Reese's Dance Rectial '08

Alright, I'm finally getting to this post. I was waiting for Christopher to pull some video off our camcorder, and wouldn't you know it, our camera is jammed and wont transfer the video. This is precisely why I always bring my camera and take video with it, as it never fails the camcorder doesn't work or jams...always something!! So anyway, I have tap video, but no ballet video. Not too big a loss however...let me explain.

Saturday the 21st had 3 different shows. A 1PM, 4PM and 7PM shows. She was scheduled for the 4 PM show and I knew this was going to be a challenge. Reese likes to have "quite time" around this time that occasionally involves a nap. I knew with the excitement of the day, this was not going to happen earlier to buffer the 4PM show. So here's how it all went down.

Granna came on up to spend the afternoon with Reese and watch her recital. We opted out of buying Reese flowers and had Granna make Reese the superb flower ball pictured above! Reese appreciated it more the morning after and has it hand drying in her closet. But, let's not jump ahead of ourselves. You see the raunch on Reese's face, yes, she was TIRED and NOT happy with having to be at her recital. We told her she could sit on daddy's lap and rest until it was time to head back to the dressing room before her class was up.

So, it's about 7 dances into the recital and it's time for Reese to get all dolled up. She was NOT happy. I'm thinking to myself, "why is this happening....she'll totally regret not going up on stage once her little sass fest is over." The picture above is with her dance instructor Ms. Reene. She adores Reese as does she Ms. Reene...but she's still in a raunchy mood. Did I mention that there was a last minute venue change? Yeah, the roof caved in at our normal venue (which Reese is familiar)...so that through Reese off as well. Oh, and let's not forget that some of Reese's class went to perform at the 1PM show and a few from another dance studio came to dance with her class in the 4PM. SO, she wasn't going to be standing next to her friend that she's be practicing with ALL YEAR. Yeah, that did a number on my 3 year old.

As if Reese and her antics weren't enough to stress me out, Caden was a MONSTER. Let me tell you, if he could act any worse, I wouldn't believe it! Did I also mention that the A/C in our venue was only turned on in the auditorium, no where else? It was close to 100 and horrid humidity...Caden and not to mention all the dancers in the back were HOT! I got Reese ready and left her with her teacher. Reese has never been a ballet fan (the class she's in does ballet, tap and tumble...so, it's kinda a package deal and she accepted that). If I had video pulled, this would be where I would have put it. All the dancers line up on stage and then the lights come on, music starts and then...Reese starts balling, I mean BALLING like a baby and runs off the stage! Everyone thought it was so cute and were ooooooing and aaaaaawwwwing...I'm thinking, GREAT(note sarcasm please)!!!

Reese would have been standing just under the "W" or the 5th from the left towards the center. Totally shock to Ms. Reene that Reese of all people would run off...me, not so much that day! I fully expected it.

I met Reese backstage after her number and the picture below was all I could get out of her! I sat down with her and we had a little talk and I asked her if she wanted to be there and if we should continue. Look at how HOT the girl was! Seriously, where was the A/C mercy!

Reese's tells me that she isn't a ballet girl, "i'm a tap girl, mommy" and that she got really cold on stage (probably from all her sweat waiting off stage and then entered the cool auditorium) and that she really wanted to do her tap dance.

So, we got up and went to the dressing room and dolled up for her tap performance. The tear stopped immediately upon costume change! However, I still took a picture just in case there was another melt down.

Reese stayed in a good mood backstage while waiting and I stayed with her to make sure everything went down OK.
Reese's friend Megan came up and sat down beside Reese and gave her hugs and kisses and seriously, that was the first time I had seen Reese smile that afternoon! I knew we were a GO and I went to sit with the fam and get some video! I knew she was full of "tap girl" spirit and I couldn't wait to see her "Under the Sea" performance!

Reese is the girl standing up below the "I" and "G" in the middle. If you watched the video, did you not just DIE for poor little Reese at the end? She's still not her full self as she was trying to remember her dance with new girls around her and then OOOPS! her top falls off!!! Poor girl, she was yet again the target of mishap on her performance. Poor girl didn't get a break, but this didn't phase her!

She was in great spirits and after the recital she was rewarded with this giant sucker from Ms. Reene. She was in such great spirits that she wanted to go back in b.c "i'm ready to do my ballet dance now mommy". What!?!?

Gavin was an angel the entire day!! I almost forgot he was with us! I was dealing with Reese and Caden non stop! He's such a good kid! Reese got to pick where we went out to eat to celebrate and unlike Reese's last recital, she picked wisely!

TEXAS ROADHOUSE baby!! We were so busy enjoying our food I only got a picture of my extremely delish Cherry Limeade!!

Lastly, Caden was finally able to de-monsterize (yes, I make up words to suit my purpose) himself with a little...CHOCOLATE!! This kid can't get enough. He could careless in what form it come in, he'll eat it!

Reese has finished her last dance class and topped it off with an unforgettable dance recital! She's been asking me everyday since when she can do her ballet dance again (she wants to make right I suppose) and when is it Tuesday or Wednesday so she can go to dance again. Not until August my love! It's going to be a looooooooong summer!