Months ago, Ella’s class started preparing for their Christmas program. She talked to me about what songs they were singing and that there would be tryouts for some solos. We laughed because they were singing The Chipmunk Song and Last Christmas, both of which she knew by heart because we are holiday music obsessed over here. She even talked about trying out, but I wasn’t sure she would go through with it. We all know she loves to perform on stage, but singing is a little different. She can be shy when she wants to and I thought her nerves would win out. Well imagine my surprise when she came home to tell me she was singing a verse of Last Christmas all by herself! Of course, we whipped out the original version by Wham and she said, “No, mom. Taylor Swift sings it!” Well, ok. No wonder she wanted the solo.
Her program was last night and she’s been a little nervous all week. She has practiced non-stop and we’ve worked on articulating her words and how to say certain things. She has been so funny to watch and listen to as she worked up the nerve to sing with her class. By the time the performance started, she was cool and calm but MAMA WAS A WRECK. I told Josh it was a miracle anyone could hear her because my heart was beating out of my chest. And it was one of those dilemmas where I just wanted to enjoy her song, but I was trying to video with my real camera, take photos, keep Taz from destroying the auditorium and hope that there was something on my phone to Instagram later!
All I can say is that she was perfect. And what about those sassy red boots?
This is her best friend, Emily, who she talks about ALL THE TIME. This is their third year to be together at school and I have loved watching their sweet friendship develop. She sang the first verse and Ella sang the second one. My girl was giddy about them sharing a song!
After the show, we ran to get fast food for dinner with almost every member of our extended family. The lines were long and we had to wait forever to eat. Sophie was sitting in a booth with her daddy while I waited at the front of the restaurant when all of a sudden I hear her scream, “SANTA’S HERE!!” She was plastered to the window watching him walk in. She was a little hesitant at first, but quickly managed to secure a spot on his hip to discuss her pink bicycle and whether he was finding out who was naughty or nice. Bless Santa’s heart, I had to make my children leave him alone so he could enjoy his dinner. And then we spent a significant amount of energy trying to locate his sleigh on top of the roof as we left!
Now, for your viewing pleasure.
And can we discuss the little boy on the front row trying to hide behind his friend?! We died!
