Show Business

Last Friday we found out the hard way there really is no business like show business.  Carter has been taking dance from a rather intense place for the past few months...

All her hard work was culminating in an end of the year recital.  If you're wondering what exactly I mean by "intense" well think FULL dress rehearsal the day before and you might have a general idea.  Thank goodness for sweet fashionable aunts who help with makeup...

I won't bore you with all the details but the short version is the venue was downtown (which means trouble and mama's gonna' be getting lost).  I did my best to allow enough time for finding the place, parking, etc. but in spite of my best laid plans we were still running late.  We parked and hit the ground running...literally.  Me pushing the stroller and my sweet little Carter jogging her little heart out.  I don't think I will ever forget looking down as we hurried along and seeing her arms pumping and curls bouncing...her determination stole my heart.  


We ran a good half mile before finding right entrance and pushed through the door as the music for her routine was starting.  I tossed her up on stage (and did my best to ignore the dirty look her teacher shot me).  I was sweaty, frazzled, and a little worse for the wear but...BIG SIGH we had made it.


Fast forward 24 hours and the day of the actual recital.  I was determined to allow ourselves plenty of time.  I had Carter's make-up done well ahead of time (think toddlers and tiaras) and was getting ready to start on her hair when I left the bathroom for a moment.  I returned and had to do a double take, it looked like I was staring a raccoon in the eyes.  Carter had rubbed black circles about two inches wide around her pretty blue eyes.  I wish I had thought to snap a photo...but based on the previous drama of the day before I went into go mode.  With a little help from Roxi we quickly re-did makeup, finished curling hair, and voila...finally ready to go (per Carter's request we took a "before" and "after")...

I'm not sure she will ever wear this much make-up again...

But I could get used to these beautiful curls...

 It was all a bit much but Carter was loving it and that made me very happy.  She was super excited that Grammy, Granddad, and Roxi all came to watch her perform...in fact she got a hold of my video camera on the way downtown and the results were pretty funny if you ask me...

She is crazy about seeing herself on film (not sure if that is a good or bad thing)...

I hung out backstage with her class and they were pretty cute in their tiny tap shoes...

It was finally time to get down to business and after all the drama I was so glad my munchkin' was finally shuffle hop stepping her little heart out with the rest of her adorable class (Carter is in the back right corner)...

                          

I was so proud of my tiny dancer...

But I wasn't the only one...

It's easy to be kinda' crazy about this kiddo'...

Even if she was wearing more make-up than her mama...

Did I mention how much I love her...

With the show behind us we headed for a celebratory dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  Her daddy told her she could pick out any dessert she wanted and  Carter (who is reading anything and everything she can get her hands on) read through every single cheesecake on the menu.  She finally decided on "The 30th Anniversary Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake" (say that five times fast)...

All in all it was a totally unforgettable weekend, with a few moments that I am tucking away on the "hope I'll remember forever" list.  I was reminded more than once not to sweat the small stuff (literally when it's 105 out) and to just laugh and have fun...it is the perfect antidote for stress.  That being said I think we may be pondering another dance company for the fall...

Something with a little more emphasis on the fun and a little less emphasis on the show.  One thing is for sure around our house there will always be dancing going on...

And fun, there will be plenty of that...