Dance Like There's No Tomorrow

It was recital weekend for our girls!  Yesterday was jammed packed full of hair curling, hair spraying, makeup applying (and reapplying), picture taking, flower buying, and praising my dancers for a job well done.  I am extremely grateful to my sister, Natalie, for helping me doing the girls' hair and makeup this year.  She happens to be great at both and the girls loved being made up by their aunt.  They look up to her you know. 

Here is Audrey with some of her friends backstage.

Madeleine has been taking dance for 3 years and I have loved watching her blossom as a dancer.  This year I wanted to jump out of my seat and holler because I was so proud.  She looked like a real ballerina!

The theme of this year's recital was Colors.  Madeleine's class danced to Yellow Submarine. 

Audrey's class danced to Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.  Here she is sugaring on to stage with her class.

I am not sure what she is doing here, but I can tell you it was not part of the dance.  Let me first say how very proud I was of her too, but we are going to let her give gymnastics a try in the Fall instead of dance.  Maybe that will suit her better.  :)

She caught a glimpse of us and waved.

Doing a little shuffle hop step!

The grand finale . . . so CUTE!

All of the above pictures were taken at dress rehearsal.  Afterwards Steven and I pestered Madeleine and Audrey for pictures.  We learned a valuable lesson this year.   Trying to take pictures outside, when no one has had lunch yet, and everyone is tired is NOT a good idea.  While we did get some nice shots, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears (and maybe a few threats) went into getting them.

We thought Madeleine looked like a fairy.

Audrey was oblivious and would just assume blow dandelions around instead.

Our little pixie

We didn't get a ton of pictures of Audrey because she was wandering about, in her own little, world most of the time.  :)

At this point Madeleine had really had enough! 

After a lunch break we headed to the home of Steven's family to congratulate his sister, Amanda, who graduated from the University of Nebraska that same day.  We also wanted to wish his mother a Happy Mother's Day.  We had better luck taking pictures there.

We eventually went inside because the sun was making everyone squint.

Neeko loves Audrey.  Here it looks like he is looking up at her adoringly and if he could speak I think he would say, "You are so pretty". 

After recital, they were showered with flowers.

And because they both would not look at the camera at the same time, I give you two pictures.  One with Audrey looking at the camera . . .

and one with Madeleine.

I am so proud of my dancers!!