About 4 1/2 years ago, we moved from Simi Valley, CA to Frisco, TX. We have never regretted the move. Nothing against California (where I lived for many years) but Frisco is just very family oriented. Our population is 102K but we still insist on the small town feeling. A great example is the annual Daddy / Daughter Dance that happens every February. Since the first year we moved here, my daughter (Sidney) and I have attended this dance and have such a great time. I don't know about you, but I do not recall such events growing up.
Our first official dance was in 2006. As you can sort of see, she was dressed in a beautiful white dress that she picked out about one month before the dance. We left early enough to make an entire evening out of it. We first went to dinner, which Sidney picked her favorite place - La Hacienda on Preston Road. She has grown to love Tex-Mex and especially likes the queso and chips. It was just the two of us, which made it super special and we had a blast. And let me tell you, dancing at the Daddy/Daughter Dance can be quite the workout. She didn't let me sit down for more than 1/2 a song. After the dance, we took a trip to McDonalds for some hot fudge sundaes. Since it was our first dance, I'll remember it the most. It was our first official date, so I'll remember this year the most. Since then, we have had a few Daddy/Daughter dates where we will go eat dinner and then do something fun (ice skating, bowling, etc.)
For the second dance in 2007, we decided it to add a few more friends and dads. In total we had 9, which was an odd number because one dad had twins. Since it was a big party, we opted to rent a limo which fit us all very comfortably. As you can see, Sidney picked out a beautiful green dress, which again she had picked at least a month ahead of time. Prior to the dance, we headed to Carrabas in Plano for some Italian food. It was our first trip to Carrabas and we enjoyed it very much. Overall, the girls had a great time at the dance and of course renting the limo. Instead of doing desert after the dance, we decided to enjoy the car a little longer and took a tour around down.
In 2008, we decided to just make it the two of us again. With just the two of us, we allowed us to enjoy each others company more and we could always meet the rest of the group at the dance. Sidney went with mom and picked out another beautiful dress (she has good taste) and is very grown up compared to our first year. Since it was just the two of us, we went to La Hacienda. I know, we went there already, but remember this was 2 years ago. Okay, maybe we go there more often than that, but when its your favorite restaurant you tend to go there a lot. And of course when we got there, we met up with the other girls and their dads.
As Frisco continues to grow, the event must also grow. Starting in 2006, the dance was moved from a local high school to the Frisco Convention Center located on John Q. Hammons Drive. This allows for more ticket sales (almost 1500 per age group). There are 4 different age groups; 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-12. In 2006, you had to purchase these tickets in person. Once these tickets went on sale, they typically would sell out so it was mandatory for dad's to wake up especially early and stand in line. How early? Well, tickets went on sale at 8:00 am on the second Saturday in January. My first year, I woke up at 5 am to stand in line by 5:35 am. Honestly, I thought someone was playing a joke on my to get me up and out of bed by 5 am. Turns out that there were already several hundred dad's standing in line and it was only 5:35 am. Also keep in mind I am from California, and it is not typically 22 degrees there. Needless to say, it was VERY cold for the 3 1/2 hours I was in line. As you can see from the above pictures, it was well worth it. Besides, I only had to do that for one year. Starting in 2007, the tickets became available online through www.friscotexas.gov
The dance is usually concluded with this song. I am still unable to attach the actual YouTube video, but feel free to cut and past this URL. Enjoy! Butterfly Kisses Video
And if you made it this far into my story, I'll share this last video. If you laugh at me in the comments, then I'll know you actually watched it. Its Macarena... one of the dads thought it would be funny to place it on youtube. Me Doing theMacarena
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I remember when the big thing in Frisco was to go to the Dairy Queen! LOL.
Sounds like you two have a lot of fun with this.
What sweet photos and memories John!
Hi John,
you sure are a family man. That is so sweet to spend time with your daughter, she will remember these events a long time.
John,
Your daughter is absolutely adorable and I am sure she enjoys the night out with DAD! What great memories you are giving your daughter. My husband went to father-daughter dances too and had a great time! Thanks for sharing your pic's.
Heath - Now we dont even have a Dairy Queen. At least not that I know of.
JL - Its so much fun for the both of us. I always have to work out a few weeks before hand so I can keep up on the dance floor.
Thank you Karen. I have so many more pics, but didnt want to bore you all with them.
Hey Angelia - We try to do a lot with the family. Typically, I coach my son's basketball team or help out with football practices. My daughter is not into sports. She does horseback riding, but there is nothing I can really do for her there. Then there are times that she is in Cheer (which is quite an event). So, we look forward to our date nights and the daddy/daughter dance.
Michelle - Thank you for the compliment. How old is your daughter? This is out last year since Sidney is almost 12. I don't think she will want to go next year, although technically she would be young enough. Instead, we will have to do something else.
That is so sweet John! What a great idea! Your daughter is beautiful & looks like a sweet young lady. I love La Hacienda also, yum-o! KM
I loved this post John! You have the cutest daughter! Hey, I wish your Macarena dance were longer. LOL. What great memories for the both of you.
That is soo cool John. Cara & I are having our baby in April, a girl as you know. I'm stoked about having a daughter & a boy.
John - Ugh...Butterfly Kisses always makes me misty eyed, and I don't even have a little girl. That's really neat.
John Cherish these times with your little girl. MY little girl is 26 and getting married this year. Time is just a blur! Enjoy my friend...
Kristin - Thanks for the compliment. She really is sweet, but I am not looking forward to the next few years. I should have thought about this 'little girl' thing a little more. LOL
Linda - You are the ONLY one to comment on the Macarena dance. Im sure if I would have plugged in the actual video, someone would have watched but I dont know how to do that. :-( Maybe we will make a longer video this year. They tend to play similar songs each year.
Greg - Little kids are great, boy or girl. I have found that I am the typical father that has double standards. Its a shame, but its something I have been trying to work on. I am very easy on my daughter today (gets away with just about anything) and hard on my son (gets away with nothing). I know that in just a few short years, it will be completely different. My daughter will get away with nothing and no one will be good enough, where as my son will get away with a ton. I know... its not a good thing... im working on it. Anyway, enjoy them both. Its true what they say that kids grow up fast.
Kim - I know right. They try to make you cry every year with that song.
Paul - I am excited to see what my kids are like as adults, but I am not anxious for them to get there too fast. I know it wont be long before I comment on posts that say 'my daughter is xx and getting married'... I have got a few years to go and I hope it does not sneak up on me.
Hi John, I couldn't get the video to load... yet. I will try again. I like the first picture of your daughter giving you a sweet hug. You can see the love in her eyes. She is a pretty girl... enjoy these years; they go by fast.
John, This is what life is all about. What a great Daddy! Sidney is beautiful. I'm so proud of you, for realizing how very important these moments and memories in life are. Just yesterday my 15 year old daughter was 10. The years fly by. You CAN do the Macarena. They should have made the tape longer. That was just a teaser, lol.
Shirley - The video is really short. Maybe only about 5-8 seconds. My friend recorded it on his phone and then uploaded to Youtube. If you go to youtube and search 'John Doing The Macarena' im the first one. I think it only had 11 views or something. Thank you for the compliment of the picture of my daughter. I took it while we were dancing (long arms)
Elizabeth - We have SOOO much fun each year. She will be old enough to go again next year, but Im not sure if she will want to go (if all her friends are not going). We will see though. I'll be happy to go each year until she's 50.
John - You are a good dad, and it shows. As someone expecting his third daughter in mid-April, this is just the kind of thing that I would love. Can we come next time?
Jason - Thanks for the compliment. You are more than welcome to come. Its this Saturday. My daughter always enjoys herself. I have to take advantage of the fact she still wants me around. Not that she will not want me around at some point, but you never know as they get older.
I did come over a peek at the video John, you look like you're having fun!
We have a great time each year. No complaints from me.