In a World of Pure Imagination

Dear Parker,

You have always had a good imagination, but lately it just seems out of control.  You spend all day pretending to be Allie's Mom (well, usually.  Sometimes, one of us has to be her Mom so that you can be someone else.)  You take her to the zoo, buy food there, go to see fireworks, change her diapers, take her to the doctor, to school - the possibilities are just endless.  Sometimes, you are the teacher or your own classroom.  I believe your children are: Cruter, Holly, Jolly, Polluter, Papooter, Allie and Leah.  Your children are never well behaved.  They fight and hit all day long.  (This concerns me a little.)  You stay in your persona all day long.

In the past couple of days, you have added in performing. You have been huge into making up your own songs lately, but since your recital, you are all about performing.  Tonight you put on a recital for us (complete with ballet shoes and one tap shoe since the other one was FAR too small).  You sang your own made up songs to go with your "dances."

Also, you have turned the Santa's Elves are watching thing against us.  Every time you do something good, you stop, get very serious and say, "I think I just saw an elf!  I bet he is going to go tell Santa I did _____."  Interestingly enough, the elves never show up when you aren't making the best choices.  Too smart, little girl.  Too smart.

Although, it can often get a little irritating when we are forced to participate in these elaborate worlds for hours on end, they are pretty hilarious.  You are pretty hilarious.  You are such a funny kid and I love spending this summer time with you.

3 more weeks. :-(

Love you so much,
Mommy

The Dance

Dear Parker,

When you moved to the Primrose School in February, you were very sad that they didn't offer a dance class at school.  So, I called up the dance studio that came to your old school and inquired about classes.  I was very hesitant, but we signed you up.  It has been a roller coaster ride.  The class meets at 7pm on a Monday night.  During the school year, this significantly cuts into your time at home as well as your bedtime.  So, you are often pretty tired by the time class comes around.  You always are very excited to go, but don't often present your best self in class.  You aren't (usually) poorly behaved, you just sometimes prefer to stand and stare at other kids, parents or yourself in the mirror rather than dance.  This, of course, made me very nervous about your performing in a big recital, but the time came and you were PUMPED!  You had a dress rehearsal and you could not wait to get going.

Silly Faces in the dressing room

Your first dance, a tap number, was to Sesame Street.  You did really well.  You watched Miss April and did your best.  I was really proud and relieved that you actually did kind of know what was going on! ;-)  You also had a second tap number to the Oscar Mayer commercial.

"Sweepin' the Clouds Away"

Your ballet number was to the song in Beauty and the Beast where Belle is walking through the village saying good morning to everyone.

Looking all demure

I was most nervous about this number because you have to hold hands with the other girls in your class and occasionally you have to hold the hand of the youngest girl who is not always as concerned about order as you are.  You really struggle with that.  But it all worked out just fine and you, again, did your very best.  I was really proud of you.

I NEED 6 eggs

During the actual performance, the girl who came out first stopped on the wrong "x" and this confused you, so you sort of wandered around looking for your spot, but then just settled at the end since someone else was standing on your "x."  It was pretty funny.  You still did a great job and after you had finished your tap numbers you came off stage and said, "Let's go change and do it again!"  You had such a fun time performing.

Waiting to leave stage at rehearsal

Shockingly, you love being on stage.  I think that this is just one of many performance that we will attend of yours - whether it's dance, music or theater.  I think you will be on the stage again.

Backstage at the performance before the "Electric Parade" finale

I love you so much, Parker and your Mom and I were incredibly proud of the way you behaved during a very long rehearsal and performance.  Many of the other girls were just running around and not listening.  You did a great job keeping quiet backstage, waiting your turn and watching the other performances.

You did a great job.  I love you so much.
Love,
Mommy