My little ballerina

All I can say is..... WOW!

Katherine's first dance recital was a huge success!! She looked absolutely adorable and danced her little heart out. I was so proud of her!!! We got her a bouquet of flowers, and you would have thought I handed her the world. She was beaming.

Matt watched from the audience, and I spent the night with Katherine -- changing her costumes, touching up her makeup and watching her dance around the room with her friends. When it was time for her class to go backstage and wait for their turn to dance, I waited in the wings with her. She was able to watch two other dances before it was her turn to go out. She got as close to the stage as she could, sat on her hands and knees and watched the "big" girls dance. The curtain was closed right before her dance so that the flower pots could be set on stage. As soon as it was time for her to go out, she turned to me, gave me a big hug, and ran out as fast as she could. As soon as the music came on, she popped out of her pot, a big smile on her face and danced her little heart out.

As I stood there and watched her, tears were rolling down my face. I was so proud of her. She was so confident... strong... secure... She loves to dance, and she enjoyed being on stage in the spotlight. She wasn't afraid of all the people watching her ... it didn't phase her a bit. She was in her element. Once again, I'm reminded that my baby is growing up, and I am so proud of her.

Today, Katherine also had another first... She went to her first "drop off" birthday party. Apparently I'm the only mom who thinks that 4 is too young to be dropped off at someone's house because there were 15 other little girls there.... It was Lynsey's (a little girl from her ballet class) birthday party and if it would have been at a house where I didn't know the parents REALLY well, I wouldn't have allowed her to go, but since Lynsey lives a few blocks away, AND I know both of her parents well, I thought it was probably OK. But please, at 4 is it really the end of the world if a parent accompanies their child??? UUUUUUGH! I've been known to overreact, but there's NO way, I'd drop her off at a house where I didn't know the parents VERY well. Before I dropped her off, we had a long talk about the party and the fact that I wouldn't be staying. At first she didn't want me to leave her, but after we talked about it, she decided that it was a great idea, and that she, too, should have a "no mommies party". WONDERFUL!! LOL!!

Lynsey had a princess theme birthday party and all the little girls wore their "dress up" princess gowns and shoes. Katherine looked adorable!! As I took her up the driveway she met her friends and gave them big hugs. They all told each other how beautiful they were! HA-HA! As I turned to walk back down the driveway, she yelled after me, and started to cry. She wasn't as OK with the idea of a drop off party as I thought she was... Part of me was glad that she still needed me and wanted me there, but the other part of me, wanted her to be happy about this new experience and have a wonderful time. Lynsey came up and put her arm around Katherine and told her that she could sit by her, and Ryanne (another girl from ballet class) told her that she looked too pretty cry and that she wanted her to stay and play. Katherine stayed and had a great time. Thank goodness!!

While Katherine was at the party, Caleb and I went to the park and played outside. He had such a blast!! When it was time to go, he was sweaty and tired. It was so nice to be able to spend some quality time with him, and as soon as Matt's done with the CFA, Katherine and I have a few things we want to do that we can't with Caleb.... She wants me to take her to the movies, so that's first on the list!!

Speaking of the CFA -- only two more weeks until test day! .... not that I'm counting or anything! LOL!