Mendonite Welkers: Ashley and Nicole in the Fashion Show

My work had their Fall Fashion show on November 3 & 4. About a week before the show, the director of the Fashion department came and asked if I thought Ashley and Nicole would be interested in participating. They were trying to ask in-house staff's kids because the proceeds of the show were going to the Hobbs family. I work with Emily and her husband was in a major car accident on Labor Day weekend and he's still trying to recover.
That day after work, I asked Ashley if she'd be interested and she immediately became excited and said she would. Hannah was instantly bugged because they only wanted kids 8 and younger and this was one of those times where being the big sister didn't work out in her favor. I did ask Nicole and she said she'd do it even though she had no clue as to what I was talking about. She did tell me that she didn't want to do it with Ashley. She wanted to do it herself. That's my independent girl!

On Tuesday, we had to meet the Fashion director at JC Penney's to try on the dresses. It only took about 15 minutes for them to try on their clothes and get the correct fit. Upon leaving, Nicole was upset because we were leaving her dress behind. Try explaining to a young four year old that the dress will be waiting for her at the fashion show.

Thursday afternoon brought my mom checking Hannah and Ashley out of school early and swinging by to pick up Nicole from Emma's (according to Hannah, she had to remind Grandma to go back and pick her up) and bringing them to me at work so they could practice. It was a bit of a crazy afternoon/night. Practice ran from 3-5 p.m. Then we took the girls for dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then we had to be back to BATC by 6:30 so Ashley and Nicole could get their hair and makeup done.

Here's a quick story about practice: Dave and I had an appointment with our Financial guy at 4 o'clock. I had made arrangements with my mom for her and Hannah to stay at the practice while we ran to the appointment and then we'd come back and go to dinner. During the appointment, my phone rang and it was my Mom. Now I knew something had to be up because she knew what we were doing. The phone call was....."Your daughter has stopped the practice and will not continue on until her mom gets here. They're trying to practice the finale and she refuses to walk across the stage." Really? Nicole has been going through this stage lately that she wants to be with me. She doesn't want to go to Emma's or to preschool. She wants to be with me. At this point, I'm bugged. Whatever these apron strings are, they need to be cut! Thank goodness for the cute boy that was in the set with Ashley and Nicole. He saw that she was crying and so he picked her up and carried her. Aww....I think she subconsciously had a crush on him!

Dinner was yummy and during dinner we chatted with Nicole about walking herself on the stage. We told her that Cameron would not be carrying her. Then the praying began that the words were sinking in! We made it back in time for the girls to get their hair and make up done. Pampered they were!

It came time for the show and me, Dave and my Mom were holding our breath that Nicole would come out walking.......and she did! The picture is blurry but it's proof that she did it!

After Thursday's show, they had all of the girls pose for pictures. By now it's 8:30 p.m. and Nicole is done. Her arms are folded because she told me as I was putting her on the stage that she didn't want her picture taken.

After the show and a donut, we headed home for bed and knew that we'd be back the next night to do it again. Once again the girls came at 6 o'clock for hair and make up. Hannah was such a big helper for me behind the scene. She helped me get the girls dressed and undressed which was a bit stressful because it had to be done quickly. Friday night they had all of the girls hair and make up done early so I asked the girl if she'd do Hannah's hair. I needed to get her something to make her feel special too.