Dance Recital

April showers bring May Flowers and May Flowers bring June Dance Recitals. At least that's how the saying goes in our house.

Miss M's spring dance recital was Friday, June 1st and for the first time, I missed the actual event.  I had plans to go out of town for a Sorority Reunion . With Miss M's blessing, I went to the Dress Rehearsal the night before and then sent her grandparents, siblings and father to cheer her on for the "real" thing.  Thankfully, I've seen most of Miss M's dances during the competition season and just last week they performed for a community center so I got to see the opener and closer too.

Miss M loved her costumes this year; the shimmer dress, the Baker costume complete with a "M" apron and ,of course, the neon outfit really rocked.  Her favorite costume part of all was the Hair Piece which was a long ponytail that she attached to her bun.  I don't think she was disappointed that she couldn't get the hair off after the "Hair" dance and had to wear it for the rest of the recital.  In fact, she might have plans to wear the "hair" to the first day of school in the fall.

Without a doubt, Miss M's favorite thing to do is to dance.  It's her act of worship, her way to express herself and dancing gives her great joy!  As a parent, I couldn't be more pleased to see her passion come alivet on stage.  We can't wait till the DVD of the recital is available for pickup.  I imagine Miss A Miss M, and I will have a little snuggle time on the couch watching it over and over again!

Now we get a few days off before Summer Try Outs and then Summer practice.  Dance, the sport that has no true season; it's a way of life.

Christmas Dancing, Lights Aglow and Mary and Joseph Up Close and Personal

With a stellar weekend forecast and a few Christmas items already on our calendar, we decided to go full out Christmas by taking in the lights about the city, making another batch of caramels, visiting a live Nativity and watching Miss M dance in the Christmas program for her dance studio.

It really is beginning to feel a little more like Christmas every day.  Our family has enjoyed a new Advent devotion we've been working through and while we might have attempted to get all fancy and make/reuse items from around the house on an advent tree (bare branches that were originally used for our tree of Thankfulness), we've abandoned those crafty dreams and are just grabbing the items and then putting them back in their place around the house.

If only we could adopt the same philosophy with school supplies, shoes, dirty laundry. Oh, I digress.

Miss M was thrilled to dance on a big stage and have her Aunt, Grandparents and entire family there to cheer her on.  Mr C tried to beg out, but when we said that Chic-Fil-A was involved, his plans changed quickly.  I'll admit that watching hundreds of "little girls" dance is getting a little old after ten years (they all look about the same), I love the opportunity to watch the older girls, especially my own, dance.  It really is her most favorite of things!  Even when the music stopped in the middle of her "Tin Solider" dance, she did not flinch.

After the dance recital, we enjoyed our second trip to Chic-Fil-A in our hometown and then were on a mission to find the best Christmas lights in the city.  Miss A was keeping track of which house was our favorite and we all had a chuckle out of her "shorthand" on named streets.  At one time, she might have yelled out in frustration "Come on people, lets just call it G Street number 7" even though the street name had no letter G in it.   Not sure we could find our "number one" house any longer with her cheat sheet.

Sunday afternoon after church, Jill whipped up a batch of caramels (three hours isn't really whipped up is it?) after Miss A's final basketball game of the "year" and then we went to a church's Living Nativity.  I can't really tell you how amazing it is to see the Nativity up close and really feel what on a very small scale what it must have been like to be Mary and Joseph in that dirty little stable with their tiny newborn baby.

The best part was that the final "scene" of the Nativity had a Cross draped in black and with a Roman Solider bowing down before it.  Wow! What a message of the "Real Reason for this Season."  Way beyond just a tiny baby. All three kids wanted to drive through again just to see it one more time. 

Miss A of course was even willing to try for the record at the Nativity: 10 times through in one night!
It's hard to complain, however, when your child wants to go through "just one more time to see Baby Jesus."  Oh, may that always be the case.   

I'm thinking that these December weekends might be my favorite weekends of the year!

Bringing Home the Trophy: Dance Season Begins

On Saturday, Miss M's Dance Team won 1st Place at their first competition of the year.  M was thrilled to have returned to the world of competitive dance. I was happy for M and pleased that while I still cringed at many of the dances, costumes and suggestive moves, Miss M's studio did not "play that way."  Thank you Miss K and Miss A for again showing that it is all about the dance technique and choreography and not about shaking your booty on the dance floor.

Miss M was out of bed early on Saturday morning.  She was unable to sleep because she was so excited.  This girl loves to dance.  All the time.  She loves hanging out backstage and being with her friends, practicing and practicing, and being part of the team.  There is no doubt when you see this girl's face light up on the stage that she belongs there.

I'll admit that I am far from a Dance Mom.  In fact, while I enjoy watching M and her studio dance a lot of the time, I was busy knitting away.  I texted my husband a few times that I was shocked with the dance moves, the costumes, and the music selections of some of the dance teams.  No sixteen year old girl should be on the stage in Lingerie "dancing" to the song Life of the Party. I averted my eyes and thanked God that M was backstage and Mr C and my husband were at home. 

The funny thing is that Miss M and her friends saw some of the costumes and were amazed at how little material was involved in the making. 

I could go on and on about this part of competitive dance which is the part I despise, but this post is about Miss M and I how proud I am of her and her team.  They danced their hearts out and they loved every minute of it. So did this Mom.

Oh, and trust me Miss M was told to "wash that gunk of your face the minute you get home, you are 11 years old and there is no need for makeup."  Then we went with Miss A and Dad to see the movie Puss and Boots. You are only a kid once and I like to keep that way!

The Ultimate Superstar : Girls Shine in Summer Musical

As a capstone to a fabulous summer, the girls had their Summer Musical performance this weekend.  Both Miss M and Miss A had a part in our dance studio's Christian Musical; the Ultimate Superstar where M served as the Talent Show Host and one of it's acts, the Country Girl Comedian, while Miss A was a Ribbon Dancer.

Saturday morning, the show went to the local homeless shelter to perform for the moms and kids. Sadly, there wasn't a great number in the audience, but like Miss A said, "they were performing for an audience in heaven and He showed up."  Plus, it was a great way to get the kinks worked out of the performance before the family and friends version. 

Sunday evening was the main performance for the parents and both girls were super excited. The show included dinner (which of course means that Mr C came along).  I think that Mr C went back for thirds.  I assume that was from all the hard work he'd put in that afternoon at our church service project day! Trimming trees and pulling weeds makes for a hungry boy!

The performance was perfect. Miss M really does a great job acting in front of a crowd and her Texas accent wasn't too bad either. Of course, her jokes were a little "cheeky," but I think that was the idea.  Miss A loved their ribbon dance and she just looked so happy twirling around on stage.  Really, is there anything better than seeing your kids shine in their element and glorify God with all their hearts?

The Dance teachers have been doing the summer musical for four years.  Each year, I am amazed at how professional and entertaining the show is, but even more so how it always draws you back to God and using your talents to bring Him glory.  What a gift and blessing this musical is to our girls and our community.

Miss A, of course, thinks now maybe she should add Dance back into her schedule (she says it every year after the performance), but we're concentrating on soccer and basketball this year.  Who knows maybe Miss M will get her sister to join her at the Studio soon.

Who Says Family Reunions Can't Be Fun?

Cousins along the St Croix River

We just got back from a Family Reunion of sorts and I must admit my kids had a blast. (the Parents did too!) With both of us having very small families, we don't get invited to many weddings, baby showers or graduation type events. No big family reunions with matching shirts or entire hotel floors filled with cousins upon cousins along with those weird uncles and crazy aunts. We barely have enough people at a holiday dinner to justify a "kids table."

This weekend, however, we were thrilled to go to a second cousin's wedding and whoop it up on the dance floor just like a big "Greek wedding." Without the Greek Festivities of course, but it was in Minnesota so that's pretty exotic!

Miss M and Miss A dancing

Our entire Family took a road trip to the Twin Cities and got to see "family" and celebrate a wedding. We even took up a few hotel rooms and, on Sunday morning, the Breakfast Buffet at the Hotel was beginning to look a little bit like a real Family Reunion (but still no T-Shirts). I'm so happy my kids got to experience this, as Minnesota and our "Minnesota Family" hold some fabulous memories of my childhood. In fact, I can vividly remember dancing at the Bride's Mother's Wedding 30 plus years ago! Wow I'm getting old!!

Family Weddings are fun.

Nana & Papa with A and C

Miss A and Miss M danced their hearts out at the reception. Miss A was beyond worried before the dance that she didn't have a "partner" to dance with and was actually scoping out her 1 1/2 year old third cousin as a potential dance partner. Sadly, Mr Ben went to bed before the dancing began!

C and A Dancing


Dad and his "Girls"

Not to fear, however, as big brother, Uncle S, Papa and of course Dad were around to dance with her along with the big cousins and finally Mom! Miss M was whooping it up with Cousins N and the Minnesota Cousins and soon the shoes were ditched table side. Poor Mr C soon decided that the "guys" should head to the hotel room for a little PlayStation. Thank goodness for boy Cousins to hang with as you wouldn't want to put that "Cotillion Dance Lessons" to work would you!

Mr C and his Boy Crew- "When Can We Leave?"


Really Can We Leave Now?

Miss A and Her Uncle S twirling

Finally, it looks like we need to be planning our own wedding around here as Miss M caught the bouquet! Yep, our almost 10 year old daughter strategically planned to get in the middle of the group and used her softball instincts to catch the flowers. It was hilarious to watch the young single women look at her in shock. According to M, they should have known better than to stand in the front row," you knew she could throw farther than that." I'm just hopping she's OK with an arranged marriage and very, very long engagement.

Get Ready Miss M it's almost Tossing Time

Miss M with her prized bouquet
Family Wedding Trips now rank up with our kids' most favorite vacation ideas. Of course, we did more in Minnesota than just dance and eat wedding cake so I'll post on the rest of the fun next time!

What Ever Happened to the Low Key Dance Recital?

I loved to dance as a little girl. My mother says that I would refuse to buy dresses unless they first passed the twirl test. The better the twirl and the movement of the dress the better.

I took Ballet classes in the basement of one of my mother's oldest friends' house. They had converted the basement into a Dance Studio with a large wall of mirrors, a Ballet Barre, and wooden floors.

Recitals were in that very same basement. Costumes were a leotard, a tutu, and tights. Nothing fancy.

I remember when I was in 2nd grade and the lead dancer in my Saturday morning class got the chicken pox during the week of the recital. Lead dancer in my mind only. She was the girl I watched so I could remember the steps. She was not going to be in the recital. Too sick.

My stomach was sick thinking that I would actually have to know the dance myself. It all worked out fine and I later learned everyone else was watching me for the steps. By the time we had cookies and lemonade after the recital in that very same basement, my butterflies had gone away and I was having fun.

Dance was fun. The girls were fun to be with. Recitals were a chance to show our parents what we'd been learning. We were thrilled to perform for our small group of parents. No stress. Low cost. I still remember all the Ballet Positions.

M has been taking dance for 7 years. She does not know what first position is today. Dance no longer stresses the classical ballet movements.

I'm struggling with what to do about Dance and M in the years ahead.

Our studio's recital was this weekend. It was at a Big Theater Downtown. A huge stage that normally has productions from Broadway, the local Opera etc. I saw "Wicked" just weeks ago in this very theater. This weekend's recital was a big production.

We had to be at Dress Rehearsal Friday at 3:00. Little A, who was in only one number besides the Finale, was in dance #38. She didn't go on stage until 6:45. Yep. Parents were not even allowed out in the front of the house to watch the Dress Rehearsal. We had to stay backstage the entire time unless our girls were on stage performing and then we could quickly run out front watch and then run backstage once again. Very little time for photos.

M was in a total of 8 dances, 8 costume changes, and 8 hairstyle changes. Plus the Finale. That's a lot of costumes people. Yes, she'd already performed 3 of the dances year round at dance competitions and knew them by heart, but she still had to perform a jazz, tap, ballet and all competition opening number.

We had to be back at the Theater Saturday at 2:45 for a 4:00 Recital that ended at 6:30. ( I won't even talk about the softball game at 9 a.m. or the end of VBS on Friday at 12:00.

Where has that "little basement with the cookies and lemonade recital" gone? It seems like everything has to be big and flashy. Are we no longer satisfied with the things on a small scale?

A few of the little girls I saw had been to get their hair done for the recital. Girls had on more makeup and glitter than I've worn in my entire life. They were done up. Not just so they wouldn't look pale under the stage lights, but for the glamor effect.

A few of the dances and the costumes made me happy that C was still at his baseball game and didn't have to watch girls dressed like that or dancing in ways that made me blush a little.

We go to a pretty conservative studio I thought. M and A's costumes were cute and the dances very appropriate, but I noticed that some of the hip hop and older girls are doing things that I'm not sure I feel comfortable with.

Tomorrow are the try outs for the next year's competition teams. M of course wants to go. I'm really struggling. Not only is competition dance a huge commitment of time, money and resources; I'm really wondering what message I'm sending to M with all this dance.

Will her body image be impacted by how the other girls look? Will she want to loose weight, dress in a certain way or listen to music I might not approve because the other girls are? She's perfect the way she is, but she'll never have that tiny ballet body. She's a good dancer, but she's not a superstar.

What about standing up for our values/our faith/ our standards? Can I claim one thing at home and then turn the other way when it comes to costumes, recitals, dance moves? Am I able to impact that a woman is more than her body when she sees all those competition dances moving and shaking and grooving their booties on stages?

Tell me again what happened to that basement dance studio with the strict teacher, first position, stretching, pointing toes and plies?

For the opening number of the Recital all levels of Competition Girls were dancing with halter top tank tops and black shorts. M was the only girl wearing long Justice Shorts. Everyone else wore "booty shorts." I had first sent her in softball/soccer shorts and the teacher said no they had to be all black/ no Adidas name on the back etc. So we got M a pair of shorts that she can wear whenever she wants. Black Shorts that are walking short length . While she's allowed to wear short shorts for sleeping and wearing over swimsuits, she can't wear booty shorts for anything.

My theory is that if they don't cover your entire "t.sh," they are underwear not shorts!

So how do I balance all of this? Do we quit dance all together? Do we cut back to just a ballet and tap class and opt out of the recital? Do we again look for a new studio?

M loves to dance. She's danced her whole life, all the time. To music, no music. She dances to the credits of a movie when they play a long song. She and A are always putting on little dances for us.

A wants to try Soccer in the fall. She's not a dancer. Really she's not a performer like M. She liked the dance class because she could see some friends and have some fun. She liked the Recital, but she didn't love it!

Stay tuned for more discussion on this and feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts.

Nothing Is Mundane Around Here: Laughs, Giggles and "Gas"

Not a great title I know. I was a history major, not a journalism major. Sometimes the crazy mundane things of life just make me laugh. I'll admit that it's totally random, but so is my life right now!!

Yesterday, we went to the Children's Museum for about 1.5 hours at the end of the day. It was a spur of the moment idea as it's been a little chilly and cloudy here lately. We had a late softball game and afternoon dance so in between we took off downtown.

On the Front Steps of Sesame Street . I need to find this same picture 4 years ago when another Sesame Street Exhibit was in town and we took a kids picture on it's steps too.

While C is getting a little too old for the place, we had a great time with little to no crowd. The Sesame Street traveling exhibit was fun. It was on the human body.

There was one portion of the exhibit that my kids especially enjoyed. We spent alot of time at the "Everyone Poops" Exhibit. There was even canned tooting coming from the machine and visual effects. This is just what three stir crazy kids needed.

The poop machine and the fabulous poster...

Can I just say I'm not sure how mother's with multiple boys do it. I'm sure the "body function jokes" really abound in your home.

On the way home in rush hour traffic, we were listening to the Jonas Brothers CD. The original one. We have favorite songs #1, #9, #13 and #14. If you hear #9 coming from the backseat, it means turn to forward ahead to that song.

Yesterday I heard this comment. "Isn't Joe so funny?" said A.

"Who is Joe?" said C.

" You know Joe Jonas, isn't he so funny." said A.

This was seriously just out of the blue. We'd not been talking about the Jonas Brothers, just singing along with their CD. We all thought she was talking about some Sesame Street Character considering where we had just been. No she was talking about her favorite Jonas Brother!

Yes, she is 4. Don't judge me. It's hard to keep them away from the big boy bands when they have older siblings. We can't listen to the Wiggles in our car or the older children would revolt. We listen to KLOVE, Toby Mac and Chris Tomlin along with an occasional Jonas Brothers or George Strait. It's all about cultural diversity.

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Dance pictures were the other day. M is in 7 dances and A is in her first recital. Thankfully, both girls had pictures on the same day. Of course, it was a two hour ordeal with a lot of changing. Those of you with girls and dance understand what I am talking about. M has been dancing for the last 6 years and this was the first time anyone ever game me the idea of double tights. Instead of taking the tan jazz tights off for the ballet picture and trying to get pink tights on hot legs, we doubled up and put them over. Pure Genius, I tell you!!!

A was so excited to be there, and watch the "big girls" practice their dances and change clothes. Poor C had to come up for the last 15 minutes and wait outside in his baseball uniform as he had a late game across town and my husband was at a meeting. I think he's thankful everyday that he is a boy!!

**** Finally if you know our family in real life, or just on the blog, would you please be praying for C over the next week. He is off to Boy Scout Camp on Sunday for a week. Last year, while he was there, a tornado touched down at another Boy Scout Camp and killed 4 boys. He spent a few hours huddled in a "tornado shelter of sorts" riding out the storm with the entire camp. He was safe, but his whole camp was aware of the loss/destruction at the other camp. We've been praying for calm cool weather next week. It's going to be a great week of fishing, camping, and space exploration, but moms do worry about the weather. Thank you.