the Ballerina Birthday

So, Sophie turned 5 the other week (!!!!!) and we decided to have a party! It was the first summer I think since she was born that we were home (and not somewhere on vacation) on her birthday, so I thought we'd invite a few girlies over for a little girl party. Fun! AND, while trying to decide what to do for her party I had what I am pretty sure is - besides marrying Bryce - my BEST IDEA EVER. We had a ballerina birthday party and... I asked a ballerina to come!! A real, live ballerina!! (thank you, seminary.) Not only was this exciting for the girls (who had jaws on the floor when Ms. A came dancing into the room), it was fun for the ballerina, her mom who also came to join the fun, and me!! AND calling up our ballerina was almost the only prep I had to do for the party! We played a few rounds of Duck, Duck Goose, but after that, I turned it over to our ballerina and that was the party! AWESOME. Ms. A did such a fabulous job with the girls!! She talked to the girls for a few minutes about what ballerinas do, she performed for them (this dance from the Sleeping Beauty ballet!), and then she taught them a little dance that the girls then performed for us! It was FAN-TAS-TIC. Even Travis and Bridget joined in on the dancing fun. It was great. Did I mention it was great? B/c it was AWESOME. There was just one eency weency really SUPER BIG very terrible part = my camera. Ok, actually the camera wasn't the problem, just the person taking pictures. And that would be me. I'm still so mad about it b/c at least half the pics I took were blurry!!!!! So so sad about it. Obviously I need to read the owner's manual. But, if you can overlook the blurriness, you can still see the joy at the party. So here ya go:

duck, duck, goose waiting for all the party guests to arrive!

Bridget got Sophie before she was able to get back to her spot
(that's what happens when your dad is a super fast runner...)

the girls all pumped up to meet the guest ballerina!!
And here she is!!!
Ms. A talking to the girls
and dancing for them!!
she was such a beautiful dancer, these pictures don't even come close to doing her justice!!
she'll be at BYU in the fall and the dance department there is very excited to have her!

time for a lesson from a pro!

Sophie was in heaven
trying to be juuuuust like Ms. A
everybody twirl!
another happy pic
Here's Travis in on the action sporting his dancing clothes = green tutu and orange 80's inspired headband, of course!
what a STUD!
(he'll probably kill me for these photos in a few years...)
Then Bridget joined in, too, in her baby tutu. :)
She was quite a hit, of course - all the little girls loved having her join the dancing!
Ms. A with her dancers
S,T & B with Ms. A

Thank you for coming, Ms. A!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Sophie!!!