Story's ballet recital!

Story's ballet recital fell on the week after her birthday.  

She was really shy and bashful at first, and it took her a while to warm up.  

This outfit!  And her little toes, so sweet! 

Once she danced with her umbrella, she really came out of her shell.  I feel like she has grown so much since this picture was taken.  

We love our little ballerina!  

We love watching you dance, Story!  We are so very proud of you!

Story's Christmas ballet recital.

Thursday night, Story had her Christmas ballet recital.  

Daddy bought her some new tights and slippers for the big day!

We took time for a photo shoot before heading over to the church.  

Mommy and Story.  

Story and Daddy!  

They're both quite smitten, don't you think? 

Here come the tiny dancers!

At this moment, I was pretty sure this was not going to go so well.  

Not long after, she definitely came off the stage and had to potty.  So we went.  And the whole way there and back, I explained to her how she was going to go back up on the stage with her friends.  

I was so proud of her when she did in fact return to her spot.  She did not dance, but she stayed out there.  I leaned over to tell our sweet friends, Miss Katie and Miss Kelsey, that I would just be thankful if she did one move, just one! 

The last song of the night was "Away in a Manger," and she definitely danced!  

I was so thankful!

Sweet ballerina!

Perhaps, by the time her spring performance comes around she will be more ready.  

I adore this picture!  Story with some of her sweet friends!

Cute little ballerinas.  

All the little girlies with their fearless leader, Miss Anna!

Story, you looked absolutely beautiful! 

Sweet sisters!

Story dancing to "Away in a Manger."  

Story, we loved watching you dance tonight and are so very proud of you!

My ballerina girls.

Last Thursday night, Summer, Tilly and Story had their spring ballet recital at our church.  They have been so excited for this day all week.  With a little help from Daddy, we managed to get dressed complete with hair buns and to the church only a few minutes late.  

I had to snap a quick picture of the pretty girls before we went inside. Don't worry, their ballet shoes were inside my purse! Another one just because I think it's so cute! Here the girls are with their teacher, Miss Anna, practicing just before the big show.   My three little loves.   They looked so beautiful and really danced their little hearts out, especially Summer and Tilly.  Story did much better than she did at her Christmas recital.  If you'll remember she sat down during that one and never moved from her x marked on the floor.  She actually danced this time, until she spotted me, ha!  And then she was done.   Summer and Tilly's group performed a ballet poem they've learned naming and demonstrating the different ballet steps they have learned this year.     Here's a video clip of a dance they all performed together to "Rockin' Robin!"  It was so sweet.  They learned this dance earlier in the year, and it is amazing to see how far they've come since Christmas.  I was so proud! We were so thankful to have these two sweet girls in the audience to cheer on our girls.   Daddy and Carter bought the girls flowers to have for after their performance.  Carter was just precious presenting the girls with the bouquets.  Tilly was so focused during the recital.  I loved watching her dance! Summer smiled the whole time and just danced beautifully!

Our party of six after the big dance!  Great job Summer, Tilly and Story!  We loved watching the three of you dance!  

Little Ballerinas.

This past weekend was slammed full of lots of fun! I already posted how we spent Friday in New Orleans.  Well, we surely didn't slow down any Saturday.  Carter had a flag football game, and while he was doing his thing on the field, the girls and I headed downtown to get ready for their winter ballet recital. They were so very excited! And so was their momma! Advance warning: there may or may not be picture overload, but they just looked so beautiful I could not resist!

Our seasoned ballerina ;) as this would be her second recital.  

Story playing ring around the rosey with some friends to get out those last minute jitters.  

How stinking cute is she? 

I mean, really?!? Don't worry, I kiss those cheeks all day long!

Part of Story's class.  This would be the only time she stood.  For the practice round.  During her actual performance, she sat on her tape, and she did not move! We were just proud she got out there, stayed out there, and did not cry.  I think it's because we've been reading lots about Pete the Cat, and goodness, no, he didn't cry!

Miss Anna getting her little ballerinas ready for the big show.  Story's class danced to Santa Claus is Coming Town, well one little girl in her class did anyway, ha!

Two of my three.  You can barely see Story on the other side of Tilly.  

And now our two biggest ballerinas.  They danced to Silent Night and just shone.  

Tilly rocked with her cast on, too!  She wanted a lime green one last week, when David took her to have checked again.  They had to take off the old one, do another xray, and put a new one back on.  Mean momma wouldn't let her, although it probably would've looked fine after all.  She goes back soon to get another cast, so we told her she could get whatever color her little heart desires! She's definitely earned that right.  

I wonder what she's thinking!

Summer was just a picture of grace and beauty.  When she dances, something happens and all clumsiness leaves her.  I loved watching her!

As you can see, I'm a huge fan of the ballerina huddles!

Summer's ballet class.  

So pretty.  As you can see, there were a few little ones who wanted to join in on the fun!

Love.  

Twirling beauties.  

Another action shot.  Summer has great form, said the biased momma!

So does our Tilly girl!

The girls have only been taking ballet once a week since October.  I cannot wait to watch them dance again in the spring, as I'm sure they will learn so much between now and then.  Summer, Tilly & Story, we are all so very proud of you!  It warmed my heart to watch you dance.