Dance Recital

 

So today was a really big day at our house!  Outside of this year being a really big year, 5th grade and all here.  You go to Jr. High which is 5th, 6th, &7th grade...which means Ian will be in Jr. High next year!

I can hear what you are saying and I'm in total agreement...how did it happen...I have no idea!

 

Today was his dance recital and I just loved the whole event, it was really a great time and I loved seeing the joy in Ian's face.

 

His school has the opportunity to participate in a dancing  program called ,Dancing Classrooms, the last 3 years, where the instructor comes and teaches them and I love their motto: is to build social awareness, confidence and self-esteem in children through the practice of social dance .This is also from their site: Dancing Classrooms is not about teaching ballroom dancing.  Dance is a tool for getting the children to break down social barriers, learn about honor and respect, treat others carefully, improve self-confidence, communicate and cooperate, and accept others even if they are different.  So for the last 10 weeks (not sure how many days a week of those weeks) for an hour they worked on learning different styles of dancing.  The learned the Fox Trot, Swing, Waltz, Merengue, Rumba, Polka, Tango, and Stomp...I wish I had rhythm for that!

You can check this program out here:

http://dancingclassroomsseattle.com/

 

Very awesome program!

 

This program culminates from a true story...they even made a movie of it with Antonio Banderas, called Take The Lead.  This program was started in New York and has made it's way all the way here!  How cool is that!?! If you've never seen the movie it's well worth your time!

 

Well back to where I was headed with this!

 

Ian had to get dressed up for this and thank goodness for friends who help cloth my children! With out them I don't know where we'd be...jeans and a polo shirt at this point.  Trying to keep clothes for this kid is impossible!

 

He was so excited to wear a tie from his dad and a REAL one at that...that was a big deal!

 

 

 

I love this picture! Charlie totally put himself there with out us telling him to.  He just had to be by his boy!

 

 

 

I think Ian knew this was a big thing, up until he walked in and realized this wasn't just big, this was HUGE! You can see it on his face...shades of his mother right there!

 I have no idea what is up with the lip thing other than he's nervous, however what I think is funny is the lady all the way to the left is doing the same thing! Ian got up and read a piece about what his first thoughts were about dancing and then another piece about what he thought of dancing after doing 3 classes.  I really hope we get those back because it was hard to hear him!!

 This young lady is the gal Ian escorted onto the dance floor!  When did these girls get to be so tall...and well...GIRLS!?! I remember when these 2 started Kindergarten together!!

 Ian and a friend from class...he wanted to photo bomb our picture but settled for this...goofy kid!

 Ian and some little brothers...Lee had to go with his class so he wasn't able to be in this.  As you can tell Eli didn't want to either. Sigh...

 Ian and his friend Kinlee...many years at the bus stop together these two!  My how they have grown into lovely young ladies and gentlemen!  Love that they met at the bus stop because I gained a really good friend that first year! This year they aren't in the same class but at least they are familiar faces to each other!

 Ian and his buddy Jackson!  These guys went to preschool together and this is the second time they have had class together!  They get a long really well and are good friends! I think they are good for each other...and it doesn't hurt we know the family and they are great friends too! 

I loved going to this function and seeing Ian have so much fun and having his brothers there to support him! We all even got up, the whole audience and participated in the Cha Cha Slide!  I think it tickled Ian I got up and did it and flake out on him.  He'll remember that and so will I!

 

  I can't believe how much these kids have grown up and when you see them all together at once it really hits you! It's kinda been an emotional day if I'm honest.  I'm so glad Ian has these good people and friends in his life right now and that along the way we've made some good friends with the parents.  It's important I think.

 

 

 

I'd like to say I'm looking forward to seeing all my boys do this but then again it will be too soon!