The Last Dance

Sweetie -

Tomorrow is your last ballet class at preschool. The last one. Wasn't our first ballet and pancakes Friday just yesterday?

(Wow - these first lesson vs. your last lesson photos say it all, don't they? You were so LITTLE way back then...)

Ballet and pancakes has been such a special tradition for us. I know we'll have a new ballet school to look forward to and many new traditions to enjoy... but it's just another reminder that Mommy and Molly Fridays are quickly coming to an end. You told me tonight, "You know, Mommy - I'm going to go to Kindergarten five days a week."

I know, sweetie - I know.

(P.S. - 14 Molly and Mommy Fridays left until Kindergarten!)

Tete a Tot First: The Lasts Begin

Today was the last watch day at ballet before the recital... the last watch day of ballet at your school... the last watch day of our Mommy and Molly ballet and pancake Fridays.



It's been so incredibly special, being able to be there... watching you as you do something that I always loved so much.

I'm going to miss our Mommy and Molly days -- but there are some of the most special memories I have.

Love you, ballerina.

Love, Mommy

Friday Tradition: Ballet and Pancakes

When I went back to work after maternity leave, I went back "part time." (Part time, as defined by my work, is 35+ hours a week. But I digress...)

So, I work four days a week and have Fridays off. We always called Fridays "Mommy and Molly Days." We'd run errands, sometimes meet Daddy for lunch, and sometimes just nap. As you got older, we even started having playdates on Fridays.

Then last September, you started ballet lessons at your school. I was so excited. I was a dancer and your grandma (my mommy) was a dancer. I hoped you would enjoy dancing as much as we did.

Of course, ballet was before school started -- so we had to be in our leotard and leg warmers, ready to go at 7:30... A.M. -- in the morning.

But I got to stay and watch you. A small mommy luxury. And I treasured every minute. (And took about 1,000 photos.)

After your first lesson, because you did such a great job (and because it was only 8:15), I said, "Molly, you were a great listener. Where would you like to go to breakfast?" The answer I expected was "the bagel store" (a.k.a. Panera Bread) - where we go with Daddy on Saturday mornings.

The answer I got: "Pancakes at McDonald's!!!"

I didn't even know you knew McDonald's had pancakes... but ok, let's go. So we went and had pancakes. And you enjoyed them this much...

The next week, another mommy and ballerina joined us... then another. And they became very good friends over the course of eight months of Ballet and Pancake Fridays.

Ballet starts again next week and you are so excited. You really do love to dance, which thrills me to no end. It must be like when you and Daddy play catch - he loves that. And so another year of Ballet and Pancake Fridays begins. (You and your friend Abby already have told me this is the plan.)

This will be our last year of Mommy and Molly Fridays. Next year, you'll start kindergarten and I'll go back to work five days a week. But I will always cherish our special Mommy and Molly Days.

Love you, peanut.

The Molly Trifecta

Last Wednesday was Molly's perfect day:

1. ALL of her grandparents were here -- Grandma and Grandpa, and Papa and Grandma. Even Aunt Lois and Uncle Jim! Why were they all here?


2. Ballet recital! At long last, the Molly's big debut. And after we got home from the recital...


3. AMERICAN IDOL FINALE! Two hours of filler (thank GOD for TiVo) - capped with David Cook being named the new American Idol.

My cousin in Blue Springs, Mo., had been trying to find a David Cook shirt for Molly. When she couldn't find one in Molly's size, she made her this:

That's right - "David Cook is my Idol" in tiny little sparklies. Way too cute.

Of course, we wore this to school on Tuesday. I'm already having people letting me know they're betting on Molly's American Idol pick for next year. Well, we have to fund college somehow...