They have it every year.
I knew she would have a solo.
I knew she had been practicing for weeks in the dining room with her earphones on.
I knew she would be wearing the white tights I bought her.
I knew her hair would be up.
I knew she had a little make up on.
I knew she would be cute.
But what I didn't know...what I wasn't ready for...was this sight:
I snapped away at my camera, trying to balance between documenting her every move...and pulling the camera away from my eye to just...watch her.
She has more poise and confidence at ten years of age than I had at 10, 15, or hell, even now sometimes.
She amazes me.
Take a bow, Baby Girl...
I loved how she would stand when waiting for her turn...and the following photo will be blown up into poster size...asap:
It's funny how, when there is a crowd of children standing in front of you, the face you focus on, the only one from which you cannot remove your gaze, is THAT one.
Here she is, demonstrating why her teacher describes her as somewhat "chatty":
If this night were not incredible already, there was something else that made it even better. My MOM surprised Katie by coming to her play.
Yes, the Mom who lives 3 hours away. On a school night.
Which means, work night.
Backstory:
Over Thanksgiving, Katie had asked her Grandma "Are you coming to my play?"
"Oh, I don't know, honey"
"But you came to see Jordan in the Nutcracker"
(he was the Nutcracker, and it was a huge deal)
"That's true..."
Hmmm. Mom said after that conversation, she knew she would make it happen. Unbeknownst to me. She just walked into the house as I was making ham sandwiches. She had skipped lunch in order leave work early, drove across the state of Florida, and walked into our front door so she could see her Katie dance.
Thank you, Mom. Tears form in my eyes as I think of it.
Katie will remember that forever. So will I.
And of course...there's our Baby Lily Grace. That sweet child sat on her Daddy's lap throughout the entire play, quiet as can be, chewing on a program, and cheering on her cousin. And she wore her pink tutu, just for the occasion.
Oh...how we love this baby.
And I love how many people love my child...
what a lucky girl.
7 comments:
Jen, Katie is gorgeous. Looking at her pictures brought back my memories of ballet, that sometimes I wish I still did. How precious this time is, and that she will remember forever.
oh my gosh jenn!
these pictures are BEAUTIFUL. the tulle, the serious and confident face of that beautiful ballerina...wrapped in flowing tulle, the stance, the framer pic, your words, your mom surprise visit to see katies. beautiful.i didnt' want the post to end.
picture of lily and katie is so AMAZING!!!
bottom family photo...
perfect, sweet, georgeous! i want it on my wall. i love how lily looks like she is dancing in kell's arms.
those pictures ARE beautiful....you can SEE the confidence ooozing out of her....good job on that one! ;)
LOVE these photos!!!!! Love the one of just her feet and hands! You have every right to brag... she is gorgeous!!!!! (love that white frame thing goin on!) Good job!!!!!
I've read this post and looked at the pictures so many times that I could probably recite it for you!
Get it, "recite"? teehee
Even though I've read this post a gabillion times, I can't get through it without tears. he first time was the worst because my emotions were already shaky as I was on hold with Nikon and by the time they came back to the phone, I had ballerina music on full blast, I was in a puddle of tears and couldn't even talk. (thanks for talking me off the wall)
That black and white photo of her tutu taking up most of the picture gets me every time.
The stance from the waist down could seriously be a 20x20 canvas sized picture in her room. Make that 40x40.
It's so true about there could be 200 kids on stage, but you can't take your eyes off "THAT" one!! Then you blur out everyone, but Katie? OMG! Stop yourself!!
THen we have the mom factor that made everything even more special'er!! I love how you said "she drove across the state of Florida". That makes it sounds so dramatic...which it was!!
Then we scroll down and I'm reading this out loud to David and both of us have tears in our eyes already and I literally have to shut off the music and take a breather for the part with Lily. That picture with the poinsettas in the background is one of those we'll look back at and say "remember when they were this little"?
Ahh, the memories and then you put a BIG GIANT BOW on the post with the classic family picture at the end! (minus the bunny ears)
I love you all!! We're so lucky to have each other!!
Katie looked so beautiful in her lily white dress and her dance solo was flawless.
I always enjoyed watching my daughters perform . . . and still do . . . but now watching my grandchildren perform . . . is just as sweet!
Love Ya!
Dad and Grandpa too!
BREATHTAKING!
oh, jen! these are just priceless. she DOES look so confident! you should be so proud.
merry christmas!
Post a Comment