On Saturday, Helen Grace performed in her very first Nutcracker with Stars in Motion/Ballet DeSoto at the Hernando Performing Arts Center. Since it was a wild west version of the Nutcracker, her preschool class dressed up as tumbleweeds.
Her daddy was in Tampa on a business trip and wasn’t able to be there, but she had all of her grandparents (and Bubba too!) there to cheer her on. She even went easy on me and took a really early 45-minute nap since the performance was during her nap time and chowed down a turkey sandwich before we left- both without a fuss. She let Spiffer and me put her hair up in a ponytail and pull her hair off her face, but only because she was most excited about getting to put on Mama’s blush and lipstick!
As show time neared, Helen Grace was thankfully as cool as a cucumber and so very excited to get on stage, while I was the one that was shaking like a leaf. I dropped her off at the door to the auditorium, and she didn’t even look back as the big girls took her backstage to get ready. I hadn’t seen her costume until she walked on stage, and when she did, I was *shocked* that she let them put it on her- grass skirt, apron bib, and a big plate-shaped hat tied on her head. Of course, because the teenage girls dressed her, she was happy to put on the scratchy outfit! She did really well for her dance and stayed on her tippy toes the whole time. She loves the big jump part the best (so cute in the video!!), and she did a great job of paying attention and following the line on and off the stage. I realized that I had been holding my breath throughout her performance, and I was soooo relieved when she pranced off the stage as happy as could be. Her group came back on at the end for the finale, and we couldn’t have clapped any harder as she took her bow.
Afterward, I picked her up backstage, and her grandparents had all kinds of goodies for her- a pink rose, princess balloon, and ballerina books. She didn’t want to get off the stage and had a ball running around up there one more time. We then treated her to a cupcake (for more potty progress), and her celebratory dinner choice was Chick-fil-A.
So very proud of our little tumbleweed!
One last minute practice as we are heading out the door
Right before the show
An ad for our baby girl in the program
During the finale
After the show
Couldn’t get her off the stage
Chasing Grandma and so proud of herself
Some video from her practice the week before the performance. Daddy came along with us so that he could see her moves.
The big performance!!!
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