Maddie's world

I think Maddie's 2nd dance class was funnier than the first.

I was proud of myself for not crying this time like a big dumbie, even though I still get watery eyes every time she puts on her tap shoes or ballet slippers. I think that's how our life will always be-- a flubbering mess of pride every time my little women do something new!

She was so excited to see 'Ms. Dawn' today, her teacher. She has surprised me thus far in that she hasn't really approached any of the little girls to ask them their names or make conversation with them. But, I truly think that she has her attention 100% focused on her teacher and her class. She is definitely in her own world though! For the first 40 minutes or so, she does a really good job of focusing. But, those last 20 minutes she is totally adrift in her own world, her own thoughts, and checking herself out in the mirror. Then again, she is the only 3-year old in the class and although she does have an awesome attention span, she's still little and gets off track from time to time. They were doing some "hip hop" dance at the end of the class, and Maddie totally broke out in her own moves. The teacher and the entire row of parents that were watching (including myself and Dan) could not stop laughing. She provides a lot of entertainment! That's not to say though that she doesn't listen, because she definitely wants to please. Once the teacher reminds her of what they are supposed to be doing, she always goes right back to that. So, that's good.

In the beginning of the class, they went over the song that they had learned from last week. Maddie was the only one that remembered the lyrics and the motions to it. I could tell she was proud since she turned to us and waved after 'Ms. Dawn' told her "good job." A little bit later after they had learned some 'tricky' lyrics ('tricky' according to Cran), the teacher asked them "do you want to learn some more?" and everyone was silent. Maddie goes, "No, thank you!" Everyone was dying of laughter.

****

We were the first ones there today, and the classroom was still dark at that point. I felt so bad for Faith because she was pretending to tap with her sandals. She wants so badly to go in there with her Maddie! She fussed a little when she realized she couldn't go in to the room with Maddie and the other girls, but waved and blew kisses as only Cran's #1 fan could do.

Ballerina Cran x3

Ballerina Cran x 2

Ballerina Cran x4

1st dance class

Crannie had her first dance class today!

I got tears in my eyes when she left Dan and I to line up with the little girls to go into the room with her teacher. I had to make myself stop before it became a full-blown cry. The crazy emotions that go with seeing your kiddos grow up and do things independently of you! I can only imagine what the first day of school will be like for me; but, that is something I'm not willing to think about right now.

Anyway, Maddie had a blast. She was adorable with her little black tap shoes. They went in with their tap shoes first. Dan put them on for her since I was shaking. He got such a kick out of watching her dance class; he's definitely not used to anything related to dance considering he's only ever known boys his entire life. The two of us and little Beebster waved to her when she would look and Faith kept blowing kisses and saying "Bah, Da Da" to her beloved big sis.

There were actually a lot more little girls in her class than I had thought there would be. Then again, this is the 4-year old class since she was the only 3-year old signed up for her original class that had to be cancelled. She was the youngest, but definitely not the smallest. They sat in a little circle at first telling the teacher their names, and we could hear Maddie say "my name is Madison Constein." Dan had rehearsed this about 20 times before we left this morning since he was concerned she would tell the whole class her name was "Crannie" and then the teacher would be lost as to who this little girl, Crannie, was (he takes this personally considering the whole 'Jack LeFauchy' story of his elementary days). Haha.

They actually did a lot for their first class. I figured they would just goof around and basically not do anything. But, they did exercises in tap, ballet, and even got out the gym mats to do some gymnastics stuff. Maddie cracked us up the the entire time (and all of the parents actually to be exact). Each of the little girls was lined up and was supposed to sit in a designated square of the dance floor. Maddie sat there for the most part, but when the teachers would be coming down the line to do each individual girl's dance moves, she would start moving slowly to the front. She kept inching closer and closer to the mirror, until she'd be right in front of the mirror. Then, she'd just look at herself and smile and do her classic ballet moves that she does here at home: spins, weird jumps, etc. The teacher probably moved her back to the line about 6 times during the hour-long class. It wasn't that she was purposely not listening, but just that she was so incredibly eager to do everything that I think she would forget what the teacher had told her. There were a few times where the teacher would hold Maddie's hand in the front and use her as an example of what they were supposed to be doing during each song. It was hilarious.

I was so incredibly proud of my little Cran today. She melted my heart with her little leotard. I love that this is something that she really likes, and I hope she'll look forward to her class every week.

New dance class

I got a call today from Cran's dance studio. The woman told me that Maddie was the only little girl signed up for the Saturday morning 3-year old class. She told me she will still see if other girls sign up for this class to keep the class open, but in the meantime, she has Maddie signed up to begin in the 4-year old Saturday morning class. It was either take that class or basically not be able to do it because the only other class would have been a Monday night one. That would have never worked with Dan's schedule. And, the latter option of canceling Crannie's ballet dreams was completely out of the question. After all, she has been wearing her pink dance leotard non-stop unless I have her take it off to eat so that she doesn't stain it!

Anyway, she will be in the 4-year old class. She will be the youngest, but Maddie loves any friend of any age, and they'll only be a year older anyway. In this class she will need tap shoes! So, we will have to get those. I told her that now she'll be able to learn Mumble's dance moves from "Happy Feet." She is very excited to start next Saturday. And Dan, Beebster, and I are super excited to watch!

Delving into the world of ballet

Crannie got her first ballet leotard today!

Her ballet class starts next Saturday, and Dan and I are so very much looking forward to it. Not to mention how extremely excited Maddie is! It's so funny to see her practicing her 'dance spins' and 'ballerina moves' in anticipation of her class. She is thoroughly excited. 

We took her to Payless today to look for ballet slippers. They were ridiculously expensive. So, we tried Target and they were very inexpensive. She got her first pair of ballet slippers and she picked out her leotard of choice. She opted for a cute pink one with a skirt attached. She of course wanted to wear it right away when we got home. She took a nap with it on, and only took it off to go to the pool. Of course, she also insisted on wearing her ballet slippers, her crown, a sparkly headband, a hair clip, her dangly earrings, a bracelet, and her fanny pack along with the leotard. She's too funny.

Speaking of the fanny pack... Cran has a new fanny pack! Haha. We couldn't go to Kyle and Kate's picnic yesterday because Dan ended up having to work on his day off, so Nene and Gampa came to visit for a little bit. Nene brought a Disney princess fanny pack that comes with lipstick and eye shadow (pretend, of course). Maddie thought this thing was awesome! She immediately went to her room to search for things to put in her new favorite accessory. She stuffed a Christmas watch, some hair ties, chapsticks, her fake earrings, her Old Spice deodorant (hahaha.. she still loves that free sample!), and of course the lipstick and eye shadow in to it. She wanted to put her headbands in there too, but the poor thing could barely even close with all that she wanted to put in it. 

We went for a short visit to the Pagoda while Nene and Gampa were here, and then went for dinner at a little diner in Mt. Penn. Maddie was thrilled to have chicken nuggets and applesauce and kept telling us all that "I am so lucky, Momma. This is a great day, guys. Thank you for this great day."

She may only be 3 1/2 years old, but my little Cran is always so appreciative and grateful for every little blessing in her life. The new fanny pack was the icing on her day yesterday. She thanked Dan and I for her leotard and ballet slippers about a million times today. She's my little sweetheart, and I love her so much.