The day a ballerina gets her first pair of pointe shoes is a big deal.  I guess.  I really don't know personally, never having been a ballerina.  But my daughter Annaleigh who is in her eighth year of ballet, has been talking about this day for a loooooooong time.

And this past Saturday, it finally arrived...

She brought home a note from her teacher several weeks ago, which stated that three of the girls in the Ballet II class were ready to go on pointe and that a fitting had been scheduled at this exclusive dance supply store.  All we had to do was show up and the store clerks and the instructor would take care of the rest....

...well, except, of course, for the bill.  That's why I sent Big D.  He's so much better at paying for things than I am.  I would have been asking about the availability of used pointe shoes.  I would have encouraged Annaleigh to try to make the most economical pair in the store to work.  Not Big D.  Annaleigh now can proudly boast that she has the most expensive pair of pointe shoes in her class because Big D doesn't question girl stuff....and he was surrounded by girls that day, who were apparently all telling him that Annaleigh needed this particular pair of shoes.

Not that she didn't try on every pair in the store...

Not that her instructor didn't carefully assess her fit...

Not that she didn't thoroughly try them out...

But when it was all said and done, there was the perfect shoe...

...and well, one just has to justify the expense of the perfect pointe shoe.

I break it down like this...

Gas to the exclusive dance supply store:   oh, probably about $7 nowadays

The actual shoes, elastic, ribbon and a wool toe thingy +tax:  about $108  {grimace!}

Eight years of lessons to get to this point:  Good grief...I don't EVEN want to know.

The look of pride and joy on your 12 year-old daughter's face:

priceless. 

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Posted by quietcajun

Oh, how I loved my pointe shoes. I wonder what ever happened to them?

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Posted by Arby

Sending Big D...good choice. I take it he took the photos, too? Fantastic pictures! No stress for peanut that day? That's priceless!

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Posted by sadie423

Very big deal!! She looks great on them!

I would be cringing at the price too.

How are you feeling these days?

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Posted by Jes

Congrats! Tis a big deal to move to pointe - enjoy dancing for Jesus beautiful girl.

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Posted by proverbsmomof3

but WOW, on even more levels. Way to go Annaleigh. Excellent 'Kodak' moment.

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Posted by Debbles107

Wow! I'm impressed! She looks so graceful and I can't wait to see her dance again!

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Posted by Susan

AAHHH!!! Where is the little babe twirling around in a tutu??? I can't believe she is ready for things like dancing on her toes...

So glad you're having a baby. If you can't slow the process down, you might as well keep repeating it!!!

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Posted by MOMflippedisWOW

Oh, her first pair of toe shoes!!! How awesome! I didn't realize the flood of wonderful memories that this would bring back for me. You are a wonderful mom for letting her have dance lessons! And Big D is wonderful for not letting you bargain shop! Lol, used shoes would NEVER do. One must have their own. Looking forward to more pictures of your beautiful ballerina.

Blessings,
Vicki

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Posted by teachingmisssmartypants

I got the warm fuzzies just reading this entry! WTG, Annaleigh! Next thing you know, you'll be blogging about tae kwon do en pointe.

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Posted by Prncsstefy

Congratulations Annaleigh!!!!!

That is a huge accomplishment. And I'm so happy to hear that Big D. didn't allow used pointe shoes. LOL

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Posted by Anonymous

Oh, how neat and exciting! I wish I could do ballet. what a talented young lady! :)

jessica
we2r1preston.blogspot.com

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Posted by CrossView

Congratulations! What a milestone for her!

And tell the Mr. that the photos are awesome!

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Posted by timbuck2mom

I'd like to know who took those pictures. Your dh? What a guy! My husband would never have remembered unless I called him on the cell to remind him and even then oh, maybe 1 picture. :)

What's pointe shoes? Do they have metal in them or something? I know nothing about little ballerinas, as you can tell!

I'm paying for music lessons and oh, does it add up. But it's worth it. My son plays the cello and it brings me such joy to hear it.

Elisabeth

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Posted by jennybell68

I even saved my first pair for a long time, although I'm not sure where they are now. I do remember that one pair did not usually last the whole year. Sorry to break that news to you...of course, I never knew how much they cost.

We had to take an oral and a written test on ballet terminology before we could get point shoes in my school. So, yes, a VERY big deal. Congrats!

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Posted by JenIG

I wish I would have been a ballerina. They're always so graceful and skinny. Congrats to the Point Girl, she looks absolutely lovely

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Posted by Prodoceo

For some inexplicable reason that post made me cry!! I guess it's the whole growing up thing...and there was something just perfect about those pictures!! What a great post. Glad you shared it.

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