so you think you can dance?

A few months ago, Ellie caught me watching Toddlers and Tiaras.

(Once it's on, I can't look away, it's like a horrible car accident you see on the side of the road.  You don't want to look, but you always do.)

Here was the following conversation.

Ellie:  Mommy!  Those girls look so pretty! 

Me:  You think?

Ellie:  Yes!  I want to do that!.

Me:  (laughing) No way Jose, not ever in a million years.

Ellie:  (looking crestfallen): Why not?

Me:  (feeling about an inch and a half tall): Um, because it's really expensive, and um, I don't know where one is, and um, you want to go outside and play???

Ellie:  Yeah!

*disclaimer: I have nothing against people who do pageants, just don't personally want any single part of it!!

So I totally dodged the conversation at that moment and distracted her with sidewalk chalk.

But that got me to thinking.

She really does love to perform.

I don't know where she gets it, but she does.

The thought of getting up on a stage turns my knees to jelly, but my girl digs it.

So a few days later I asked her if she would maybe want to take a dance class that involved a recital.

Where she got to go up on stage and perform.

She said YES!! before I even got the whole sentence out.

Fast forward 4 months and last night was her first recital.

She looked like this.



 I mean, how cute is that??

I wasn't really big on her pretending to show her belly, but maybe I am just way behind on current dance fashion??

But she was precious, regardless.

She wasn't nervous.

Not even a little.

We had to got to sit through 31 other performances before it was her turn.

I was surprised at how nervous I was for her.

But there was no need.

She shook her stuff, not missing a single beat.

My heart swelled.

She is brave, my girl.

We had lots of people come watch.

It really meant a lot that they came out on a Saturday night to support her.

We love you guys.

 So we are not dancing over the summer.

As we are softballing and swimming.

I don't know if we will dance next fall either.

It's really expensive!

And, I'm not gonna lie, some of the mom's are super serious.

And a little scary.

But she had such fun.

So we might :)

Time will tell.

 It was a super fun night.

Hopefully, she wants to be a cowgirl for Halloween next year...