Connor spent about a half an hour yesterday teaching himself how to do a cartwheel.  When he began, he could was mostly belly-flopping and then rolling sort of somersault style.  But then, he got to the point where he could get his feet over his head, but then he’d land on his butt, and a few times, he narrowly missed smashing into the wall. 

He’d stand beside the table saying, “Hand, hand, feet, feet,” to himself before every try.  After much persistance, he was able to accomplish just that.  The look on his face when he realized he’d completed the flip without landing in a pile on the floor, was PRICELESS.  His eyes got so big, and he looked at me and gasped and then yelled, “OH MY GOD, DID YOU SEE ME??  I DID IT!  I ACTUALLY DID A CARTWHEEL!!” 

Autumn was trying to get in on the fun, and she’d yell, “My turn! My turn!”  And run to where Connor had been standing and she’d put her hands way above her head and then drop to the floor and walk a few steps, sort of Mowgli-from-Jungle-Book style, and then jump up and yell, “Ta Da!!”

When Shawn got home he insisted on teaching Shawn how to do them.  “Watch and learn, Dad, Watch and learn,” he kept saying.  Watching Shawn do cartwheels in the living room with Connor was probably the best way I’ve spent a Friday afternoon in a long time!