Mambo

Shortly after our arrival in Decatur, I signed Leah up for dance at Richland Community College. Last summer she was in tumbling tots, and this year she was enrolled in Creative Movements. For their spring concert they performed to Lou Bega's, Mambo #5...and aren't the outfits so appropriate?!?!? They rehearsed once a week and in the past 2 weeks started trial runs on the big stage in Schilling Auditorium. Leah didn't have an ounce of stage fright...in fact she was so excited to get out there and "shake her groove thing." And she did fantastic. Mitch actually took her to the dress rehearsal. I was a "stage mom" for the Friday and Saturday night performances. Which basically means I sat in the back stage room and helped get them up to the stage in time and then walked them back when they were done. There was 7 girls, and so we kept them occupied and together until it was their time to go on. Which also means I had to watch the performances from backstage :(  But thankfully Mitch got it on video.

After Friday nights show, Leah was so disappointed...not that she didn't love it, she was just sad that it was over so quickly and she wanted to go back out and do it again. On Saturday night Gigi came to Decatur to take in the show. The weekend was incredibly jam packed with fun stuff to do. She performed Friday night, Saturday we were up and out of the house early to go to Mattoon for a Mother's Day Lunch with my parents, then off to the skating rink for Macy's birthday party, followed by a second birthday party for Charlee in Monticello. Needless to say, on the way to Richland I wasn't sure how Leah was going to do. She was TIRED and a bit cranky. But we got her into costume and the minute she saw Gigi she was ready to go. She told Gigi to clap loud for her and was ready to put on her game face. And did she ever! I think Saturday night's performance was an even bigger hit. She had the biggest smile, did her summersaults, straddle rolls and even a back bend with perfect ease. She was GREAT! Afterwards Gigi took her out for ice cream which made the night even better. So proud of my little dancer.

Mitch said that Kiersten was awesome in the audience. Sat in her chair and watched all the performers before Leah intensely, and then was super excited when Leah's group came on. Kiersten had to watch the rehearsals so often she probably could have done the routine, poor kid! And she told Leah she did a good job and gave her hugs. They are so sweet. One thing I learned is that I won't be a very good dance mom...there were way to many pushy women backstage doing hair and make-up on 2,3 and 4 year olds for my liking. I put a little blush on Leah's cheeks and some lipgloss on her but felt that was enough. These girls were all glittered up, lip liner, eye liner, mascara, fake hair pieces...the works! I just couldn't do it, not with a 4 year old. Mitch called it "toddlers and tiaras" YIKES! Even though Leah wasn't all "dolled up" I thought she was BEAUTIFUL! And I am much more suited to being a soccer mom, Ha!