JOYMOUNTAIN: Mother's Day and Katie Bug's First Dance Recital

Today was a really big day. It is Mother's Day and it is also our Katie Bug's very first big dance recital. It made it really fun this year because I got to be important Mimi and take her to dress rehearsal..It was exhausting and so exciting! Kate and I did it together... We were pros. :) Her Mommy was in Canada so that made me in charge. yay!

With much anticipation I woke up the day of recital and started getting ready. Coffee...check, Mother's Day cards and gifts....check, special gift for KBug...check, camera battery charged...check, clothes for me and Big Daddy...check and we are off to the recital. We arrived a little early but the place was already totally packed out. We quickly discovered we didn't have near enough seats so we grabbed some on the back row with Big Daddy guarding them. That just added to the drama that was escalating by the minute!

Mommy, Aunt Lara and Katelyn helped her get her costume, make and hair done. Nana sewed her sleeves and Daddy came with a big bouquet of flowers.

Finally the big event begins... and our Katie Bug performs second! The question in our minds was...would she do anything other than stand there... Standing would be ok...just look cute..and maybe wave. I knew right away when she came out she was relaxed. I was there at dress rehearsal and she held her hands over her eyes from the bright lights and searched for me in the audience. Today though, she was hopping and skipping and trying to keep up with her friends. Our Katie Bug didn't know it but she had inherited a big dose of drama genes...and the stage had her name written all over it. As a good friend posted on Facebook....another generation of dancing Abbotts. :) Well I can tell you this Mimi would love it if she took a liking to it.. Miss Christina my littlest granddaughter was there to see her cousin dance and she said she liked it too and wants to dance. Visions of recitals and performances danced through my head.

No little tapping for our big girl...

singing her heart out

dancing to the music

After she performed two performances beautifully we all gathered out front for pictures...

It was wonderful how the family gathered to cheer her on.

Granny wanted to be there and was not able to make it. She sure was missed.

Kiss from cousin Ashton...Job well done!

Kate's fan club

Mimi's Girls

Kate with Mommy and Daddy

Nana , Daddy and Kate..

Isn't that smile the cutest! Our Kate is a trooper

Aunt Carrie and family came from Houston to see her

Cousin Ashton and Katelyn with Kate

Uncle Josh, cousin Christina and Johnathan, cousin Justin

Aunt Dee Dee and Luisa

Her ole Big Daddy

Big Daddy and Mimi love me

Time to get this girls dancin' shoes off

After pictures we all gathered at Red, Hot and Blue and Uncle James joined us too. I loved watching Johnathan enjoy his time with the big boys and cousin Justin as always looked out for him. Christina was in heaven with " the kids." She was very pleased as she made the rounds talking to everyone. It was sweet to watch them with her. Too cute. Katie Bug was enjoying the social hour and made the rounds...and everyone talked their heads off. We had a great Mother's Day celebration and great food too. I missed getting to be with my oldest son Jeff today but he worked today to protect us. I will see him tomorrow and he sent me a beautiful E Card.