"rock around the clock tonight..."

someone had her third dance recital last weekend, and i'm so pleased to announce they get better and better with time! we're so proud of our little dancer. there's nothing like watching toddlers dance around in tutus. it's just pure awesomeness.

we made a day out of it- dress rehearsal, followed by dinner at her fave, olive garden, and then it was recital time. (on a real stage and everything!) 

i feel like the worst mother ever- we didn't realize how late the recital would go, and jude was in meltdown mode after an hour ( ^^^^ ), so we took off early. (add to the fact that it was overcrowded and the a/c wasn't working- not pleasant.) anyway, laying in bed that night, stupid me realized leaving early meant elle totally missed the finale. she didn't ask. i didn't tell. i hope she won't remember... oops.

elle w/ grandma taco ( ^^ ) and nana & papa ( vv ).

way to rock, elle belle!

christmas recital.

 elle had her christmas recital yesterday- it was just at her studio, and she did miles better than last year:) she was actually, like, good! i mean, add the bum-shakin' to "santa baby," and hello!? amazingness. we all love this new place- her teacher is awesome, and the whole approach is great. pretend i was on-the-ball and made her some cute christmas accessory like the other moms.    :-/    (yes, i did put her in a baby bow. it was the only red accessory i could find. go, me.)

it was packed. PACKED! we were squished on the floor (and had some near-misses, narrowly escaping being kicked in the face:). my parents were squished on a table. it was quite the sight, all of us packed in those dance studios! BUT! it was nice to have a free recital. i'm all about free recitals:)

^^ warming up!

^^ us sitting literally, in the middle of the floor:)  

 ^^ there's elle! work it, girl…

love you, tiny dancer!

elle's first dance recital = another painted face (this time, for a good reason!)...

(after halloween, i officially threw away the white face paint. i've had enough spooky white faces for one season:)

elle had her very first dance recital last weekend! my baby! dance! yes, we're "those" parents who put their kids in dance, even though the "actual dancing at the recital" rate hovers somewhere around 36.9%. 

life's been a little too crazy, so after this recital we decided to pull her out until next fall- either way, she loved her last few months as a little ballerina! or... whatever dance they do as toddlers:) this was a perfect "farewell to dance, 2012."

her "dress rehearsal" consisted of her standing alone, still, and crying, so i was pathetically nervous for the actual performance! she's normally fine, but something about her knowing i was there threw her whole persona out of whack? *oh, please, please, please just dance like we know you can!!* thankfully, she danced like a true pro for the real deal. she's a star!! clearly. right? right:) 

(can you hear me channeling my inner stage-mom!?)

don't mind my shaking arm as i'm zoomed in like crazy- she's the second from the left most of the time:)

dancey pants...

this girl likes to shake it. she's quite the little performer. it's just the cutest thing to watch as a mama. i can hardly believe that within the next month she'll officially be a tiny dancer and a pre-school kiddo! my girl?? seriously? and she's maybe slept in her ballet shoes &too-big leotard ever since they arrived in the mail...