A big proud father weekend!

This past weekend was a big one for my daughters... so many things are reaching the end of the year, and it means that they are doing their various showcases for their activities. So, this also means that I'm both nervous for them... and ultra proud when they manage to rise to the occasion!

First off, on the Friday... our young toddler did her Little Gym showcase. She is normally pretty terrible at doing what is asked during the lesson (she will do it later, but will completely balk at doing it front of other people!), and so we were just expecting more of the same... however, she caught us completely by surprise and did everything right away... whilst people were watching! It was like it was a different child altogether!

Anyway, it does mean that she got this great little medal at the end... which she calls an "orange"... well, because it is orange!

Then it was my older daughter's turn for the rest of the weekend. Saturday began with a piano performance in a pretty big hall in Den Haag. It was so nice to see her play in this hall... where I had played in so many years ago! She did pretty well, and in front of so many people!

... and then straight away, we went quickly to the swimming pool so that she could do her C Diploma swimming exam. It is the last of the "survivial" swimming diplomas... so if she falls into the water (which is quite possible in The Netherlands!), she should be able to keep herself afloat until help arrives!

She had to swim in a raincoat and trousers, shoes and long-sleeved shirts. Phew, I never had to swim in that many clothes when I did my basic life-saving exam! She's a little girl, but she did it! Also, managed to do the rest of the swimming in normal swimsuit as well... there was a bit of a question mark hanging over her until the last week, but she pulled through. Funnily enough, it was not the swimming that was the problem... but the fact that she couldn't manage to reliably do a somersault under water (she kept getting lost and not making it around!).

... the last day (Sunday)... she was in a dance recital for her dance studio, which had TWO packed out performances! We weren't ever allowed to see the rehearsals and so we had no idea what to expect..... but I can only say, WOW... the teacher really pulled out all the stops, there was lighting, music, musicians, dancers, storyline and choreography! Unbelievable!

My daughter said that she was pretty nervous when she first came out... but then quite quickly got into it! We saw the first performance, but we weren't allowed to see the little stars until the end of the second performance. She was totally done up, make-up and hair and a costume as well! It was seriously an impressive production! She said she definitely wanted to keep doing the dance, she was a bit up in the air beforehand... but after this, she was DEFINITELY YES!