The Big Dance

The Big Dance. And no, I don't mean the playoffs. 

Last year, Ana watched Elsie's performance in the Peter Pan ballet with a local dance studio, and she resolved to be in the performance the following year. She signed up to clean the studio in exchange for dance classes and signed up for one of the new jazz classes since she decided she wasn't ready for the time commitment needed for ballet. Finally, the weekend after I got back from California, they performance took place. (Fortunately, it wasn't in Lahaina like last year... that was quite the drive back and forth... it was at a private school only three minutes drive). 

Ana's class performed a number from the musical Cats, if you can't tell by her outfit. I have to say, I was fairly impressed with Ana-- she went from being a 100% non-dancer to being the star of her number (partly from her dancing skills, partly from the age-old trick I taught her of smiling big enough that no one notices if you mess up). 

Po only got to watch the dress rehearsal, but she loved it so much that she tucked her dress into her undies. Whoops. She really does love pretending to dance ballet and loves watching the ballerinas ("bayawyinaws" as she says). 

Since I was out of town for the photo day, Ana managed to get her makeup and hair done by a friend. She stayed in character for the whole photo shoot...

And while backstage...

And finally stopped being a cat when her friend Johnny brought her flowers.

What a star! We were so pleased with her hard worked and all she put into the performance. She loved it (and hopes someday to be running the show... she saw some real room for efficiency improvement...)

And then there's Elsie...

Elsie Elsie Elsie Elsie....

She's been dancing for a couple of years now... 

And she is as cute as can be. 

I think she really catches the drama of the dance...

And loves being on stage...

But maybe doesn't pay attention in class so well. 

But whenever there is free dance...

Or a solo part...

She really shines!

And Mom and Dad breathed a long, joyous sigh of relief when the performance was over. I really respect you parents who keep your kids in dance for years... it's incredibly expensive and time-consuming, but we can see why it is worth it. Girls are meant to dance! 

Elsie is Six?!

Out of the frying pan, and into the fire! From Christmas, we go right into two January birthdays back to back. Will the celebrations ever end?! 

(I lament, but there are actually no more than three days in January that do not have a birthday of either Jonah's family or my extended family. Whoa! Springtime...  But we love all you January-borns)

Well, it is hard to believe that little bobbly-head baby Elsie is actually six! Even after a few months, I still forget that she isn't five. Elsie may be perennially five though. She still fits all the descriptions and personality of a five year old... except that she can read and skip now... so I may have her in my mind as a five year old forever. 

On her actual birthday, she got to go to ballet class, which is one of her favorite things in the world. 

Then we had noodles for dinner and a chocolate "mermaid" cake. She was as pleased as could be. 

Elsie elected to have a birthday party this year (we give them a choice-- birthday party or adventure/trip with a parent or the family), and she was very specific about what she wanted to do: go to the Maui Ocean Center aquarium with her best friend Sophie and her siblings, with both she and Sophie wearing mermaid costumes, with Elsie wearing a crown. Sophie's mom was so nice and actually made Sophie a mermaid costume just for the occasion. (Elsie has three or four, so she just chose the one that was the most comfortable). 

You would think with all the incredible snorkeling and diving around her that the aquarium would be a let down, but it was actually really cool! I learned a ton and only wish I had been there without kids so I could have taken my time and read all the information and more slowly watched all of the fish. Maybe I'll take myself there on a date one of these days...

Happy Birthday Elsie!