The Show Must Go On

I am going to begin this post by addressing something that I keep forgetting to write about...we are not in violin lessons any longer. I know. I know. Lizzy was doing well but I wasn't. Practices two times a week, plus needing to practice every single day with frequent performances. It was too much for me and poor Ben was being sent to so many different houses because I couldn't take him to the practices and performances. There were some other issues too but let's just say that we decided to hold off for a couple of years.

Until then...

Lizzy loves to dance and, at least at this point in her life, it is much less of a commitment than violin. Her dance recital was the Saturday after her last day of school (June 11, 2011). She had been so excited for the performance. She loved her costumes. She loved that they were going to do both a tap dance and a ballet dance. BUT....she woke up on Saturday morning with a raging fever of 103!! How could I let her preform? She didn't have to be there until 5:45 pm so I thought we would see how she felt at that time.

I gave her some Tylenol and within an hour she was bouncing around like usual and continued to feel better throughout the day. But, of course, at about 4:30 her fever came back with a vengeance and I found her sound asleep on her bed 45 minutes before we were to go.
WHAT WAS I TO DO???

I pumped her with Ibuprofen this time and probably did the the bad mommy thing - I put my sleeping, sick ballerina in the car and headed off to the performance.

Look at her poor little sick face. One of the other mothers was nice enough to do her hair as I am tight braid challenged. She just sat and didn't say a word. She felt terrible. What kind of a mom does this to her child?!!!

Oh, but wait! The medicine is kicking in! There is a smile on my ballerina!

She began to feel much better and was so glad I took her despite her sad little face.

Here the girls are waiting to go on stage. I just love this picture (wish it weren't so dark)

The ballet performance was adorable and there is my smiling girl! She came off stage and said, "I'm so glad you brought me! That was fun!" Yes!!! (The little girl in front of her was so cute, she kept saying, "My mom is so proud of me!" We were all laughing.)

Lizzy loves her dancing friends. This is her sweet friend Katherine.

Costume change and now they are ready for their tap dance.

Troy was out front with the video camera so the only still pictures I have are of behind the scenes. Here is Lizzy preforming her dance on stage.

Now everyone is lined up for final curtain call. Can you imagine the volume in this room with that many little girls all hyped up. (Lizzy showed no signs of sickness whatsoever!)

Troy surprised Lizzy by sending a rose backstage for his little dancer. She was sooo excited!! Lizzy and her friend Savannah with the roses after the performance.

My sister Wendy and her two boys Jacob and Porter were so nice to come to her performance. Lizzy was super excited to see them too. She also loved hearing them scream "We love you Lizzy!" after each of her dances.

 I guess Heavenly Father wanted to see Lizzy dance that night as well because He answered this mother's prayers. She felt fine until our ride home and then her fever returned and she was sick the whole next day. This time, I LET her be sick. :) Where is that Mother of the Year award I earned? NOT!

These group photos were taken the week before. I snuck my camera in and snapped a picture before the photographer did. Don't you just love those pink ballet costumes?!

 Look at that happy, beautiful, sweet face! I love that Lizzy Love!