Dance Recital

Here's our little ballerina in her first costume. I wasn't able to get pictures in all of her costumes because I wasn't able to get backstage between each of her numbers because of her little brothers (Chris and I each had one). I actually paid a teenager to help her out. It was great! I hope to get her dressed up again and get some proper pictures.
These pictures below are from rehearsal. I was able to actually use my camera without a little one attached to my hip or leg. She did really great. I was so proud of her for even remembering to smile during the recital!

Some how we managed to make it through a whole year of dance lessons. There were many times when I didn't think we would make it. For some reason Anna did not want to go to dance class whenever Friday rolled around. It got worse after January. Even though it was difficult we made her finish. For one, I paid for it ( and the costumes, shoes, etc...) and for another we don't want to teach our kids to give up. It's important to finish what you start.

at the end of the recital the teacher gave out medals to all of the girls and the ones who had been there at least 3 years received a trophy. Once she saw the girls receiving a trophy she started telling me she wanted to keep taking dance lessons. We'll see how she feels when September rolls around...

It is hard for me to understand because I always loved dance class. Even though my teacher was so mean it just made me try harder. She had this policy -which I'll never understand- that if your parent was late even one month throughout the year you weren't eligible to be student-of-the-year (and be awarded a trophy bigger than yourself!). how in the world is that fair? the child has nothing to do with paying the bill. it was just awful! At the beginning of the month she reliably posted the names of the children whose parents were late with their payment on a huge bulletin board right at the top of the stairs in big, black letters. And just as reliably every month I found my name on that list. Still, I believed year after year that she would recognize my talent and hard work and reward me with that trophy. how sad? But, it never happened. what a witch!

I tell this story because of the ridiculous irony that followed...in high school I worked some times at my father's print shop after school. I mostly paid his bills and made deposits, etc... As I was going through the books I happened upon a check from my old dance teacher. These checks came every month. I thought it was weird. He hadn't done her recital programs for years as far as I knew (and I probably would know because it was a huge job and we were all recruited to help compile them). Turns out she still owed him money. She owed him so much money that she was still making monthly payments! He should have posted her name on a big sign on Main Street for everyone to see. My Mom was never that late!