Recitals, Rehearsals and Remembrances

So... here is how our week went after Emily's birthday.

Yesterday was Emily's dance recital, so this week included two dress rehearsals (perhaps a bit of an overkill for a class that is called PREdance), which made for quite a busy week during which I went through more hair gel and bobby pins than in the last several years combined.

The time between the last rehearsal and the recital was spent in Rock Springs for Chris' grandma's funeral. We will miss her.


It was nice to see Chris' side of the family, though and it also afforded Emily the opportunity to have Birthday part II.


(I somehow missed getting pictures at my parent's house, but there was more birthday cake and you can rest assured that the American girl can now boast a healthy-sized wardrobe - part of which she wore to the funeral - yes, the funeral. Some battles are worth fighting. This wasn't one of them.)

After the funeral, we made it back home just in time for more hair gel and bobby pins so that Emily could look the part of the beautiful ballerina.

Emily has been able to take dance class with her bestie, Kaylee this past year, which has been a great opportunity for them to stay in touch after the school district did its best to split them up into two different elementary schools.

The recital went well. I was very proud of Emily. My parents and my sister and her husband and kids were able to make it here for the performance. Even cousin Simon enjoyed the dancing.

Jane and cousin Lucy made it most of the way through.

And afterwards, Emily was generously rewarded for a fantastic performance.

She even shared the loot with her sister.

 And then back to Grandma and Grandpa's for ice cream and... MORE birthday.

 Phew... what a week.