Family Dance Routine Night

Last night was amazing. I got to see almost my whole family up on stage, including seeing my princess perform for the first time ever! Click "Read more" for the story and a few pics.

I seriously had to fight back tears like a loser lol. I was so hyped to see my kids perform as well as a secret performance from my beautiful GF, Athen. Every year at this recital, there is always a secret parent routine done by the parents of one of the dance groups. Last year I had the pleasure of being apart of the big surprise performance because Athen was pregnant with Carter still a the time. It was such a cool experience! Getting to surprise your kids by doing a part of their routine in front of the whole theater was unreal. This year Athen had the pleasure and she absolutely killed it. She was so cute walking on the stage trying to mimic all of Chases moves! I was dying haha, and yelling my ass off in support. 

Then you have Charlotte who was performing on stage for the first time. She has been practicing this routine for almost a year and the difference from before she started the classes to now, just floored me. She was dead center of the group and even lead them on stage. I was at the edge of my seat cheering her on as loud as I can with a cramping perma-grin on my face! I will never forget that moment and I feel it's the beginning of something great for her. I couldn't be more proud and even the thought of the moment, makes me tear up.

Then you have Chase who performed 2 killer routines. I have watched these routines over and over again at every single competition he goes to and each time I see it, I still get just as hyped up. He amazes me and I'm seriously proud to say how much I've seen him grow in dance, and in every other aspect(especially height. Like damn, dude's tall!) Going into this night, it was a bit sad for Athen and I as we knew that Chase was pretty adamant about quitting dance after this season. He's been doing it for the last 5 years. Since grade 3. So it's been not only a huge part of his life but also ours as we watched him all through out the years. This, and it was Charlotte's first year in and it's so awesome getting to see them dance at the same show. So knowing all this, we had felt that this was the very last time we would see him perform. That fact meant a lot to us. As we were leaving the theater and walking to the car, Chase tells us he has a surprise... He first leans in and whispers in into my ear... It actually took me a second to understand what he meant but then it hit me I got all bug eyed and tight lipped as I looked at Athen and waited for Chase to tell her... He then tells her.. "I'm staying." She had the same delayed reaction as we both thought the same thing off the bat which was "what? you're staying behind to hang out with your friends or something?" but obviously he would not have made it such a big reveal if that was the case. It suddenly hit Athen the same way it hit me and her face lit up so fast! I have never seen her run to hug anyone as fast as she did at that moment lol. I had to try to capture that moment as fast as I could! She was so happy. That was the massive cherry on top of what was already an amazing night. Then we went to Denny's as a tradition after every recital and stuffed our faces. The Cinnamon pancakes are so freaking dope.