A word or two and a hunderd pictures by Ballet Mom

So this weekend was my first real experience being Ballet Mom, a variant of Soccer Mom, Gymnastics Mom or the such. The Princess had 4 shows over the weekend and with the theater being far from our home, one ends up living in the theater for two afternoons and evenings with a packed picnic to fill the ballerina tummies. The show was based on the movies and was brilliantly put together as the dancing school not only presents ballet but also modern dancing, Spanish dancing, hip-hop and ballroom. What really was the best moment of the show was a classical ballet show with Michael Jackson's "The way you make me feel" as the music. Ok, no, the highlight was of course our Princess as one of the "Barbie and the 12 dancing princesses".

I have also learned that any self respecting Ballet Mom knows:

• That La Pebras gel can whip any hairstyle into a ballerina bun
• Good hairspray still works best to keep that bun in place in conjunction with a hair net.
• You can not have enough hairpins, extra pairs of tights or extra hairnets
• A sowing kit by chance in my bag saved us from 3 costume failures.
• Even if there are professional make-up artists,there will be a make up failure somewhere in the troupe.
• Not many woman have true red lipstick in their handbags - I was the only one in 12 moms. The rest have pink or orange or brown.
• You can never have enough make-up glitter on a 6 year old.
• You can keep 12 6 year olds busy with a bag of crayons and scrap office paper for hours.
• But if you start to read a story out loud all creativity will be abandoned.
• One in 12 ballerinas will need to go to the bathroom after being dressed despite taking all to the bathroom before dressing them.
• And because they are not allowed to eat while in costume they will mysteriously get very hungry just before going on stage.
• Even 6 year olds get a serious adrenaline rush before going on stage.

And a always, the story in pictures:

Stretching backstage with the big girls.

Our successful first concert Makes my Monday.

Playing along with Cheryl.

The weekend report

So the weekend was one of those - fun filled at times and very challenging at others. Sleep was mostly the challenging part with L, currently the better sleeper of the twins, waking up around 1:30 Friday and Saturday night and only going back to sleep at about 3:30 (yes, I do check the clock!).Last night, they slept through. Bliss! I did manage a short nap on Saturday and Sunday and I let Hunter sleep in on Sunday morning, taking the kids to church on my own and visiting my mom after.The highlights was good though: - afternoon walks on both days with the kids and the puppies, the Princess went to the Men*lyn drive-in with friends on Friday night and loved it, and the kids were super good in the church. I really could almost not believe how good they were.The highlight however was family fun day at the Boys' school.

For some of us,  the water slide proved irresistible.

 While others discovered the joy of a jumping castle for the first time.

 

 Stolen twin moments - I have no idea what these two were up to right here, but it does warm my heart.

 As we sat chatting to other parents I remarked to Hunter that this is the first family fun day since the boys were born that we actually sat down and talked to people and did not spend all our time running after a kid.

So yes, small steps, small bits of progress makes my Monday.

Playing along with Cheryl.

Things I have learnt this weekend...

It is completely possible for 6 kids of 6 and under to totally wreck a room in the duration of two rugby games. It will take mommy (with a 5 year old's help) two hours to tidy up the toys.

I will never allow above to happen again - now I am tidy as you play Nazi even with other people's kids.

There are brilliant party ideas around that I have not seen before. The bug in the jello one was a huge hit.

I really like chickens - they are so photogenic,



Rabbits love cupcakes!

Puppies and kids go together like peas and carrots.

It is possible to have a whole night's sleep and still sleep for another 2 and a half hours the next morning and be exhausted by 9 the night and sleep from 9:30. I guess we are still sleep deprived to an extend.

Some friendships can resume after 22 and 3 years in the blink of an eye (post following on this one)

There is nothing as sweet as a newborn.This one had all the attention at Saturday's party.