Fairies and Raindrops (oh my!)

Today marks the end of a CRAZY week. We have been complete bums today, including Dennis, and have stayed home, watched t.v. and snacked around for our much needed break. The week started with the usual ballet and piano lessons. On Wednesday, Rachael, Sam and I went to Amarillo for what turned out to be a marathon dress rehearsal for her dance recital. We finally made it home at 11 p.m. On Thursday, her class went back to Amarillo for a field trip to a children's museum and some play time. Friday, both Jack and Rachael went to a track meet...Rachael asked to leave early. She's not much into athletic events; I think she MAY be a bit of a diva! Dennis had to pick her up because I had to make the first of two trips to Amarillo to get a mailing for the store out. Finally, the culmination of 9 months of work and a busy week, came Friday night with Rachael's dance recital.

The event, put on by the Lone Star Dance Academy, was held at the Globe News Performing Arts Center in Amarillo. This is a beautiful new theater, complete with cattle trailer panels on the ceiling in the foyer! We were honored to be there and that Rachael performed on that stage. There were 53 performances from the Amarillo and Hereford Academies. I did not take pictures...I had Sam with me (in case he got hungry!) and shuttling Rachael back and forth between her three dance numbers and costume changes. Dennis, Jack and Avery enjoyed the show from the balcony, which Dennis thinks were the best seats in the house.

Of course, the younger performers (3-5 years) have less skill and talent, but what they lack in those areas they totally make up for in cuteness! Each time Rachael's groups would walk out on stage, there was a collective "AAAAWWWWW..." from the audience. Here are some pictures I took of Rachael in her costume at home (flash photography was not allowed during the recital).

Rachael's first number was a ballet dance called "Fairy March;" here she is in her best fairy pose:

Her second dance was called "April Showers." It's hard to see here, but the sequins looked like little raindrops on her purple costume. It was a cute number that fit the song well, and seeing the performance really made the costume make sense. Her last number, her tap dance, was "Hello Dolly" -- the Louie Armstrong version. Rachael just almost looks like a Vegas showgirl, don't you think?

Avery thoroughly enjoyed the recital. Dennis said she was entertainment alone! She sat on the edge of her seat and mimicked the dancers' moves, applauded and even "woo hooed" a few times. She has been wanting to be in dance all year, but was too young. Now that she is three years old, she will begin lessons in September. When I was taking pictures of Rachael, Avery begged to be a part of the action, so Rachael let her borrow her fairy costume...here she is in all her glory!