Alyssa and Chicken Pox for Christmas

Alyssa has made tremendous improvement in her ability to dance and memorize a routine in the last year. She was adorable last year at the Chirstmas recital as Ellie the Elf, but didn’t really have a prayer when it came to “performing” her dance. She was on stage in her costume and had a great time so that’s what was really important.

This year however, she is a dancer. She is graceful, flexible (like mom) and quite talented. She can do a cartwheel on both sides. Very unusual.

She is the oldest in her class and she enjoys being the prima ballerina setting the bar for the rest of the other girls, although there are several other girls who are quite a bit younger than her who do just as well.

This year her recital dance was to "Chicken Pox for Christmas". Her costume was old-fashion pajamas, sox and bows. At first I was disappointed she wouldn’t be wearing a glittery, sparkle dress, but I came around and really enjoyed this year’s costume once I dressed her up in full make-up and hair curls with bows. There is no disputing, she was adorable. Even in pajamas.

We’ve been practicing the routine on a regular basis and have been looking forward to the recital for weeks. It finally happened and as planed it was so much fun.

She was adorable.

Santa was there, so her and Alayna and Sunny all got a chance to tell him what they wanted for Christmas a few minutes before the show started. Santa took a bad photo here. He didn't appear to be intoxicated in person. The girls were both saying...Ho, ho,ho here that's the funny expression.
Sunny did well. I thought she might be too skiddish, but I was wrong.

When it finally came time to perform, Alyssa and her good friend Addy (standing a foot taller next to her)led the class in the dance, including when she got the steps wrong and led the whole class astray.
That’s my girl! They recovered nicely though and no one in the audience (who didn’t have the dance memorized) even realized.

All in all the dance was a smashing success. It was just too fast. I think I will request that next recital they perform twice in a row. That way I can get all the photos I want the first time and then enjoy the performance the second time. She was so cute and did so well. A mother couldn't have enjoyed that moment anymore than I did. What doll!

There were plenty of seats available at the recital (unlike last year) for our friends and family.

We even had Grandpa Wardle there. He was so proud of the girls. It's a good thing it was dark because I know he was bawling his eyes out. It was a pretty proud moment though. I cried quite a bit too.

I had the opportunity to sit with the dance class while they waited for thier turn to go on stage. Me and my friend Miki were the volunteers. It was my first time being a stage mom, and I'm not going to lie. I loved it! I was glad to have Miki to share to moment with. Here's a few shots back stage.


Stage mom.

It was fun, but surprisingly stressful to sit with the class. Trying to shepherd them backstage was harder than I anticipated, but as far as I know we didn't lose any of them. It was worth the stress though. I loved being right there with her (helicopter parent, guilty as charged).

It’s so much fun that all our cousins take dance from the same studio and we can see them all dance and enjoy it sitting together as an extended family.

Such beautiful little girls. They have all improved dramatically as dancers from last year. I'm so proud of all of them. Little Hailey was such a doll. She had that dance memorized front and back. She didn't even need the music. She was several counts ahead of the rest of the class and the music. That little one has a talent for memorization. Little smarty pants. She has a future in dance.

They got a metal presented from Santa himself after the show.
Alyssa was so thrilled with it.

I was so proud of my little dancer.
Next year I’ll probably have two little dancers. Sunny was almost performance ready with the dance too. She practiced right along side Alyssa every time. Grandma Karen reported that she did the moves and sang along with the music while Alyssa was on stage. I wasn't a bit surprised to hear that.

Can’t wait for the spring recital. That one is even better and more fun.

Post Note:
In case you don’t have girls that dance yet…get ready to act like an animal. People go ape crazy at these recitals saving seats and pushing people to get their photos. Be prepared to arrive 3 hours early to save your seats.

You might look at this post and think to yourself. She is living vicariously through her daughter to that I say...Yep, I am, and I'm loving it.