2014 Christmas Card

Even with all the business this year, we still did manage to get a Christmas card done this year.  If you didn't get one, here it is.  

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that the new year brings you all amazing things.

The Tumbling Nutcracker

Finally, on Saturday December 20th, it was time for A.J.'s long awaited and much anticipated Nutcracker performance.

Now, before I go further, let me explain why this Nutcracker was special.  Lots of dance studios put on the annual Christmas ballet after all.  Sometimes the big studios or dance companies do a full show.  Sometimes they shorten the show to accommodate the size of their group, and often times the dance teachers or choreographers dust off their own point shoes and dance the lead roles.  

Well, as I've mentioned many times, our studio is quite small.  It is doubtful with the number of dancers at our studio that we could put together a full Nutcracker cast.  But the thing was, this production was not just from our studio.  Aerial Achievements is a tumbling and acrobatics company owned by our acro teacher.  She teaches acro at various dance studios all over the city.  She is an amazing teacher and has quite a reputation as such, so her company also runs workshops and master classes around town to help dancers and tumblers improve their skills.  It's kind of an awesome program actually because it brings students together from all over town who don't normally participate in classes together.  In most cases, these kids only see each other at Dance Conventions and Competitions when they are going up against one another.  

So this Nutcracker was a TUMBLING NUTCRACKER put on by Aerial Acheivements.  Dancers and tumblers from all over town were invited to audition and participate.  Every role in the show was going to include some sort of acrobatic tricks and all nearly all the dancers would be upside down at various times throughout the show.

How fun is that???

Now, to be perfectly honest, we didn't go to auditions last August.  A.J. was only 3 at the time and our wonderful Acro teacher requires students to be 4.  However, because of A.J.'s November birthday she is kind of always stuck between the levels at dance.  Since, most of the time she works hard, behaves, and does a good job following directions, her teachers let her dance "up" an age group.  So last year she was in the 3 year old classes and this year she is in the 4 year old classes.  At the start of this dance year, right after auditions, I asked the Acro teacher if she would let A.J. try the beginning class for 4-6 year olds even though she wasn't yet quite old enough.  She agreed, but A.J. was really only going to get one chance.  The minute she had a freaking out melt down in class, she would be done.  As long as she worked hard and tried her best, she was welcome.

Since August, A.J. has always done her best and stayed in class.  She's learning her cartwheels, forward and backward rolls, back bends and hand stands.

And since she was doing such a good job listening and behaving, they decided to cast her for a couple of the smallest kid parts in the Tumbling Nutcracker show.  She was to be a "baby" during the opening party scene and also an Angel to open the second act.

Gosh.

So as I already mentioned, mid-way through November they go started with extra rehearsals for her parts.  And as the show day approached we got her used to having her hair in a bun and putting on stage makeup and all of it.  The whole shebang really.  Wow.  I can hardly believe actually.

Saturday, she had to be at the theater by noon.  Her hair and make up needed to be done.  She'd change into her costumes backstage.

My baby all done up before we left.  

I was helping out taking tickets at the door, so I went ahead and dropped my purse under my seat before they opened the doors for the first show.  When I did, I found A.J. wandering around the stage in her party dress costume.

One of the back stage mom helpers photo bombed my picture of her though.

I was not a backstage helper.  A.J. doesn't always do a good job of cooperating for me, so I left her backstage to the other parents and did my part to be helpful out front.

One of the other moms shared this photo of all the girls hanging out between their parts back in the dressing room area. 

They did a dress rehearsal on Friday evening and then two shows on Saturday at 1 pm and 5 pm.  To be honest, I had no idea if A.J. was going to make it through all of that.

She shared this photo as well, this was before the second show, after she'd had her make up touched up again.

Here's the party scene cast right before the the show started.  A.J. is on the right, being held by her acro teacher.  She'd been cast as the acro teacher's baby and could not have been happier to play the part of her teacher's youngest kid.

For the first show, I had a seat right down in front, on the left side looking at the stage.  And not a minute or two after the show began, A.J. and her family came in.  She was on the shoulders of her stage Dad, and was taking her role of happy party goer quite serious, waving and smiling at everybody she saw.

They looped around backstage as the curtain opened and soon enough she was in the long line of party goers greeting their host.

She's holding the hand of her "big sister" in the show.  Her big sister is kind of a rock star, an
amazing dancer and an awesome tumbler.  A.J. tells me specifically she wants to dance like her when she
 grows up (which to be honest is kind of a lofty goal) but anyway, A.J. was thrilled to be paired with one of her
role models.

After the meet and greets, the party babies were supposed to sort of dance and twirl their way over to the Christmas tree.  They were each presented with a small gift to cling to and then they should have sat and watched the rest of the party action unfold.

A.J. and one of the other little kids busied themselves about putting their toys in little baskets for awhile.  

If that seems bad, they were actually opening the gifts under the tree during the second show.
 

Clapping along to one of the dances.

The bigger girls did a dance with their teddy bears and dolls.  A.J. was so cute during this.  She sat in her spot by the tree and mimicked the dance as best as she could.

Rocking their dolls.

Holding them up....

The teacher's and choreographers, along with their significant others played the role of the adults during the party.  Here is our studio owner and her husband dancing during the party scene.

At the end of the party scene here is A.J. and her little family heading out.

The battle scene was next, of course, and then, one of my favorites always, the Waltz of the Snowflakes.  

After intermission, A.J. was up again.  This time she was an angel and she was joined by a number of her friends from her Saturday dance class.  Their routine was fairly simply.... they were to tiptoe out, sway from side to side, spin a little ballerina turn, get down and make their donut.  They would then wait patiently while the two older Angels tumbled a bit, then they'd sway and turn again, make a quick circle around the Sugar Plum Fairy , finally, curtsy and tip toe off.  A.J. knew the dance inside and out.  She knew it so well she often did extra stuff (imitating the Sugar Plum Fairy's movements, etc) just to keep it interesting.  But she also tends to get a little nervous and there was no telling just what she would do.  

The video is below, but let me describe how the first show went....

She tip toed out like a champ to her spot.  She posed there for a moment imitating the Sugar Plum Fairy and paused, seeming to forget herself.  As the other girls dropped to their donuts, she got it together, spun quickly and dropped herself.  While the other girls tumbled she waited and sweetly mimicked the Sugar Plums a bit more rather than holding her pose, then she swayed and turned again, made the circle- twirling a couple times just like the Fairy (even though she wasn't supposed to) on the way  there and then opened it up again.  She forgot to bow and then began tiptoeing her way back off stage a moment early.  Not to worry, her friends were right behind her.

Haha.

Anyway, here's her donut.

Not her best work, but she complained the wings got in her way and at least she's kind of pointing her toes.
(Second from the left)

Here she is after the circle, right before she forgot to bow.  (Now she's third from the left.)

This one is from dress rehearsal the night before, when she actually did her curtsy.  (She's second from the right.)

Now, lest you think I'm picking on her, I'm not.  She did SO good.  I was (and am enormously proud.)

She just turned 4.  I think she deserves all the recognition just for going out there at all.  Also, when you watch the video (below) you'll see, lots of funny things went on with the dance, not just from my kid.  That's what makes these little ones so cute!

Also, at the second show, I didn't video her dance.  Matt was with me, and that show was recorded for the DVD, so I just enjoyed it.  As I mentioned earlier, things got interesting the second time around.  During the break between shows when we went home to get her Dad, she was pretty clear that she was ready to be done for the day, and wanted to wait to do the final show until the next day.

I explained to her that was not an option and that she had to do it again that evening and then she'd be done with Nutcracker so she agreed to go again, but I knew it was going to be fun.  Like during the party scene when she and the other kids started opening the fake presents under the tree.  And also when she put her head down and tried to go to sleep right there on stage.

Her Angel dance was good too the second time.  She came out and did her dance.  She didn't hesitate as much and seemed on track to basically nail it.  Except then it was time to make the circle and she went ahead and tiptoed off stage, thinking she was done.  The other girls kept going and a mom back stage sent her back out there, so she came tiptoeing back in again, just in time to curtsy (even though I don't think she actually did) and then tiptoed out with her friends again.

It was hilarious.

At the end of the show they came out for bows.  You'll see it on the video as well.  A.J. comes out waving like a Beauty Queen and then stops dead, bows like she's worshiping somebody and then goes back to waving for a moment until she realizes she hasn't made it all the way across the stage.  She takes off running to her friends just as the older girls come to pull them back so they can get on with the bows.

Again, classic and hilarious.

Here's some pictures of the bows:

A.J. is the third Angel, just to the right of the Nutcracker.

After the second show, they took a few cast photos backstage after the curtain before the sent them home.  A.J is in the middle, being held by her friend again, just being the nutcracker, facing the right and looking kind of grumpy.

When we went to pick her up backstage, we presented her with a rose and a Nutcracker of her own.

She seemed thrilled.

Then we took her to Red Robin for dinner even though it was pretty late for her already.  Peter and Lucy were at home with the Nanny, so it seemed right that she should get a night out with us all to herself to celebrate her show.  (Also, her Dad may have bribed her with the promise of Red Robin afterward, when he was trying t convince her to go back stage the second time for the late show.)

It was such a good day.  I was so proud of her.

And I'm no expert, but by these pictures I took of her with her Dad at dinner, I'd say she was pretty pleased herself also.

Finally, as promised, here is the video of her in the first show.  Her angel dance, followed by her bow.  Sorry it's video, I have to downsize it to get it to post.  (Also, these will only show up on WIndows devices because of the type of video editing software I use.)  

Enjoy!

Christmas Programs and School Fun

Lest it seem like all we did during the month of December was A.J.'s Dance and Nutcracker stuff, let me assure you that this was not the case.  Matt did whatever it is Matt does at work, with the sole exception of preparing to take the week of Christmas off.

We also attended my scool staff party and one for Matt and all the Navy Supply Corps people in the area.  The Nanny has been getting lots of overtime pay, but BOY is nice to have her to rely on and not be scrambling to find childcare.  (This may actually be the single most amazing benefit of going back to work this year.)

Peter attended school as he usually does and managed to have a whole slew of pretty crappy days behavior wise.  I swear, as soon as school becomes a teeny bit about fun rather than more academic endeavors, even in kindergarten where on the very best days the use of the word "academic" is a bit of stretch, that child looses his mind and start causing trouble.  Nothing major thankfully this month.... just a lot of really really dumb minor things.  

The other resounding theory about his behavior (one that I don't really buy into) is that he was feeding off his mother's stress. Because of course, for me at work, everything basically all month long, was about final preparations for the school's two Christmas Programs.

I started teaching the music at the end of September.  Everything should have been easy and fine. Except of course, the first time you do anything (particularly when you're trying to carry on a tradition for ALL the parents of a school that has been going on for years and years) it's silly and stressful because of the logistics mostly.  Also, because my middle schoolers are, well, middle schoolers.  

The end.

Haha.

No really, in the end, both programs went well.  Peter's program (for grades K-3) was wonderful.  I couldn't have been prouder, even if the 1st graders actually HAD managed to stay with the music and also if Peter hadn't spent the vast majority of his own time on stage staring over his shoulder and one of the first grade girls behind him.

The rehearsals for the older kid's program brought a whole other level of drama, but in the end, even their show went well enough.  Not perfect either mind you, but nothing ever is.

My one real regret is that my final dress rehearsal with the older students was at the exact same time as A.J.'s little Preschool Holiday program.  Thankfully, Matt was able to go and he recorded all her songs.  Here they are:

I'm not happy I missed it.  I mean, they didn't make too big a deal out of it, but I still hated missing it. The videos are cute, but.... still.

Anyway, back in my life with other people's children.... our dress rehearsal went well enough, at least as good as I was expecting based on my experience with the kids in class, even though I'm fairly certain the principal went and had a talk with several of the middle schoolers about the importance of making their best effort for the real performance that evening.

The biggest problem, actually, wound up being the sickness that was going around and how I must have had 30 kids fall sick the day of the show and wind up missing.  Also, the fact that both myself and the other music teacher were ill ourselves and both of us probably really would have rather fallen asleep under some heavy blankets some where rather than do the show.  But that wasn't really an option, so we went on with things because, well, we had no choice.

Peter and I after his program.

My  programs were on Monday and Thursday evening, and school on Friday was a half day, a non uniform day and basically a Christmas fun day.  In my classes I pulled up a bunch of Christmas songs on karaoke and we just had a fun holiday sing along dance party.

Peter, and his kindergarten friends made "Gingerbread Houses."

Loose on the term gingerbread though, as they were made from graham crackers.  

In any case, when the bell rang and our Christmas Vacation was officially up us, I picked Peter up and the two of us celebrated with a joyful selfie.

With the exception of the 8th grade graduation song in the spring, my life is so so so much less stressful at work from this point on in the school year.  :)

Dance Life

So much of our lives during the month of December revolved around A.J.'s love of dance... and no also acro.   She had her regular 3 classes a week as well as Sunday rehearsals for Nutcracker and it quickly started to seem a little like the only clothes I ever saw her in were those for dance or tumbling class.

To be honest, our regular schedule for her dance seems a bit nuts, but when the 4th day per week of  production rehearsals was added I honestly began to question my sanity.  4 days per week for a 4 year old?  There's no way she's THIS into dance.

Except she is.

I've said it many times, but aside from her love of books and anything animals (she would go to the zoo every day if she could) dance is the only thing she ever wants to do.  I've asked her about a variety of sports.  I've asked her about other activities, but so far, dance is the only thing.

It is, actually, one of my greatest concerns that, should we move, I won't be able to find a place for her to take dance and tumbling that she loves nearly as much.  

Her back is naturally quite flexible and she loves to show this off.

Her legs are NOT very flexible at all, but she'd working on that.

Nutcracker party scene rehearsals.  This was the first time the littlest girls got to see their party dress costumes.  Frankly, I beleive A.J. got the cutest dress.  :)

Another day during rehearsal I snapped a couple cute shots of her with one of her favorite "big girl" helpers around the studio.  

One of the biggest struggles with A.J. where dance is concerned is the constant battle to get her hair up.  The child really REALLY hates to have her hair combed.  Normally for class she will tolerate me throwing it up into a messy ponny tail, but for Nutcracker she was required to have a bun.  One of the other Mom's did this one for her.  She was giving me tips on how to control the curls and frizz and also, honestly proving to A.J. that her mother wasn't trying to torture her with those hair pains.

The long rehearsal days were always a little bit interesting.  I never really knew how long A.J. was going to last and be in good temper.  She really does love being at the studio, but even at her favorite place, I really did worry that a huge mega-fit of a meltdown would happen and the show's director would pull her from the cast as a lose cannon.

It never happened though.  A steady supply of snacks kept her going and in good spirits.

Yes she's talking on the banana like it's a phone.  I have no idea why.  

Here's a few blurry shots of the Angel dance I snapped on my phone of the angel dance.

OMG if she would just point her toes....

One Saturday midway through the month, for whatever reason, A.J. was the only one to show up for her Saturday morning class.  It's normally a tap and jazz combo class, but the teacher decided to have some fun and work with A.J.. on some acro and stratching since her regular classmates weren't there.

Miss Brit is desperate to fix A.J.'s cartwheels.  Haha.

That same day, after class, the girls finally got to see and try on the Angel costumes.

The girls (and boy) were all so cute and excited.

Oh, and since I'm posting a completely random set of pictures from this month taken at the dance studio, I have to include this one too.

On our last regular weekend of rehearsals we were there for-EVER with pictures taking up the first few hours which was then followed by a full run through and then another in costumes.

A.J. handled the long day like a CHAMP.  (Her mother on the other hand was worn out and thoroughly and exhausted by the end of it.)  At one point though, among the chaos, as everybody cleaned up the costumes and make up and things to prepare for the rehearsals, I found A.J. sitting calmly, like this, passing the time, until somebody told her to do otherwise.

That's my girl.  

Princess Treatment

Back in August when we were at Disney to celebrate Lucy's first birthday Matt and I discussed how much we would have loved to take A.J. back up again for her birthday and take her to the Bippity Boppity Boutique for a fun afternoon of princess treatment.

Except, we were just so busy this year, and not only had we all been up at Disney as a family in August, but I'd been up for the Avengers race earlier in November, so taking another trip for her birthday was just out of our reach this year.  

Instead however, I decided to see if I could arrange for her to get a day of fun, princess treatment some place a lot closer to home and for a more reasonable amount of money.  

It worked out well then, that I got my girls those Anna and Elsa dresses from Disney when I was there for my last race.

And since they already had their princess dresses, I found a little kid's beauty salon nearby that offers princess hair styles and nail painting.  I spoke with the mother of A.J.'s best little friend from school and we arranged to go to lunch together one afternoon after they got out of school and then go to get their princess hair styles.  

The girls were very excited.

Hair:

And nails:

How adorable is this?

After we were done at the salon, we bid A.J.'s little friend and her mother goodbye and I took A.J. and Lucy up to the mall to get some pictures taken.

As usual, I was amazed at how wonderfully the photos turned out again.  

While A.J. was getting her pictures done, Lucy was just kind of toddling around behind us.
She found this chair tucked away in a corner and made herself all comfy.
 It seemed so perfect that we just moved the chair in front of the camera and went with it.

My princesses of Arrendelle.  :)

Not quite as extravagant as a day at Disneyland, but all the same spoils of the Princess makeover for my special girl(s) only on a budget.

And the pictures are great too.

I love it.