Dance = Cats

The deal was. when Amber was potty trained she could take dance lessons. I figured the cost of diapers equaled the cost of lessons, so it was a push. Unfortunately, she chose end of May when the dance studios were breaking for the summer (and her brothers had three baseball games) to be potty trained.

This week, I was finally able to honor my end of the bargain, Amber took a dance camp (one hour a day for a week). The first day of camp she actual beamed she was so happy. 

Tuesday, she was so happy to be the line leader and sit next to her teacher.

Each day she came home telling her "boys" in a very articulate manner all the fun she'd had at class that day.  She really liked the parachute day.

On Thursday, we brought home more than tales, in fact we brought home two tails.

When I arrived at class the talk among the moms and teachers was two black kittens that had been dumped at the studio. One lady was adamant that she was going to take them to SPCA after class but she knew they had little chance of adoption because they were solid black and people are superstitious of solid black cats. This had me thinking. Chris and I had talked about getting a feral cat to eat our voles but it had always been tongue in cheek since we're both allergic.  So I decided I'd let Chris be the bad guy, I texted him asking if I could bring home the cats. He was suppose to say "no" then I would have tried and he was the bad guy.  However, instead of "no" I got "sure".  I responded "seriously" and he said "the more the merrier, they can kill the copperheads".  So I told the lady we'd take them. I still figured they would disappear before the end of class.

When class was over they seemed to be gone. I was off the hook, that was until the other mom found them. She helped me put them in back of car (where they stayed for about two seconds), then Amber gathered one in her arms and he stayed in her lap the whole ride home.  That's pretty much where he's been ever since.  Amber named him "Chomper" and has claimed him as hers.  Titus claimed the other cat and named him "Hunter".  Chris and I marvel at how friendly and tolerant these two cats are. With the way Amber throws them around like rag dolls, we've even wondered if they're Angels with how well they tolerate her "loving".
   

We told the kids that they were just "visitors" and they may not be here in the morning.  In fact early the first morning we were afraid they were gone.  Then Chris came in with a big smile.  He'd found them.  They'd spent the night in the maple tree out front. We've had no problems finding them ever since.  They have definitely adopted our family.

Back to Amber's dance class.  On the last day of camp they had an informal show.  Amber who had not hesitated going into class all week, was not interested in entering on Friday.  No convincing on her parents or brothers parts was going to get her to dance.  Then a little girl from her class came up to her and asked her to come dance.  The switch was triggered, the smile appeared and she danced the rest of the class.  In fact, she then became the encourager when another girl refused to join she went over and encouraged her to dance saying in a booming voice "Come On!".  Oh, the power of a kind word.

She was graceful, athletic and surprisingly listened very well the whole week.  We will definitely be continuing dance lessons in the fall and she can't wait!