Dancing Sweeties

The three older girls started dance classes again a few weeks ago. They are loving it. (We went back to Miss Denna's dance studio.) But, driving to Provo every Thursday, twice, is turning out to be quite the adventure. I leave with the younger two girls at 2:30 for Dakota's 3:00 "Mom and Me" Dance class, which lasts an hour. Oakley stays in her stroller watching, but now she's clueing in that that's not so fun. She starts yelling and wiggling about 1/2 way through so that she can join the class for tumbling. She already knows how to do somersaults. Anyway, we leave shortly after 4:00, race back home to Mapleton to get Brooklyn and Makenna (at Lynne's house - who picks them up from school for me on Thursdays). They have about 5-10 minutes to change into their dance clothes before we are off again to Provo. Dakota and Oakley usually just stay in the car during their "costume change". With Pop Tarts and bottled water in hand, they snack on the road before arriving to dance class. Usually, I go back to Mapleton after dropping them off to get dinner ready and Darin picks them up at 6:30 before coming home from work (unless he's out of town...then I get to run errands or whatever during their hour and a half long class). Darin and the girls are lucky to be home by 7:00 from their commute. They scarf down dinner before I help Brooklyn with her homework, which usually entails "cramming" for her Friday spelling test. Then it's off to their rooms to get the four girls bathed, dressed in p.j.'s, get their hair done, brush teeth, listen to their personal prayers, have family prayer, lay out clothes for the a.m., and fit in a few bed-time stories. And don't forget the endless, kisses and hugs, "Mom, I gotta' go potty", "Mom, I need a drink", "Mom, where's my teddy bear?" etc. Whew! I get tired just thinking about it! Needless to say, it is a crazy day. But, it makes it all worth it when you see how happy they are to be back with Miss Denna. Denna came to visit us on Sunday with fresh rolls that she had just baked. As she was driving to Mapleton, she thought to herself, "I can't believe Alisa does this drive twice (really four times back and forth) every week." I told her it was worth it. Especially when you capture cute pics like the ones below. (Their dance costumes make for sweet dress-ups after their recitals...even little Oakley can get in on the action.)