My Daughter Didn’t Dance

Today, my daughter didn’t dance, and it broke my heart.

 

Lily-Ann celebrated her sixth birthday almost a week ago.  On July 20th we had friends and a few family members over to the house to help her celebrate.  She’d decided on a Goddess Girls theme this year.  We all dressed in chitons, played games I created based on the characters in the books, ate ambrosia cake and drank nectar punch, and everyone wore the winged sandals we made as our party favours.  After her party, she told me that all her birthday dreams and wishes had come true.  It was an awesome day.

Click the photo to see the rest of her party pictures.

 

The two weeks leading up to her sixth birthday, the girl had been going through some rather big developmental changes.  It was clear she was becoming a “big kid” and leaving the “baby” behind.  I was so excited for her.  She was growing in leaps and bounds right before my eyes.  I was proud of the conscious choices she was making, and happy for those things that were changing even without her awareness.  As much as I loved my baby, my toddler, and my little girl, I love the big kid she was becoming even more (if that’s possible).

My little girl loved going to the movies.  She loves the stories, the action, the music, the popcorn…  cuddling up in the dark theater.  More than any of that though, she loved to dance.  Ever since that first movie we went to, we’d let her run up to the front as soon as the credits started, and we’d watch her dance.

Those first few times, she’d wipe out…  a lot.  We’d hold back though, and just wait.  Then, with even more resolve, determination, and grit she would dust herself off and dance her heart out.  Sometimes spinning all the way from one side of the theater to the other, arms held wide, face to the sky, feeling the entire world whorl around her.  And she would take my heart along for the ride.

It was secretly my favourite part of the movie too.

There were times, when others would get caught up in her passion too.  When individuals, couples, and families would stay to watch her dance.  Some would clap for her.  Others would tell us how amazing they thought she was.  And there were those who would simply smile, their eyes full of gratitude.

I think her dancing reminded people of joy.  We so easily forget how much of it there is in this world.  We get so caught up in things that really don’t matter and we forget how to be swept up in it.  Joy can fill the heart with rapture and our lives with light.  Lily-Ann gave that back to people, even if it was just for a while.

Today, when the movie ended, and she got up to dance, my heart soared – like it always did.  She got up to the front, and she stood there.  I watched her posture change, and watched that joy melt away.  Then I watched her walk back to her seat.  She sat back down and said “I’m not going to dance today.  Maybe a different day, but not today.”  And I started to bawl.  I wasn’t loud, but I couldn’t stop the tears.  They poured down my face.

Lily wasn’t sad.  She was happy.  But that pure innocent joy, without a care about what anyone could think, was gone.  She really is a big kid, and with that comes both good and bad.  I look forward to what this next stage has in store for us, but I desperately mourn for my baby – who was here with me only weeks ago.

The ballet recital

It’s amazing how quickly life intervenes and prevents you from getting anywhere.  During the two weeks Damon was home from work, we got an incredible amount done…  The house boxed up and moved, beginning to set up the new place…  but now that he’s back at work, we’re lucky to get a box unpacked every day.  With work, school, birthday parties, and ballet recitals?  It’s tough to find time for anything else.

It’s a little frustrating.  I’d really like to have the house free of boxes rather shortly.  I don’t want to go into the holiday season amidst piles of stuff.

So here’s something cute.  🙂  The girl had her very first ballet recital today.  Granted, it was an early introduction class for 3, 4, and 5 year olds – so there wasn’t much to it.  But it was cute just the same.  Here’s the video her Daddy took:

Lady Gaga at Camp fYrefly!

Throughout the next couple of weeks I plan to share stories and video’s from Camp fYrefly.  Today, I figured I’d kick things off with a little fun.  Seriously, I alternated between laughing like a mad woman, and crying buckets full of tears.  My cackle became a bit of an inside joke between some of the campers, and I’m sure my tears did too.  LMAO

One thing I have to admit I didn’t expect was the huge level of talent amoungst (or is it amongst?  Right or wrong, as a Canadian I’m inclined to throw a U into almost every word with an O) the campers.  Sure, I expected there to be talent, but every single young person I met seemed to have some absolutely amazing talent.  Some were incredible writers, some were musicians, some were visual artists, comedians, improvisational actors, and some…  like Jesse, were dancers.

Jesse honestly blew my mind.  Holy crap.  Some talent scout needs to snap this boy up and make him sign a contract thus making them both rich.  And then I can say “I knew him when…”  Watch this video, and you’ll know why.

I wish I’d had one of my good cameras with me, rather than just my iPad.  But hey, talent is talent – regardless of how mediocre the equipment it’s captured on.  And Jesse?  He’s nothing but raw, unbridled, passionate, dance.  And all that energy, ready to burst out at a moments notice, is hidden beneath the most unassuming, gentle, sweet, and soft-spoken exterior.

Video Removed at the Request of the Camp fYrefly Founders. 

Sorry Everyone, You’ll just have to take my word for it.  Jesse is awesome!

She can dance and draw…

We spent much of our afternoon and early evening with my family.  Visiting, eating, playing…  it’s always a nice time.  🙂  I’m so thankful to have them near by.  I can’t imagine the wee girlie growing up without family all around her,  I’m happy she can grow up like I did, with a strong supportive extended family.  I really do feel very lucky.

I couldn’t decide between two images today.  One showing off the wee girlie’s drawing skill, and the other showing Lily-Ann and my sister Marie “getting down”.  LOL  So here’s both.

Balloon Boy

Lily & Marie playing "Just Dance II" on the Wii.

Photo Loaded!

Okay, lots of photos in this post (hence the title).  😉

There have been a few days where I promised to upload but hadn’t yet, so here are photos for those days plus today.  🙂

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Not much to say here.  🙂  Wee girlie had a treat, and is just super cute.

Doughnut Sprinkle Happiness

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Here is the wee girlie doing the “I got a new hat” happy dance.

Sandy, Rosalie, and Paul – She absolutely LOVES her new hat, and has worn it every single day since it arrived.  It is sooo cute, and just looks absolutely adorable on her.  Thanks so very much!  It’s awesome!

Happy Dance!

Happy Dance (from the back)

Sandy is an accomplished artisan here in Saskatchewan.  If you’d like a hand-felted one of a kind beret for your little one, you can drop her a line at sgcompton at sasktel dot net (obviously remove the spaces and replace the at with @ and the dot with .).  Her work is outstanding.  The hats are perfect in the rain (nothing gets through them) and are really good to throw on your little one after swimming too.  Keeps them warm even with wet hair.  Seriously, I can’t rave about Sandy’s work any more than I do.  Really, really awesome stuff!

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So, yesterday a wonderful astronomical event took place…  and once again, we here in Saskatoon, totally missed out.  The last several events listed as “not to be missed” have been missed here due to cloud cover.  Totally not cool.

Yesterday, for the first time in twenty years, the sun and moon rose and set at the exact same time.  This causes an amazing effect which completely lights up the sky, due to the way the light reflects from one, off the other.  Well.  As I said.  Couldn’t see it.  Clouds.

So here’s a picture of some horses.  Played with it a little in iphoto in an attempt to have it look as if I’d lifted it from an old western.  Considering the limited scope of iphoto, I think I came close.  😉

The Not-so-Old West.

And here are a couple shots of the sunset.  That did manage to pierce the cloud cover for about 90 seconds.  Enough time to focus in the opposite direction to snap a couple shots.

The sunset.

Sunset (shot two).

Shaun, I know you were really looking forward to seeing pictures of the aforementioned astronomical event.  Sorry.  😦

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Damon was sick today… which means I didn’t have time for much beyond the essentials.  So, here’s a quick night sky shot for you.  Camera’s interpret the dark in such interesting ways.  From time to time I enjoy pointing off into space and seeing what happens.  Tonight’s photograph is completely unedited…  not cropped, colour adjusted, or altered in any way.  It’s just the sky, outside my home, as the camera sees it.  🙂

Night all.  Be good to one another.

Night Photography

Playing Around

Here’s the wee girlie, dancing on the sidewalk.  🙂

Dancing to the Music in her Head.

And shortly after, she decided to race against the wind.  🙂

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=video#!/video/video.php?v=437839197352

Click the link above to watch her go.