It's Nutcracker Time!

I can't believe it's time for Nutcracker again.  This will be our 4th season being involved in a production of this wonderful holiday story.  We are in a different city, but we found our way back to the world of Sugar Plum Fairies, Clara and dolls.  T will be in this production but my little Poogie will not.  The new dance company has older dancers in it, so Poogie will have to wait a year or two.  But she is totally fine with that.  After doing this for 3 years and dealing with the stress and craziness of it she was ready for a break. 

T will be dancing in Act I as a boy child and a mouse.  He has had a blast, stress free.  This studio has been a blessing.  The schedules are up by Wednesday.  They start and end on time.  Everything runs like a well oiled machine.  It has been wonderful.  I will post pictures of the production. Sadly, we are not allowed to post video like I have in the past due to copyright concerns. But I understand this as our director has worked hard to make this production her own. 

Since we had more free time this season we were able to go to see a professional performance of the Nutcracker by the Moscow Ballet.  Such a wonderful treat for my kids and me. It has been 3 long years since I got to set in the seats and watch a production with them. It was a magical night at the beautiful Peabody Opera House. 

Now we are off to the Land of Sweets.

Merry Christmas!

I know it's been a long while since I posted. What can I say Nutcracker just took up every extra minute we had. It was such a wonderful experience. T threw himself into the role of the Nutcracker with everything he had. I was so proud to see him shine up on that stage. This experience has brought about so many positive changes in him. He is more focused, driven, and is even setting his own goals. The ballet company that he is a member of is a wonderful way for teens to find their way and grow up among other dedicated and focused teens.

Poogie was also a shining star on stage. This being her second Nutcracker was much easier. The bon bon routine was faster and more challenging than last year but she loved every minute of it. I will post pictures soon. I just need to find some "free time" in which to do it.

I have been working part-time for the last several weeks to supplement our income. I have to say it is nice to have the extra cash but exhausting to try to do it all. It will get better when we are all over this crud and are feeling better. It is that time of year when we all get the sinus crud, fun fun.

My plans over the holiday break mostly consist of continuing school and preparing for the second semester. I may take a day to rest, that would be a nice treat:) I hope all of you find time to chill and enjoy your families this holiday season too.

It's Nutcracker Time!

It seems only a few months ago we were preparing for Poogie's first Nutcracker. Now here we are again busy with rehearsals, dance classes, costume fittings and all that goes along with preparing for The Nutcracker. The difference this year is I have two performers, not one. Not only is T the Nutcracker Prince, but Poogie will be a tumbling Bon Bon again.

I am so excited for both of them. Poogie has worked her butt off to perfect the tumbling tricks, especially the back-handspring for this performance. T is so excited to be the Nutcracker Prince and he has been blessed to have the sweetest Clare ever. The look adorable together and will light up the stage. This year's performance will require T to lift and truly dance with a girl like he's never done before.

My time has been spend doing Ballet Arts work to get ready for the event. I love being involved and have enjoyed every minute of it. It has been so much fun since T became a member of the group.

Alas, it can't be all wonderful. It has been a time of trials too. As with any other activity there are those that are left out of roles or do not get the ones they hope to get. I know this will be something we have to deal with in the future also. But for now I want to enjoy and bask in the wonderful honor my children have been given to be part of such a wonderful production. My heart hurts for those dancers who did not receive the roles they wanted. I tell my children that you don't always get what you want. But you must enjoy what you do receive. That one day they too will be faced with not getting the roles or parts they want. But what they are given they must do their best, because it may lead to something greater.

That said, if you are in my area come and see the 2010 Nutcracker! I can promise you a great production. :)

Update!!

We have had a busy, unusual and exciting start to the school year. We are not only a Ballet Arts family, but my son T is this years Nutcracker Prince!! I can't believe that he has come so far in less than a year. He is so excited. Of course this means that we will have even more rehearsals and time at the studio than we already do but it will so be worth it. T loves dancing. His favorite classes are ballet, jazz and tap. He takes too many for me to count, lol. He is also taking hip hop, which is not his favorite class but he keeps working at it. It is awesome how your children can surprise you. We haven't found out yet if Poogie is a Bon Bon this year or not. Hate the waiting.

As far as school goes we have had a wild year. We started out okay, but Poogie wasn't being the most cooperative child. Everyday she wanted to go to school. Several of the kids she knows returned to school this year and she thought it would be fun. I told her no, I knew it would be hard on her with her stomach issues. Then my hubby didn't work for almost 2 months and I thought I was going to have to return to work at least as a substitute. So I gave in and enrolled her in school. Biggest mistake we ever made. By the second day she was back on her stomach medicine, crying all the time and stressed to the max. What is funny the stress didn't come from her knowing how to do the school work or not, it was from the other stuff. What did the teacher want her to do, what was the homework assignment. She wasn't given a buddy, or anyone to help her. She couldn't' hear the teacher most of the time over the talking of the other students. And every lesson was rushed through where she couldn't tell me what it was about. It was like going back in time 3 years ago to T being in school. Needless to say she is so much happier and appreciates being at home so much more. I will not be returning to work, end of story. My kids and I are happy homeschooling and that is what we will keep doing

The few days that Poogie was in school I was so shocked at what little time I got to spend with her. A few minutes here, another few minutes there. I missed being with her. Heck, I miss them even when I do get away for a few hours to myself. I like being with my kids and they like being with me and my hubby. I cannot imagine spending just a few minutes a day with them and those few doing homework or whatever. I hope I have to never return to work until at least T is graduated from high school and even then I want to have that time with Poogie. You only get these few short years with them at home, I want to cherish every moment. No regrets.

Just in case you didn't know....

we are a Ballet Arts family. T is a first year trainee in the company. He is so excited. Now all he has to do is dance and work hard till the parts are given for Nutcracker. He is taking lots of dance classes. I stopped counting at 6. But he's loving it. So now we are at the studio 5 days a week. So what's a few more when rehearsals start.

Poogie is enjoying her 4th year ballet class. She got to move on up an extra year and is loving it. She is also taking 2 other ballet classes, 2 jazz, 2 acrobats, and 1 tap. But she helps out in other classes especially hip hop, she loves it. Since starting back in acro she has been working on her standing back handspring, which she finally got last week, and the side aerial. Not too bad for an 8 year old. She amazes me everyday.

Summer's End

The days of sleeping in, staying up late and spending all day in the pool are almost over. The kids attended their last summer dance classes for July, and have a whole two weeks off. It feels like it just begun and now another school year is upon us.

We have been busy this summer with dance, hanging with friends, being lazy, and just plain having fun. I was so lucky to get to watch T dance in his final day of classes. He amazed me at the progress he has made in such a short time. This crazy ride he has taken us on with dance has been well worth it. Yes, I do get tired of going to the studio and setting there for hours several days a week. But when I see the smiles on their faces when they accomplish something they have worked so hard for, it is well worth it. I can't wait to see what this year brings with dance. I now have the privilege to have two dancers in the family. What's funny is I keep saying how surprised I am about it. But, then I remember that dancing was how my hubby and I met. Weird, huh. I guess they might get it from us after all:)

Stomach aches!

I haven't been posting much lately. Been trying to enjoy our short break this summer. It has been hard enjoying it all with Poogie not feeling well. She has been having problems with her stomach. It's more like heartburn of all things. I mean she's 8, she shouldn't have to deal with heart burn. We changed her diet and waited to get in to see her doctor today. He checked her for all the normal stuff and decided to put her on an heartburn medicine for a few weeks to see if that works. I hope it does. I hate her having such a bad time of it.

On top of all this she started her back handspring class last week. And T started ballet and tap. Poogie really wants to master this bh and get it over with. Well, bless her heart she ended up spraining her wrist yesterday in class. The doctor says she shouldn't flip tomorrow. I just want her to heal and feel better.

I have been so busy with family stuff that I have neglected my lesson planning for the upcoming school year. So for the last few days I have been working on science and history plans. I am ready to have it all planned out and over with to start our new year.

Well, I'm gonna enjoy some much needed quiet time.

Happy Memorial Day!

We celebrated Memorial Day with a green Ogar and a crazy Donkey! Yes, we ventured out to see the latest Shrek movie. It was okay. I think they should have stopped after the second one, but hey who wants my opinion. This one was different but not as funny as the first two. I still laugh at Donkey and Puss in Boots every time.

Now we prepare for Civic Center week. This is my third Civic Center week of the year and will probably be my easiest. We have studio rehearsal tomorrow. Then we have two days of dress rehearsal at the Civic Center. Every thing about Poogie's dance studio is very organized and run very professionally. I have been happy with our experiences in the last two years. Now T's Cinderella rehearsals did run long and were exhausting but so worth it when you saw the dancers on stage. Poogie is just ready to strut her stuff, lol. I'm just ready for a break. After Saturday I will finally get one, I hope. So now off to bed to relax before everything gets crazy around here.

Summer plans

I said we would have a lazy summer. Maybe some art classes for Poogie, and some dance for T. Well that just went out the window, lol. We got the summer dance class schedule and they are both wanting to take some classes in July. It would be good for T to prepare for next year and Poogie wants to work on one specific thing.

I did make T choose between boy scout camp and dance, he choose dance. I just don't let them do everything, it's too much. They need down time to be kids. Poogie loves to play with her American Girl dolls, play basketball and ride her 4 wheeler and T likes to video game it. At least we have June to kind of chill out. And I don't plan on starting back to school until the second or third week of August. We will have a summer!!

Pictures are up!

Yes, I finally got a few of my 500+ pictures I took during Cinderella. I put up those mainly of T since it was his show. He had such a great time. And I was so proud of him. It took a lot of guts to get up in front of all those people. Poogie thrives on it, but T has always been shy. Not any more. He has the bug, lol. He can't wait for his next chance to get up on that stage. Who knew.

It's Civic Center week, again!

It seems like we just finished The Nutcracker and here we are again at the Civic Center getting ready to do Cinderella. T had his first rehearsal in the CC today. He has been dancing almost every day for weeks and today marks the count down to Friday's opening show.

He has been added in Act 1 as a mouse that pulls Cinderella's carriage. So now we have to be at not only Act 2 rehearsal but Act 1 also. He is on stage so much in Act 2. That act takes place at the ball, and he is a lord that dances with the ladies at the ball. I was really proud of how calm and focused he was on the stage. I sat there thinking I would have never thought I would be here watching him up on that stage, Poogie yes, but not T. But I am so glad he has tried something new. He loves it. This has been a great learning experience for him. This week will be long and tiring but when the curtain goes up Friday it will be so worth it.

Who would have thought??

Who would have thought just a few months ago that I would be driving TT to dance rehearsal? That's right, not Poogie, TT! As I posted before he got interested in dance while Poogie was in the Nutcracker. He started ballet in January and loves it. I still can't believe it. And now he is dancing the part of a lord in the Cinderella ballet this month.

He went to his first rehearsal this weekend and loved it. Told me that he would love to do it every day. I was like, now wait a minute, this I have become used to hearing from Poogie but not him. He wants to take more classes during the week so I am hopefully going to get the teacher to find some time for him. He is so excited.

This goes to show as a parent never begin to think you've got your children all figured out. Because as soon as you do, BAM, they throw you a curve ball. I am happy as a lark about the dancing and all, just a little surprised. I have been very blessed to have two children that try new things, and enjoy them. Two stars in one year, what more could I ask for.

A Busy Weekend

This weekend we were looking forward to my hubby coming home for a few days. I pictured just hanging out, spending time together. Well, we will be together but not at home. TT has two swim meets this weekend. First, we have to attend the meet his USS Germantown team is hosting in Memphis on Sat. We have to be up at the crack of dawn and in Germantown by 7:15 for warm ups. Then Sunday is the MSC finals in Memphis. At least this brings the MSC season to an end until this summer, but the USS just keeps going. Now we go into long course season.

He loves swimming but unlike most sports that only last a few months a year, swim is year round. Then, of course, I have Poogie in dance. We are still going 4 days a week. TT only has one class but it keeps us there late one day. I was hoping after Nutcracker things would slow down at the dance studio, but they have not.

We are looking forward to attending the spring production of Cinderella in the audience. Poogie is looking forward to attending her first tea party too.

It is a busy, crazy life, and yes I do get tired. But it is so worth it when you watch you children love something and excel at it. Suddenly all those hours of sitting by a pool or at a dance studio seem so unimportant and so worth it.

It is over:(

The Nutcracker is over, and we are all a little sad. The show was wonderful, but then it always is. Poogie and her bon bon buddies tumbled their hearts out. The Snow Queen, soloists, guest performers and supporting dancers danced their hearts out too. I was so proud to have been part of such a quality production. Yes, the practices were hard, the nights long and we had little sleep. But after the final curtain fell all Poogie could say is that she didn't want it to end. That she could have done it several more times.

What was so special is how our little ones were taken into the company and treated so sweetly. The older girls gave them advice, encouragement and most of all lots of hugs. I couldn't ask for Poogie to have any greater group of dancers to look up to and admire. I will post more in the upcoming week but for now I must go. We are back to dance classes and swim practice. The show must go on!

It's almost here!

In just a few days my sweet Poogie will be dancing in the Nutcracker. I can hardly believe how fast the time has went by since we first learned of her getting the part.

Here Poogie is working with her partner to do a special trick. TT is in the photo because he was asked to help be Ms. Ginger's skirt, lol. He did it but I can't say that he enjoyed it.

We have Act 2 rehearsal today and then we are off Monday. I plan on taking that much needed time to rest because we will need it. Starting Tuesday till the final curtain on Sunday we will be on the go and working. I hope I don't cry, but I am afraid I will when Poogie comes out on stage. I almost cried yesterday watching the older girls dance on point thinking that would be Poogie before I know it. It all goes by so fast. Wish I could hit pause once in a while.

Introducing the 2009 Bon-Bons......

These are not the entire set of bon bons but they happen to be some of Poogie's best buddies who received their letters the same day she did. Since then one more of her sweet friends has received that precious letter and has joined the cast. So here's the pic of the updated cast. They are such a sweet bunch. This is not the whole group of bon bons just the little ones.

So far the journey into the world of the stage and The Nutcracker has been exciting and very hard work. Poogie not only has 10 classes now, she picked up another advanced acro on Fridays, but also 2 to 3 days of rehearsal a week. That to me is a lot. My fear has been that she would crash and burn. However, the opposite has happened. For example, today we had to get up at 5:30 a.m. to take TT to a swim meet. After the meet we drove straight to the studio for a rehearsal. I thought that would have been enough, but no. I ended up having to make her stop practicing headstands so that we could eat dinner and relax for a little while.

What is hard to deal with is when other parents think you are pushing your child into these situations. That you are making them practice and take tons of classes. That may be the case with some, but that is not how it works in this house. Poogie has taken control and I am just along for the ride. I am constantly asking her if she is okay, does she want a break, is she over doing it. She looks at me like I am crazy and says, "Mom, I love to dance, just leave me alone!" So I do. I think passion is a wonderful thing. It seems to be something that she has in abundance for dance, so I am not going to stand in her way no matter how tired I get of driving her to the studio, of sitting there or of listening to others ask me why am I putting her through all this. I'm sure other parents of passionate children have heard these questions. But, I believe that those that really pursue their passion and excel at it have parents that support them, not hold them back. So here are your wings baby girl, fly!

Dreams do come true!

Today my sweet Poogie received her invitation to be in The Nutcracker production for Christmas 2009!! She will be a Bon-Bon!! This is what she has dreamed about. I don't think the reality of it has hit me yet. But I am so proud of her I feel like I could burst.

We had thought this year would not be it for her. She had to be 8 by Dec. to try out for an angel, and the bon-bons were by special invitation only. She is only 7 so we thought well maybe next year. But she has worked so hard to learn all the advanced tricks to move up to the advanced acrobats class that I guess it paid off. The rehearsal schedule will be demanding and hard but she just told me "So, I can do it." Her best buddy Sweet Pea received an invite to be a bon-bon too! What more could we ask for?? I never knew watching your kids reach their dreams could be so wonderful. Even if it is a dream you might never have wanted, when you look at it through their eyes it becomes your dream too. I don't understand her passion for dance, but I do understand what it is like to have a passion for something. It is a wonderful thing.

Tunica Swim Meet!!

We have returned from the final swim meet of the season in Tunica, MS. I can't believe it is over. But what a time we have had this summer. TT and Poogie have enjoyed every minute of the swim meets and practices. I have to admit I was even a little sad to see it all end. And man what a way to end a season.

The aquatics center was awesome. The kids really felt like they were in the big time with the digital scoreboard, touch timers, and cool down pool. Even though we were missing several team members we still put on a strong showing.

Of course things were a little crazy. The organizers changed some things around that was confusing and nerve wracking if you have a very nervous child like mine, but it all ended up well. TT missed his 50m butterfly due to confusion and had to race with the little ones. He didn't swim as well as he had all season in that race but he made that up with his best swim in back stroke ever. Even his turn was great!

Poogie did excellent. She even had to take the place of one of the 11-12 year old girls in a free relay. It was so sweet to see my little Poogie standing there, her head only reaching the middle of most of those girls. She swam a strong 50m free style, doing a flip turn like she had been swimming 50's all year in competition. She amazes me.

My hubby even got in on the fun being a timer. He really enjoyed himself. We all returned home yesterday exhausted, but happy that we had taken the chance and given swim team a try. What a ride.

Today Poogie started her dance camp. There are only 7 girls attending this camp, which is excellent for Poogie. She will get a lot of one on one time with both friends and teachers. She also added tap to her dance classes for the fall. She never really liked tap at her old school but wanted to give it a try since she likes all her other classes at her new school so much more. So as of now she will be taking 2 ballet, 2 acrobat, 1 jazz, 1 hip-hop, and one tap. I may need to just buy a small camping trailer and move to the school parking lot for the next 9 months.

After this week of dance camp I will have 2 whole weeks free of any commitments. I hope to scrapbook and get the house organized for school. I can hope anyway!

The Big Show!

Yes, we made it. The big show is over. I have to say it was a relief to have it over and done with but also a little bittersweet. I loved watching all the girls dance, especially my Poogie and I hated to see it end. But alas it has and now we only have swim team. What will I do with all my free time;)

The show went off beautifully. Poogie had several friends show up to see her dance. It was a wonderful treat for her to have support other than family there. It was very touching. Most were very surprised of the level of talent at the recital. Our school puts on one heck of a show. Poogie surprised me at her calm and control on stage. She was so focused. She just amazes me.

After being there for 2 shows and a short break for dinner, we arrived home after 10p.m., we got there at 12:30 for the first show. The day was very long, but rewarding. Poogie surprised me when I arrived on stage to get her at the end of the night by saying "Mom when can I do it again?". I was dog tired and all I had done was sit in the audience. She was still dancing on the way to the dressing room to change out of her tutu. I couldn't believe she still had energy. The burst was short lived when we arrived home and she fell into bed falling to sleep almost instantly. So sweet, my little ballerina.

We made it to the finale!!

Whew! What a week it has been. This is Poogie's final week of dance. We had rehearsals all week. Tuesday was 2 and a half hours of studio rehearsal and then we were off to the kids first swim meet. They did excellent. Where Poogie got the energy I do not know, but she swam in 4 events. TT really kicked it in and showed his stuff. I was very proud of both of them and the entire team.

Wednesday was free, well free in that we didn't have to go to dance or swim. I ended up doing tons of laundry and cleaning house. Thursday and today was spent at dress rehearsal. We enjoyed it.

When I first decided to put Poogie in this new dance school I heard horror stories of hours and hours of waiting at rehearsal. We were there for several hours but it was just enough for her group to rehearse and to get pictures taken. Not a lot of time was wasted. It was very organized and well managed, I was impressed. In fact everything about her new school has been excellent from the teachers to the experience itself. She loves it.

Tomorrow is the big show. Poogie will be performing in both shows so it will be a long day, but well worth it. I can't wait to see her shine.