Taking the Scenic Route

Dance with me

We renewed our YMCA membership for the next 6 months.  Killed my yarn and baby do-dads budget, but it was more important.  (We use our membership a LOT) I have a friend who is giving me some infant prefolds in exchange for some money they owe us.  She is also giving us their old baby clothes (girl clothes), so I will be set for those early months I think.  I got a Brest friend nursing pillow on MDC trading post for half the price it would cost in the store.  I can’t wait to get it!  I also got a Hannah Anderson bunting for the baby on MDC.  Zane’s bunting was used and the zipper broke the second time we used it, so I was hoping to find a replacement since this will be another winter baby.  I scored a serious deal too.  It was $20 postage paid.  Here is a picture of it on the website. (we got pink).  I adore Hannah Anderson and can’t afford it, so I was really excited.

Zane is all set for his dance class too.  Almost set…they had to order his ballet shoes, but they will be here in a week, so he might go to his first class in socks only, but it should be ok.  We were able to get him some tap shoes though.  We just got back from target for the white t-shirt (undershirts) and white socks, neither of which he had. 

I love the place we went to (Dancer’s Nook on Douglass).  I have no idea how to fit dance shoes properly, and I don’t want him hating dance because his shoes hurt or him getting hurt because of a bad fit.  (I spent a lot of years with repeated sprained ankles because I didn’t know how to properly fit my shoes for my step…I went through more athletic tape as a cheerleader than my brother did as a basketball player. lol) The woman was so down to earth and nice.  She treated Zane so well.  Her son was there too and the two boys hit it off.  She said something that her son didn’t talk yet and it clicked..that’s what was so different, she was communicating with him in a way that didn’t make him feel uncomfortable and just let him ‘be’.  By the time we were getting ready to leave, Zane was actually starting to be a bit more vocal.  It was pretty neat.

In the YMCA brochure, it states that all the kids were supposed to wear pink ballet shoes.  I thought that was a little weird to have the boys in pink shoes too and asked about it when I registered for the class.  The gal at the desk said she had never been asked that question before.  When I went to the store and told the lady what the brochure said she said ‘no way’  Boys wear BLACK shoes (or white for some performances) and NEVER wear pink shoes.  lol.   She said that if I was given any guff at all for it, to have them call every studio in town, because that is the standard in dance.  After feeling really smart for knowing that, I felt really glad I came to a dance store to have them fit tap shoes.  I didn’t realize that boys tap shoes looked so different than the patent leather/bow ones for girls.  I just thought they were without the bow.  If I had tried to get him shoes at Target/Walmart/Payless, I would have just gotten those shoes and taken off the bow.  I would have looked like an idiot.  At least I am smart enough to know I am not smart enough to know.  lol

She gave me a 10% discount because I gave her a diaper too.  (her son pooped and her dh forgot to leave the diaper bag).  That was a pretty good deal just for doing a normal nice thing.  I was surprised and pleased.

I am, however, in trouble.  It is just a short bit away from my favorite yarn store.  I have to go back this week to pick up the shoes.  I am thinking about taking Zane’s jacket with me to get some matching yarn for hat and mittens this winter.  I can not afford that though. lol.  Maybe there will be something in the bargin bin.  hmmm.