SisterSidra: Spring 2012

Hi Sidra,

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted anything and you've been doing a lot of things that need to be reported. I'll be telling you about your artistry, music, dance, tumbling, reading, camping and sisterhood.

First I'll explain about your drawing that is pictured here. It's not a particularly special one, I just wanted to show that this is a typical thing that you do with your drawings. You've become a prolific drawer producing several drawings a day sometimes. Often the drawings are about something that happened to you recently or a movie that you saw. Then you tell us about what you drew. So I've posted a picture of one your drawings. Along with it is a video interview about that drawing. So, it's pretty typical of you to do the drawing and then give us a pretty good explanation of what's there.

Next is your dance experience. You went to a class called 'creative movement' weekly in Gresham ending with a recital which featured all the school's dancers. Your dance bag had both tap and ballet shoes. In the recital your number was kind of a modern dance routine. Appearing here is a photo from the session with the commercial photographer. We haven't actually received any proofs or prints yet, this we lifted from the facebook page of the photographer. Your recital was a big affair that lasted a couple hours. Your dance only lasted a minute or so, so there was a lot of waiting around backstage for you and your mom. You were great in the performance, the first in the group to strike your opening pose and hitting all your transitions on cue. I think you enjoyed being on stage.

I've mentioned to you before that you have been a great big sister to Shira. For the most part that has continued to be true. Occasionally you are mean to her but mostly you are the big protector and guide for her. Recently the two of you began a Kinder Gym class together. The age range is just enough for you to be probably the oldest in the class while your sis is probably the youngest. It was Shira's first such class. You were a perfect guide and helper for her. You made sure she got her turns, lined up right, and encouraged her as she attempted the moves.

You are a reading sensation. I'm not an expert of reading at your level but I think you read like a 3rd or 4th grader, but you'll just be starting Kindergarten. I know the books that I remember reading in first and second grade would be too easy for you. The coolest thing is when you sit down with your little sister and read to her. I tried recording one of those sessions a few days ago but you were too soft spoken and the mic too far away to hear you very well. It will have to remain one of those special moments that only I got to witness.

The 2012 Bike Derby took place this week. You did very well. I didn't do so well coaching you, though. I just made it to the track a few moments before the start of the race because I was with Shira at her art camp session. I told you to pedal "cheetah fast" (which is your term) and go straight down the track. I didn't realize that your group was going to be going a half way around the turn of the track. You had a good position on the start line and began well. At the end of the straightaway you were in second behind one boy. But you were in an outside lane and stayed there. So, two boys who were in inside lanes were able to pass you on the corner. All the other riders stopped near the finish, but you continued on around and did a full lap without slowing down.

We had a camping trip earlier this week, too. In fact, we had to come home one night early so you could do the bike derby and Shira could do her art class. Both of you would clearly have loved to stay longer. We were at Timothy Lake south of Mt. Hood and our campsite had a beautiful view of the mountain. You came into your own as an off road bike rider there. Your mom is calling you 'Champ' now because of how well you did. She took you on some pretty challenging sections of trail and you didn't flinch, always ready for more. Indeed, you got up in the morning and did a little riding before breakfast or changing out of your jammies. You also did quite a bit of swimming in the lake, too. Both your mom and I took you out for short trips in the Kayak. You're not quite ready for paddling but maybe next year.

You've been taking piano lessons. I have been trying to learn how to play with you. I've been wanting to learn for a while now and it seemed like we could learn together and it might help motivate you to practice. After your last lesson the teacher thinks a break is in order for you. You seem distracted and unfocused during the lessons. This last time you blamed it on the anticipation of visit from an adult friend that didn't materialize. In any case you say that you want to keep having the lessons but you don't practice nearly as hard as I do or seem that engaged when your teacher is here.

Another activity you've been taking part in is gymnastics. You've been through a couple of sessions last fall and this last spring. That experience has helped you be one of the more accomplished tumblers in your mom's Tuesday Tumbling class at your school. When you are focused, that is. Sometimes you seem checked out of the activity and just going through the motions, as you did in the tumbling show at the school's open house. When you're in gymnastics class you have similar bouts of inattention. When focused, you do very well. It's a bit perplexing because you're always very happy to brag and say 'did you see me do _____' when you have your head in the game.

Maybe the most engaging thing of the last few months is your developing conversational ability and curiosity. You frequently ask the meaning of words and then use them appropriately a little later. Or you ask about how something works and listen carefully to the explanation. You've caught on to my habit of repeating a fun line from a movie or story. My problem is that I haven't seen all your movies from start to finish and it's easy for you to stump me.

We covered a lot of ground here because you've been busy. There will be more coming because you're a busy girl thanks to your mom's scheduling.

'til next time,
love, aba