A Springy Performance

This past weekend was one of the high points of the year. The annual spring dance recital captivated parents for three and a half hours on Friday.

Emily was a "goddess". This was much more exciting to her than last year, when she was "Pocahontas" and her outfit was brown. Everyone knows that the outfit is the most exciting part of the performance.

Emily had the opportunity to be in ballet with lots of great friends this year. Here she is with just a couple of them in the green room before the show. On a side note, Kaylee, (on the left) will be leaving our town soon and so this is their last recital together. Emily and Kaylee have been friends since birth and we are so sad to see her go.

I signed up to be "class Mom" (I thought it was "classy mom" and was really roped into it through false advertising) and sit in the balcony with the class while they were not performing. When you get together a baker's dozen kids with stage fright, it adds up to a lot of nervous bladders. I spent most of the first couple hours of the performance in the bathroom.

Chris and Jane joined us at intermission (or half-time as Chris calls it). Part of the miracle of cell phones is that very small children don't have to sit through an entire dance recital because mom can text before intermission.

Emily really enjoyed dancing (as you can see in this picture of the curtain call - she is the far right "goddess"). The joy on her face is all the thanks we need for a years' worth of funding and transportation to dance class.

What makes it all worth it to Emily? The flowers. She would walk through fire for a bouquet of roses from daddy. Luckily, she won't have to.

The recital signaled the end of our craziest May days and I was finally able to get my garden done. Now I am hoping for a bit of a break before our next craziness starts because I am legitimately exhausted. Sometimes I wonder how soccer moms do it. I don't ever want to find out firsthand.

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It's been almost a week since Emily turned 7 and I haven't blogged about it. That's because May in our house is sort of like finals week, but all month. More on that later. Anyway, if I can get my mind to remember the events of the last week, I'll release them to the blogosphere where they will be recorded for all time.

Emily's birthday extravaganza started last Friday with a bowling party. 

                                     

                                              

Followed by pizza. My folks made it to town for the last bit of the party. We are grateful for their help in serving all those hungry kiddos.

                                   

Followed by cupcakes which constituted Birthday Cake #1. (Keep track. There will be a quiz at the end.)

The bowling party was a blast and I'm happy we did it because Emily had fun and I didn't have to keep 15 kids busy for two hours with only my own meager mental resources. 

The next day was party #2 at my parents house with Birthday Cake #2.

The following week was the Real Birthday. More presents.

A brand new bike that matches her size.

It took a bit of getting used to, ending in a few crashes and an altercation at the park with a lippy teenager.

Super fancy dinner at Panda Express.

                                             

And Birthday Cake #3. 

Sometime during Emily's week of celebration came Mother's day. Poor Chris. He tries so hard to try and give me a break every year, but it never seems to work out. Part of me is looking forward to the days when Emily is embarrassed by parties and she just wants money for her birthday. A big part. But not as big as the part that is happy that Emily is part of our family. We love her and we think she gets better every year.

Happy Birthday Emily!