Our First Dance Recital..

This past weekend was Emma's ballet recital. Emma has been learning, practicing and rehearsing this dance since August! We were so very proud of her and how well she did during the performance. Emma has been struggling with fear lately and we weren't sure how it was going to go, but our Emma showed up on that stage and just soaked up the stage lights and had a blast! 

Friday was picture day and so we all loaded up and headed to the dance center for pictures. As it turns out, we don't even get to see the pictures being taken! They shuffle all of the girls into a room, close the door and take their pictures while Mom and Dad sit outside and wait. I get it. You don't want parents to snap pictures with their phones and then refuse to pay a FORTUNE for an 8x10. Mission Accomplished.  We bought a package.  I mean... check this girl out! We couldn't resist!

Saturday was rehearsal day. Emma and I woke up early and headed out. I stopped for a coffee and the little one had a hot cocoa. We chatted on the way to the junior high, where her rehearsal was at, and had a great time. We walked into the school and took a seat in the auditorium. My little pink ballerina sat right next to me.. for about 2 minutes. She saw a friend. Then, she saw more friends. Then, she was gone and I didn't see her again until the rehearsal was done. Ya'll... I cried. I cried like a baby!! What is wrong with me??  I just could not get over how big she is now. I had visions of rocking her to sleep and nursing her and swaddling her and teaching her to walk and talk and eat...  and there she was.. up on a stage directing her friends where to go and not needing me. My Mommy heart was sad during this rehearsal... but also very happy and feeling very blessed!

Sunday was the show. We went to the early service for church and then headed home to get Emma ready. Emma's favorite part of the entire thing, was the requirement to wear make-up. I thought I would never be that Mom that allowed her 4-year old daughter to wear make-up... ever. However... I did it. I willingly applied mascara to tiny eyelashes and more blush and lip gloss than any adult should even wear. She loved every second of it!  We headed to the school and Emma immediately went to her room. While my stomach was overtaken with nerves for her... she was completely fine! Off she went after a quick change into her ballet slippers. 

The performance was super adorable and all of the girls did so well!  It was a ticketed event with a limited number of tickets per family... so, we videotaped for papa and aunts and uncles and friends to see later. It was a lot of fun! 

I was very proud of my big girl. She was so brave and she did her dance wonderfully! I have a feeling we will be spending more time watching her on a stage throughout her life  ;) 

 
 

Our Last Day!

Today marked the final day of our homeschool co-op!  I'm just going to keep it real here... I feel really sad!  My baby is done with preschool. Did you read that? Done. With. Preschool. No more baby, no more toddler, no more preschooler. I am generally not an emotional person, but I have been tearing up over this for weeks!

What better way to end our day than with an official Emma Sue Risheill Robot Dance:

Funniest kid on the planet, in my humble opinion.

This year, Emma learned a LOT in Classical Conversations. Her favorite? The periodic tables and memorizing the first 12 elements. She loves it! Again, just keeping it real here: I had no idea what they were and learned them from listening to her tell them to me over.. and over... and over... and over. And. Over.

There are a lot of things I learned to like about CC. The biggest one, is that my little actress has the opportunity to put forth a presentation every week for her classmates and the other Moms in the room. She has really blossomed in her speaking and listening skills ( not with me, mind you.. just with others).

Emma grew up a lot this year. Physically and emotionally. She started out attached to my side for about 10 minutes each week.. and now she sits next to anyone but me. She is upset that I will still be in her class with her next year and has made it known that she prefers her independence when her friends are around. Mom cramps her style. Already. Already!   

I am thankful for the friends that we both made through CC and how critical it was in our transition to life in Troy. It was fun to learn about Latin, Art, History, Science and Math and to see how much of it Emma soaked right up! 

I don't know where our life will be at in the fall, but I am thankful for the time we were able to learn and grow together this year!

I wish I was a little bit..

Better at keeping up my blog!

So much has happened in our life and I have really missed out on capturing it all on my blog.

* We have moved from Columbus to Troy
* I am now babysitting my niece full-time
* I have a new niece!
* We have been to Disney World
* We have had spur of the moment trips with my brother and his family
* We have been searching for a church
* We have changed jobs
* We have been doing Classical Conversations homeschool
* We have made the official decision to homeschool Emma
* We attended a homeschool convention
* We went to a rap concert
* We have taken Emma to her first "big kid" concerts (City Harmonic, All Sons and Daughters)
* Emma plays outside without my supervision and I have not yet had an actual heart attack over it
* My BABY turns 5 next month and I am already crying over it
* I joined a Book Club
* I re-joined Weight Watchers
* I still travel every other week to Columbus to take part in my Precept study group
* Emma is in her last year as a Cubbie
* Emma did ballet and has a recital this weekend
* My Dad moved out of the last house that my Mom lived in
* My Dad is making big transitions in his life
* My sister is married and now lives in NC

SO much that I have missed blogging about..  LOTS of catching up to do!