Kyndall's First Dance Competition

A few weeks ago on April 23rd, we traveled to Memphis for Kyndall's very first competitive dance experience.  Mrs. Kim has been preparing her dancers for this big event for many months so we were excited to see the day finally come.  We've spent countless hours at rehearsals, which even included Saturday mornings.  If you know this family, you know what a sacrifice of LOVE that was on our part!  Kyndall has been taking dance from Mrs. Kim for three years now but this was the first time she has ever been entered in a competition so it was my first real "dance Moms" experience.  I can now proudly say I am have tried my hand at "stoning" sequins on costumes as well as perfected the nerve wracking art of placing false eyelashes on a teeny tiny wiggly little face!  I now know the perfect shade of red lipstick and the exact amount of pink blush needed to make those faces really stand out on stage.  I've also become a master at making a sock bun and I know how to keep that thing from budging, even after multiple outfit changes.  I can get a kid fully stripped down for a last minute potty emergency in 10 seconds flat, tights and leotard included!  Yes, I've officially entered the dance Mom world!

A week or so before the big competition we had a rehearsal at the studio which gave me a chance to learn all of the things I mentioned above.  

Baby's first time ever wearing false eyelashes and my first time ever applying them!

Mama's first time stoning a costume

Riding in the car seat when you have a large bun on the back of your head isn't the most comfortable way to travel.  Thankfully it's only a few miles from our house to the dance studio!

Ready to dance!

The next two pictures of Casey and Kyndall make my heart smile.  Kyndall adores this girl and looks up to her so much.  I'm so thankful that she has such good role models and that these older girls take the time to make her feel special and included.

Dance Moms, doing what we do

Amanda is another one of Kyndall's sweet friends that she looks up to

Glory Dance's competition team

Here's a video clip of Kyndall's group rehearsing their number "Dear Future Husband"

After rehearsals we had to make a run to Wal-Mart for a few random things.  Kyndall loved the attention she got from onlookers but I kind of felt like we should be on an episode of Honey Boo-Boo!

We had one last practice before competitions and this was the day they received their matching Glory Dance t-shirts

I set everything out the night before the competition because we had to leave the house at 6:30 to drive over to Memphis.  Again, if you know the Hughes family then you know what a big deal this was!

Excited but still sleepy!

Such a good "dance Dad"!  I'm having a shirt made for him to wear to competitions that says "I'm not the dancer I'm just the financer".....

Backstage chaos getting the girls ready in our dressing room.....

I have a serious love/hate relationship with those fake eyelashes

A few last minutes of practice time before it was their turn to perform

We weren't allowed to take photos or video during the performances (serious penalties to your team if you're caught!) but I did buy the CD with the professional pictures on it.  Here are a few of them.  Kyndall is on the far left....

The girls did so good, especially for their first time at a competition!  I was very proud of them!

The awards ceremony wasn't for several hours so most of the girls and their parents left and got something to eat in downtown Memphis.  Not Kyndall...she insisted that we sit up in the balcony and watch every last dance that afternoon.  So, we did.

Finally, awards time came and all of the dancers took the stage together

Kyndall's group received first place for their age category! Pretty good for their first time!

We are so proud of our girl!!

She's certainly come a very long way in the past couple of years!

All of Mrs. Kim's dancers did so well in the competition!  We are very proud to be a part of Glory Dance!

A few pictures with her favorite friends before we called it a day....

We celebrated with dinner in Memphis at the Cheesecake Factory.  Matthew and I gave her a small gift as a token of remembrance for her very first competition....

I'm not sure if it was emotions running high from the excitement of the day or just her sensitive nature, but she cried tears of joy when she opened her gift.  She must have thanked us a hundred times for it and just kept going on and on about how special it was to her.  I had no idea that it would mean so much to her when I ordered it!

I had to get a shot of these insanely long lashes!

Talking to her fan club (aka Nonie and Poppie) on the phone during dinner and giving them the play by play of the entire day

After an exciting (but long and tiring) day, we finally made it back home with one very happy (and tired) little dancer.  Did I mention we were tired??

He's such a good "dance Dad" that he even took on the dreaded job of switching out the earrings which is never an easy task with this squeamish girl

We ended the night with Kyndall teaching him how to sew and make crafts up in the playroom.  He's the best Daddy in the world!

 Our first dance competition is now in the books and we are looking forward to many more!  Kyndall most definitely has a passion for dance so I think this is only the beginning!