em's first dance recital! (may 19th)

let's pretend it's not already mid july :).  baby em had her first dance recital at the end of the school year.  she was so, so excited...mostly because she got to wear make up and glitter!  i was so hesitant about letting her wear make up, but honestly, i did not want her to be the only kid without it.  same goes for the hair.  did you know that salons actually are booked solid on recital days?  i'm pretty sure i didn't have my hair professionally "done" until i went to prom. regardless, all this made for a very busy (and memorable) day.

she is unphased about getting her hair done.  she's so fancy like that.

her bff caroline was getting her hair done, too!

these girls are too cute!

all ready for the show

posing for me (but very annoyed that i asked her to do this)

more pics with caroline, of course

it is so funny to me how at just 4 years old, they already have favorite friends

getting ready for the big group prayer.

one last circle for mrs. marissa (em's old kdo teacher)

here is where i would insert a video of my baby girl shaking her hips to cotton candy and a toy balloon.  but it shouldn't surprise you that i can't figure out how to do that...i'm sure you'll believe me when i say that she was by far the best little one anyway :)

so let's skip to curtain call, with baby em front and center!

she didn't know she was getting a trophy.  and OMG, it was the best part of the night as far as she was concerned.  she also loved the nosegay bouquet that we gave her and all the flowers her family brought.

auntie elna and uncle todd were there, but couldn't stay for the after-party.  and look, even mrs. brittany raced back after finals to be there!  em: "wow!  all of my favorite people came to see me.  but not auntie tina."  (ahem, feel bad, auntie?)

(pls excuse my greasy self.  it's hard work being a stage mom!)

we all went to amazon for dinner to celebrate afterwards.  all em was concerned about was (1) her trophy, and (2) did she have to take off all her sparkles yet?

poor brittany sat at the kids table.  they were all so excited to see her. 

and look who else showed up for the celebration- mrs. elizabeth, the dance instructor, and her little boy chase. chase and em have been in school together for 3 years now.  AND, they even share a birthday!

shay is such a good big cousin.  we are so glad she could make it!