Sas Dance Water Party

Tonight was the "Hello Party" for the new year of dance team! Kamryn is going to have such a good time!  First on the agenda was to find the girls' 'Sassy Sister' for the year.  They buy each other birthday gifts, and small gifts at the big performances (ie: Suns games).  Each girl got a necklace with either a key or a lock.  Kam had a pink lock and so she had to find someone with a blue key.  This little sweetheart's key fit and she was so excited!  Turns out another little 4 yr old sweetie's key fit too.  I love that they pair up the tiny dancers with the older ones.  

During the chaos, Owen decided to stay in the water and play in the water falls.  He has so much fun in the water.. especially the beach entrance pools. 

Gigi is on dance team and is on one of the competition teams.  Owen loves his Gi monster cousin.

I let Kam bring her best friend to the party with us so she had someone to hang out with.  She just decided to audition and start last week, so she hasn't had time to meet the girls yet.  She is quiet and a little "shy".  A couple of girls from school are dancing on the same team as Kam this year, so it was sweet of them to come and say hello.  We had a long talk tonight about ways she can open up a little more and come out of her "shell'.  She says "I'm shy.. what if they won't like me.. what if people think I'm weird for talking to them?"  She has reached a difficult age and it's so important for me to instill in her great self esteem and to know that she can be whoever she chooses to be.  We are all afraid of rejection and it's something we all have to experience throughout our lives.  I told her if they don't like you, or if they think you are weird, it's their loss.  She is such a funny, smart, silly girl... and I just want her to open up a bit, smile and say hello.  I am the opposite and making friends has always been so easy for me.  I am extremely outgoing and can talk to just about anyone.  It's hard for me to take a step back and not compare what I would do in a circumstance, but to just help encourage her to be herself.  I don't want her labeling herself as the "awkward, shy girl".. she can be whoever she wants to be.  Mothering a little girl at the verge of the tween years is not easy, but I'm going to do my darnedest not to mess it up. :)  I was her age just 20 yrs ago.. that's not too long ago.. right?

Anyway.. where was I?  Oh yes.. I let her bring her best friend so she had a great time!!  There was a HUGE potluck with so much food it was insane.  The kids would eat and play and eat some more.  Dinner consisted of chips, fruit, veges, more chips, cookies, cupcakes and juice boxes.  We like to keep things balanced around here.

It was a great time and we are so excited for the girl's first performance at the Dbacks game in September!  We have the hair and makeup meeting next Saturday and we'll hopefully get to see the new costume design.  I think I am more excited than the girls are.  I volunteered to be a team mom this year, so I get to hang out with Kamryn backstage at all the performances.  I know there will be many performances this winter that I don't want to drag Owen too and expose him to germs.. like High School Basketball games .  I am excited to have that one on one time with my favorite girl!  It'll be good for Owen to have some "guy" time with Carson as well.  It's a win-win situation all around.