Dancing Queen

Zoey's preschool Christmas program, which was originally scheduled for December 19 but cancelled due to snow, was rescheduled for this past Monday, January 5.

Cutest. Thing. Ever.

The kids in the Pre-K class (I think they are 4 and maybe 5 year olds) were truly the stars of the show, and rightfully so. Despite the fact that they have likely gone weeks without steadily practicing their "numbers", they belted out a half-hours worth of songs--some Christmas-themed, some in Spanish, and some in sign language, with amazing enthusiasm and some impressive maneuvers.

My daughter's class, full of two year olds, were really more like a supporting cast. And what a back-up set they were.

At first, as they all filed in, Zoey and her lot of friends (Ari, Adley, and Reese) remained safely stationed near their beloved Teacher Melina. In fact, I don't think Zoey left Teacher 'Nina's lap for the first two songs. But then they sang "Away in a Manger", and you could tell something clicked in her little brain...she remembered those moves! Hand gestures and all, she did well with the song. They were all starting to warm up to the program, actually, if you don't count the poor little boy in the front row who continually picked his nose through the duration of the show.

And then, Zoey spotted Daddy in the back of the crowd, and OH MY GOD, did she take off from there!!!

Bryan snuck in a bit late, having driven all the way back to Vancouver from his school out in Northeast Portland, and as SOON as Zoey saw him, her eyes lit up and she started jumping up and down and waving to her adoring fans in the crowd. And then it was as though she wanted to show off a bit--taking center stage in front of the big kids to execute her super-fine dance moves, which involve a lot of elbow swinging, hip swiveling, and the general impression that she may or may not be having a seizure. (She clearly gets her lack of rhythm from her mother.) For the rest of the show, she had the biggest grin on her face, and still occasionally took the time to wave to us in the crowd.

All in all, it was the most adorable thing I've seen in a long time and I was very impressed with my child's joyfully awkward dance moves.