Dancing Queens

It's over. Finally. One more year of dancing behind us. And maybe forever.

Last Thursday kicked off DANCE RECITAL HELL. Oh, I'm just kidding. NOT.

Thursday was DRESS REHEARSAL. That meant we had to show up at the high school dressed and ready to go by 4:15. Thursday was also the day that the Kindergarten teachers were recognizing the parents who were able to volunteer this year. That ceremony was from 3:15-4:00. Did I mention that the high school is about 25 minutes away? And the girls had to be dressed in full costume and hair? By 4:15?

We manage to waltz in and set up camp (5 costume changes!) in the cafeteria and make it into the auditorium by 4:32. Rehearsal has not started. Whew! Since this is our third year, I knew we would NOT be starting on time anyway. Luckily, my mom was here to help and kept Riley at home.

I was the stage mom for Jenna's first dance, which just means that I had to line the kids up and get them backstage. Then on to Kellen. Videotape. Change costumes for second dances. Eat the Subway that I picked up at 2:00 and had stashed in a cooler. Videotape second dances. Change Jenna into real clothes, send her home with Kyle. Change Kellen into 3rd costume. Stage mom for that dance. Change into real clothes. Pack up. Go home finally at 10:00 on a school night.

Friday. Girls alternate their meltdowns.

Saturday. THE RECITAL! I will spare you all the details because it went exactly like the rehearsal except that the moms don't get to sit in the auditorium, we have to stay in the cafeteria to get them changed. However, we are allowed to sit in the very back rows during our own kid's dances (unless we are the stage moms). The catch to this? You aren't allowed to enter the auditorium during a dance, so we all huddle at the door, rush in between dances and the moment our child is finished we rush back out to meet them in the cafeteria. Its a bizarre little marathon.

The girls have decided to not take dance next year. They are going to do gymnastics instead. I have to admit that I am a little disappointed because when the doctor said "It's a girl!" three different times, I just totally imagined that dancing would be a certainty. What may be the most disappointing of all, is that I want them to enjoy taking dance and this year they didn't. So, for now we stop. When its Riley's turn (and if Kellen or Jenna decide to take again) we will definitely find a new school. I want to give the girls all kinds of different opportunities, so we will try lots of different things.

The girls did so well at the recital, though. Jenna sang the absolute loudest of all. You could hear her over the entire school for the finale. It was so adorable. She may be destined for singing or acting. She takes it very seriously. Being loud, that is.

Kellen also takes it so seriously. She did every single move just like she was supposed to. Expect for the one move she made up herself. On the way home after the recital, I was telling them how proud I was of them and what a good job they did. Kellen, spreading her arms wide at the side, says to me, "Did you see that time when I moved my arms like this?"

And I knew exactly what she was talking about because during the dance she was the only one who did it. So I told her yes. And she says, "Well! I made that up myself! No one else even did it!" It was all I could do to not break out laughing. So funny.

Last week without having to rush to two different dance classes was really nice. I hope its the start of a new stress-free (ok, let's be realistic - stressless) lifestyle.