Daphne Christmas Parade

Tonight was the Daphne Christmas parade.

All the young dancers - primarily 3 and 4 year olds - lined up holding a bar with a parent on each end.

This way the girls would stay together in a uniform line.  Very clever.  Grace was in the middle of the girls.

And she was very excited.  In fact, she was bouncing up and down waiting for the parade to start.

And she waved to everybody.  In fact, even at the end of the parade when there was no one left to wave to, Grace kept on waving and saying, "Merry Christmas!"

She was so darling!

And a real trooper.  I walked alongside the girls so I didn't see the rest of the parade, but I do know that it was loooonnnnnggggg.   In fact, when we arrived to line up I couldn't believe the sheer number of floats and people.  I didn't know that many people even lived in this area!  Apparently, the Christmas parade is much bigger than even Mardi Gras!  Our dance troupe was roughly in the middle of the lineup.  Our group didn't move for half an hour after the parade started.  That's how long it was.

But Grace enjoyed every minute of it singing along with the carols the band played.

And she waved and waved and waved.  She had a wonderful time marching but I had a wonderful time just watching her.  And I think Faith would have really enjoyed it, too, but she slept in the car with Queenie and missed the entire parade.  All 2 1/2 hours of it.  David caught up with me and walked the majority of the parade, too.  One thing is for sure, Grace should sleep well tonight.  And we get to do it all over again first thing in the morning.

Grace's Christmas parade costume

Today I picked up Grace's costume for the Christmas parades.

Grace's dance class marches in both the Daphne and Spanish Fort parades.  

Grace is very excited about the parades and her new costume.

Doesn't she look darling?

Grace's dance class Halloween performance

Parents were invited to dance class today for a little Halloween performance.

All the girls dressed up in costumes.  Grace was a fairy.

And they danced the "Monster Mash."

They were the cutest monsters I've ever seen!

They also danced ballet.

Which is Grace's favorite.

I just love watching my little girl have fun doing something she loves.

Grace dances at the Jubilee Festival

Today Queenie and Seth came with us to the Jubilee Festival downtown.

Grace was performing at the opening ceremony with her dance class.

She danced ballet.

And sang along with the music.  That was a little something, something extra for us.

Don't you love her plies? 

Grace is very focused when she dances.  Ballet is her favorite.

She also tap danced at the festival.

My baby gets her moves from her Momma. 

But she did an amazing job.

And even bowed at the very end.  Here's a darling video of Grace dancing.

Dancing makes her heart so happy

Today is Grace's first day of dance class!  She was so excited and wanted to put her dance clothes on as soon as she got home from school.

First she put on her tap/jazz outfit.

I can't believe how growny she looks!

Then Grace tap, tap, tapped across our tile.

And proudly exclaimed, "I just LOVE to dance!"  That she certainly does.

Next, we put on her ballet clothes.

And Grace showed me how a ballerina dances.

I think Grace may have gotten her dance skills from her Momma.

She definitely got my coordination.

After dancing for a while, Grace plopped down at her desk slightly out of breath and pronounced, "Momma, you make my heart so happy."

 "You see, Momma!  My heart sees you!"  And my heart just melted.

Before we knew it, it was time for dance class!  Grace had so much fun and came home full of excitement.  She told me how they started with running around in a great big circle and then they jumped on a "Jump-o-lene" (trampoline).  Next, they danced and danced and danced some more.  Unfortunately the parents aren't allowed to watch the classes.  They don't want the students distracted.  But I did stay for the first half hour and the director peeked in the class and told me that Grace was "dancing all over the place" and was obviously having a great time.  

I just knew from all the little dance parties we have here at home that Grace would absolutely love dance class.  I'm so glad she enjoys it.  Seeing Grace so happy dancing around in her tap shoes and ballet slippers "makes my heart super duper happy."

Grace is ready to dance!

We registered Grace for dance classes today.  Her class is 90 minutes long every Tuesday afternoon and is a compilation of tumbling, ballet, tap and jazz.  She is required to wear a pink or black dance leotard with a skirt and pink tights.  She also needs pink ballet slippers and black tap shoes.  And a dance bag to keep up with all her dance gear.

Aunt Jennifer had already bought Grace an adorable monogrammed dance bag. 

 So today we bought leotards, and tight, and shoes.

 Pink ballet slippers

And the most darling tap shoes.  I think she's ready!