December Photo Project - getting ready for the Nutcracker performance

The Nutcracker deserves it's own post, but I had to post a quickie about our day yesterday. I was so proud of Havalah, and all the girls who spent over 12 hours yesterday in rehearsals and performances - smiling the whole time. What fun!

Nutcracker 2011

Nutcracker 2010

Ahhh the Nutcracker! Havalah was so thrilled to get to dance both in the party and Russian scenes this year.

Can you believe that there were no photos allowed at any time...even at rehearsals? So I had to resort to my stalker ways and snap one here or there when I could. Back in the day I sneaked photos of the Sistine Chapel. So this was sissy stuff.Cousin Hazel, (practically a cousin) Grace, Henry and Havalah after one of the shows.

The girls loved these poof-y skirts.

Havalah is in the second row, third from the right.

Third from the right once again.

For two of the three performances I got to be a stage Mom. I stayed cool though - except for the picture taking.

Keeping busy until the show starts.

Yay Havalah! We are so proud of you!

On another note, I found a wonderful homeschool Nutcracker study, if anyone is interested. I'm trying to figure out how to squeeze it in before Christmas.

December Photo Project :: after the show

First performance down. Two to go. Keep those feet in 5th position, now.

December Photo Project :: I tell you, she really loves the Nutcracker

I snapped this photo after midnight, the day of her first Nutcracker performance. As soon as my camera shutter clicked she sat straight up in bed and said: "is it time to get up?????"

Nutcracker post coming soon. :)

The Nutcracker and Leavenworth

Last weekend Havah's dance school had their performances of the Nutcracker Ballet. She has been beyond excited for this day! Her ballet school added a scene in order for the littlest girls to be apart of the Nutcracker.

She was one of the Angels that protect Clara from the Mouse King until right before the big battle between the toy soldiers, Nutcracker, Mouse King and mice. It was pretty exciting! :) in the dressing room before the show


waiting to go on stage



such pretty little angels!

the battle of the toys and the mice

waltz of the flowers

Since we had just been to this building/stage to watch Fiddler on the Roof, she assumed that there would be "fans" waiting to take pictures and sign autographs (like there was at Fiddler). Fortunately, both sets of grandparents and an adoring brother were there. :)

The next day we took Grandpa and Grandma to Leavenworth for a trip to the Gingerbread Factory and some very crowded sledding.

the lighting ceremony

Grandma, Grandpa and Henry waiting at the top of the sledding hill

what's a quaint German town without life sized Nutcrackers?

Fun Grandpa & Grandma pulling the kids around town on the sled.

Henry and I rode together down the hill. Fortunately, he and I both like to take it pretty easy...

ballet girl

dancing with handsome prince Daddy
a curtsy at the end of the show

I have to take a moment and blog about our little ballerina. Havalah first started taking ballet from a ballet studio in Edmonds when she was three years old. She loved the Ballet Academy and we were sad to leave it behind when we moved to Wenatchee. We enrolled her in ballet over here almost immediately. Obviously, there aren't as many choices in Wenatchee and the one we chose was a different sort of school, led by a British woman who focused on dancers who possibly wanted to become a professional ballet dancer someday. After a year with her we *determined* that this school just wasn't quite the right fit for us (I'm going to say that as delicately as I can!). Anyway, yesterday we signed her up for ballet at a different school. As soon as we got home from registration she ran upstairs and dragged out her ballet recital tutu (that she wore when she was 4) and began to dance. And dance. And dance. After such a *different* and somewhat discouraging year at our previous school it was so refreshing for us to see her excited to be dancing again!