice. It’s kind of strange to start a new school year and Jordan didn’t move classrooms at school. That’s the cool thing about the development lab she attends on campus. She has the chance to work with the same teachers until she goes to Kindergarten. The kids in the room range from two and a half to five years old. Very cool. But the start of the school year didn’t seem that cool to her.

But to me… I’m ready to get to business. I’m spending a lot of time trying to work with Jordan on letters and numbers. She does not have the hunger to memorize and digest the information that comes from those symbols. Jordan understand that the key to reading is understanding letters and the sounds they make. But she hasn’t jumped in and really worked on the skills it takes to know what sounds each letters make. Her brother was obsessed with it by this age. Jordan’s more interested in pretending with her friends. I realize she’s only three and a half – but I think it’s time we really start getting down to business. Today I spelled family names and worked on showing her which letter was which. Jordan was kind of interested. But that’s all. Her teachers know she understands more than she is willing to display. (She knew her colors for months before she was willing to really display that knowledge) Dang independent kid. She’s going to do everything on her own terms. Even letters and numbers. (What’s that sound? It’s me beating my head on the wall)

Jordan’s preschool runs all year round but her brother starts back up in school next week. So I’ve let our life schedule get a bit out of wack – the kids have stayed up late. I’ve taken them to the pool at all hours. We’ve stayed at the gym a little late. Basically bed times have been at least an hour later than usual. So now I’m on a quest to put an end to that this week. So far, so good. But I realized that a part of our late life is because I’ve been dragging the kids to the gym for a 6:30 class I love. Getting out of class at 7:30 already puts them late for the going-to-bed process. So I’m on the hunt to change my schedule so I can be healthy AND keep the kids on some kind of schedule.

The big challenge – I’m going to have to change my sleep schedule. I’m a night owl… but with my work schedule starting earlier in the morning… I am going to need to exercise more in the morning than the night. (**sob**) Wish me luck!

Jordan and the rest of the family just returned from a huge vacation. We camped in New Hampshire and enjoyed the coast of Maine. A two week MEGA trip! Some of the highlights include Jordan’s first hike on her own where she climbed up Mt. Willard in Crawford Notch State Park! 2804 feet high!

The most fun was watching Jordan break out into dance just about anywhere — including dance with my brother in the fog on a street and with lobsters.