Z Good Life

talent show

I have a lot of catching up to do in the blogging world! We've had a busy Spring with baseball, the end of the school year, Erich's 40th, the girls' dance recital, and more. I have lots of pictures to share, so stay tuned!

Summer and 2 girlfriends choreographed a darling little dance routine to The Chipettes "Single Ladies" (from the most recent Alvin and the Chipmunks movie). They practiced a lot, and worked really hard. Very well done, girls! (If I knew how to make the file smaller, I'd post the video here. Ha!)

Lauren, Sammie, and Summer

As you might recall, Summer's middle school burned in early November. The students have been divided up by grade level to 3 schools within the district, but the students were still kept separate from their host school student bodies. The PTA has worked very hard to give the students a sense of community, even though they were spread throughout the city. The talent show was a great way to bring all 3 grades together one last time. For the next 2 years, while the school is being rebuilt, the students will be integrated into the student bodies of their host schools. It's sad saying goodbye to a school and the community that it creates -- and it's sad that Summer will graduate from a middle school on the south side of town. The fire affects Jay, too, since he only has 1 more year of elementary school. For 6th grade, he'll be bussed across town. Here's hoping the middle school will actually be done in 2 years!

recital 2009

I think I've sufficiently recovered from Recital Weekend enough to post pictures. Summer danced in all 3 performances, and Lily danced in one. We attended the Saturday matinee, since both girls were dancing for that performance.

The pictures of the girls dancing were taken at dress rehearsal. Summer's dance was "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the musical Annie.

 

Lily's dance was "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," sung by Israel KamaKawiwo'Ole. Summer is the teacher's helper for Lily's class, so she danced a bit to help them out at dress rehearsal.

 

Hangin' out, waiting for Lily's turn to rehearse.

 

OH, how I love that cute little bunnie bun-bun in Lily's hair!

 

Performance night! Summer's waiting in the back room with the other dancers. They go backstage when it's their turn to dance.

 

Many friends and family came to watch the girls and support them. Thank you to the girls' personal cheerleaders: Grandma "Mimi," Grandma Carole, Great Aunt Lori, "Poopsie," Leah, Michelle and Jordy, and Anisa and Ginny and Larry.  

 

dance picture day

...means we're in the final stretch toward the big recital! Summer got to wear *gasp* makeup, her favorite part of dance pictures and recital. All of the girls wore their costumes, and after pictures they practiced their dance routines a few times.

 
Summer is dancing with the young girls in this picture because she's a teacher's assistant for Lily's class.

 
Lily is the youngest in her class, but she seems to be keeping up pretty well with the older girls.

 
Taking pictures with the big windows in the background was pretty difficult. Lily is dancing to the right of Miss Brittany (instructor) in this photo.

 
Again, Lily's directly to the right of Miss Britt.

 
Summer and her buddy Bryanna have been taking dance classes together for several years. This year they're orphans, dancing to "It's A Hard-Knock Life" from Annie. It's a very cute dance!

 
I took this picture into the mirror. Yep, their props are mops! (Hey, Summer, why don't you dance while you're mopping the kitchen floor at home?)

 
This is the end of the routine. It was sweet for Miss Britt to let me take pictures. Thanks for humoring me, Brittany! :o)

 
Doesn't look like the hard-knock life is getting this girl down! We can't wait for the recital in June. :o)