A "Star" is Born!

Boy was this Sarah's year to shine!  I guess we have arrived at the age when extracurricular activities really begin to add up.  Sarah was set to be involved in no less than four performances during the months of November and December.  It would have been five, but I opted out of a gymnastics recital (it was just too much).  Unfortunately, we were out of town for the Thanksgiving program at Building Blocks but we were back just in time to prepare for the Providence Christmas program and two ballet recitals all occurring in a three day period.  Whew!  I get tired just typing this.  First up, the Christmas program.

Unfortunately, our camera was less than stellar from our seat in the nosebleed section for this program.  Sarah is the star standing right next to the manger (where the real Star was located many years ago).  It was a cute program that allowed Sarah to get great practice of singing many Christmas carols around the house all season.  I love that she enjoys music as much as I do.  I only wish I had more photographs that came out but alas, this is the one and only one that is "share worthy".  Good job sis.

Next up, two rehearsals and two recitals in a four day period (for four year olds...really?)  Sarah had a blast dancing to the song "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas".  I was definitely a proud momma. She had missed two weeks of rehearsals leading up to the performance due to our Kansas trip.  Sarah didn't miss a beat.  As a matter of fact, she seemed to remember the moves better than many of her classmates.  (A lot of worry for nothing, as is usually the case). 

Little Sarah is on the very end.   She is hard to see from this vantage point.

 

Here we go, this is showtime.  No nerves here.  We have a natural born performer on our hands. I guess all that crying during her three year old Thanksgiving program is a thing of the past!

The grand finale was cute.  They sang "Santa Claus is coming".

And he "magically" appeared on stage.  Sarah was over the moon.

I am so proud of my little performer. 

We also had a stroke of luck that weekend that was related to ballet...professional ballet.  A friend from church offered us FREE tickets to see the Louisville Ballet production of "The Nutcracker".  I have always wanted to take Sarah, but was afraid she would not like it enough to merit the tremendous amount of money it would cost to go.  Free tickets were such a blessing!   I called my best bud Julie and asked if she and Maura were interested in accompanying us and they quickly said "Yes!"

Here are the girls all dolled up for the performance.   You have to dress up for the ballet.  Right?   Sarah was overcome with excitement at the thought of ballet, but also at dressing up :)

I can't believe how they have grown.  These girls have been together since they were just a few months old.  What a special friendship.

Julie and I have a pretty special friendship as well.  God has blessed us immensely.

This was our last photo snapped just before we were told to put up the cameras.  We had no idea we could not take photos BEFORE the performance even started.  Oh well,  so many wonderful memories made during this very busy week of December.