"I go dance class."

In the group picture, starting with Sophie going clockwise: Ellie, Prophet, Alyssa, Keilani,

Kalyee, Parker and Pumehana.

Anyway, I've alluded to Ellie's "dance class." Ellie has turned into such a little girly girl. Twice a week, Bob drives his daughter, Sophie, to her dance class in Geneseo. She has been dancing for about 8 years or so, and in fact, the first time I saw her she was a tiny 10-year-old at her dance recital. Anyway, Ellie had it in her head that 'dance class' was something spectacular and she should be going. For a while now, she would just randomly say, "I go dance class!" and she would dance around the room. Well, Bob was leaving to take Sophie to dance one night and Ellie said, "I go dance class!" If he would have just smiled and left it at that, all would have been well. Instead, he said, "Yes, honey, someday I will take YOU to dance class!" Ellie did not hear or understand "someday." She started babbling about not having socks on and ran off. She came back moments later with her socks, shoes and a coat saying, "I go Oofie's dance class!" Sophie's Thursday dance class is around 8 p.m., bedtime, and they don't let people watch. Bob had to tell her no and we cringed as her face fell and she started screaming.

I paid her off with TV. However, the incident weighed on her daddy's mind and he came up with a better solution: Dance class. He asked Sophie to teach a little class for Ellie and some of the other little girls from church or the neighborhood. The other mom's LOVED this idea, as did Sophie, and now, Ellie and her friends have dance class.

The first week did not go well as parents wanted to watch and siblings were running around. However, week two was better as Sophie took the girls to a different room at the church and began lesson one with how to run and walk like a ballerina.

I am the only mom not at the event. This is Daddy's thing with his girls. As you can see, I went nuts buying her a little dancing dress, but that's where my involvement ended. The first week, Ellie could hardly sleep, had her dress on first thing and any time Bob left her view she panicked. She HAD to go to "my dance class." It is a sweet thing to behold.

I don't know how long it will last or if Sophie will be able to really teach a group comprised of mostly 2-year-olds a real routine, but this is wonderful. My little girl is THRILLED beyond measure and her daddy gets to start over again taking his girls to dance class.