Recital Time

In early June Payton had her recital.  No, I don't have any pictures.  I am in the process of downloading them.  However, the recital was a success.  She did a lovely performance to twinkle, twinkle little star.  I have a pretty hot sports opinion I am about to go into regarding her recital.  Payton takes dance at a dance studio in Southlake.  It is a huge dance studio.  Literally, the recital was over a three night time frame to fit in all the performances.  Luckily, Payton's was on Friday night.  It was perfect timing for our out of town guest. Her costume was age appropriate and darling.  I am always a little leery about little girls growing up too fast.  I was so thrilled when her teacher instructed all the moms that the girls were to wear some make-up, but this wasn't Toddlers and Tiaras.  However, my world was shattered when we arrived to the recital and got back to the dressing area.


Apparently,  this studio has a group of elite or show/select dancers that were literally in at least three performances per night.  I believe the starting age for this group is eight.  I will say this, they are very talented, no doubt about it.  However, I kid you not, their first "costume" was similar to this:

However, it was only worse........  You see, the shorts were actually covered in glitter.  The top was short sleeved and tied up higher.  In fact, I don't think it had buttons on it.  It was tied up right over, I kid you not, a sparkly bra thing.  These girls ranged in age from 8 to maybe 14.  They also sported pig tails with huge ribbons in them with red lip stick to top of the look.  They looked liked sluts.  Sorry, no easy way to frame that.  My mouth almost fall to the floor.  Most of these girls had not developed yet, so the bra thing was for looks and to keep them from flashing everyone.

The dance was also not age appropriate, in my opinion.  I guess it was hip-hop, but really do girls that age really need to learn how to wiggle their hips and butts on stage?  Derek was mortified.  His exact quote after the performance of under aged girls was, "She is quitting before she is put into that class."  Also, Derek made another great point that I had never thought about.  Derek said he felt sorry/ uncomfortable for their dads in the audience.  I am not a dad, but I see his point.  As a dad, seeing your little girl up their dressed and dancing extremely provocative has to be a gut check, right?  The sad part about this is that the parents paid for these costumes!!!  They paid for their kids to be in the recital.  They knew this!!  Maybe this is where I turn into a prude, but there is no way in hell I would approved of this.  I will admit that I am no Pollyanna.  I will also admit that I realize that a dance costume needs to be form fitting to allow the dancers to move, but there has to be other alternatives at there. I plain leotard would have covered more than this outfit.


So where does this leave us?  Payton is still in dance this fall at the same studio.  She is also starting gymnastics this fall as well.  Note I said gymnastics, NOT mini-cheer. 

Mini-cheer just scares me.

Really, this is an outfit appropriate for a little girl?  I will admit, that some of these mini-cheer girls are super talented.  Seriously, the hard work and athletic ability they have is beyond question.  However, again, must they dress like this?  Is this now the standard?

I know if she wants to continue in dance  I will either have to be the mom that doesn't let her kid in the recital or find a dance studio that teaches more classical dance that shares some of the same views on how little girls should dress.

Am I the only one out there that thinks this way?  Surely, I can't be.  There has to be a place/ studio that teaches dance (including hip-hop) that is fun, but also understands that little girls should not dress like a drunken sorority girl at a Halloween party.  At least the sorority girls are at least of legal age and attending college.  (Disclaimer........ I was in a sorority....... see I am not a Pollyanna).

Okay......... I am off my soap box now.  I am off to research other dance studio's as we speak.

Conversations with Payton

Payton has always been a talker, but it is amazing some of the things that she will tell me. Here are just a few examples:

Driving home one day talking about costumes. I asked Payton what she wanted to be this year for Halloween. I threw out some suggestions. One of them was a mermaid.

Payton: Mom -- ma. I can't be a mermaid. How would I walk? I would have a fin. I guess I could hop, but then I would need water too.


Early Saturday morning. I put on the Sprout channel. They were doing their morning show. The host was talking about the morning craft.

Payton: Momma, will help my make the crap? I don't know if she misheard or knew my crafting abilities.

Driving home one evening talking about how we should go home and watch the Oscar's and see all the pretty dresses.

Payton: Oscar doesn't wear a dress. That would be silly. Oscar cuts our grass and wears pants. Why would Oscar be on TV? I know there are many others, but right now I can't think of any.


In other news, I am officially staying home for the rest of the summer The San Antonio trip was successful, and I got to see my good friend Ashley and her lovely trio. (and her hubs too) I really don't know how Ashley does it with three kiddos, but she has everything under control. I will also say, her crew is so well mannered. Payton loved playing with them and all the kids had a blast swimming and going down the water slide. Payton is also sporting a nice tan. Is it wrong to be jealous of my three year old for her tan lines? I promise I coat her in sunscreen, but she still manages this perfect golden hue. Also, at what age do your freckles turn into age spots? I am sporting some serious freckle action right now. I remember when I was little it was cute. I was the brown haired, freckle faced kid. Now the freckles aren't really looking that cute.



Payton is all ham these days.  I'll leave you with some of her silly faces.  

July..... Already?

I can't believe we are already into July. This year has gone by incredibly fast. I am trying to make an effort to actually blog more. The problem is that life/work is either crazy busy that I don't have time or things are trucking along and nothing is really going on to blog. The month of June has been a blur. Let's see..... I left off on New York round two. After getting into the hotel late Friday night and ordering room service (which was the best food of the entire trip), we ventured out to the American Museum of Natural History on Saturday. This was amazing!!! You could spend days in there.

After the museum,  we ate a hot dog on the benches in front and then walked through central park.  I cannot emphasize how lovely the weather was during our New York part of the trip.  After we went back to the hotel and looked around and just relaxed.  That evening we wanted to get out, but didn't want to do anything too taxing because we had to be up super early.  We decided to see the movie Brave.  I do not know how people afford to live in New York.  We purchased five movie tickets (two children, one senior, and two adults) and the price for the tickets alone was over $65.00.  Although, that could be the price here.  I can't tell you the last time I went to a movie, but that seemed a little high in my opinion.   The movie was okay.  Not really what I was expecting, but it wasn't bad.

As I have already mentioned, we got up super early to go home.   We almost missed the connecting flight, but we didn't.  I was so glad to be home.  All and all it was a wonderful trip.  The kids did awesome considering the unplanned stay in New York.

I am planning another mini-vacation/ work adventure July 11th.  For some reason, I have no CLE this year.  In the past I would always have some CLE carried over where I didn't need a ton.  However, this year I have none.  Therefore, I am going to the Advanced Real Estate CLE in San Antonio.  I am pretty hyped about going because it is at this amazing resort, and I am planning on meeting up with Ashley and her crew during the stay.  I know a CLE doesn't sound like fun, but this one should be interesting and they give you enough free time to actually relax.  After that trip, I am not planning on going anywhere until at least September when we travel up to Amarillo for Jackson's birthday party.    We haven't had a weekend home alone without guest or being somewhere since mid-May.    Right now Mema is in town to take care of her sister because she had knee surgery.  Payton is loving that Mema is in town, but yesterday they spent the day together and I think Mema was a little tired.  In fact, Mema said last night that maybe Payton should go to school today.

Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July and God Bless America.