NUTCRACKER UPDATE

Lauren is going to do the International Youth Ballet Nutcracker this year.

We were very close to being able to do both of them without too much hassle…but there is one weekend in November that both Ballet’s need her all day both days and well….I don’t have a magic wand…

Lauren made the decision and said the following:

“I am going to do the IYB Nutcracker this year because I will get more experience, next year I want to be in the Colorado Ballet so I will only try out for that and I will hope I get a part.”

LAUREN you are amazing. You made a great decision and we are so proud of you! Best of luck in the performances we know you will be fantastic!!

CONGRATULATIONS LAUREN!!!

Way to go Lauren! Lauren tried out for the Nutcracker Ballet at both of her dance studios and was awarded parts in BOTH! She will playing the part of a mouse and a Bon Bon in the Nutcracker with the International Youth Ballet and she may be playing the part of a Sugarplum Attendant with the Colorado Ballet. I say may because there is a fairly good chance she will not be able to do both Ballets and I believe she will choose the International Youth Ballet over the Colorado Ballet this year! We are so proud of her and she is VERY excited!

We will keep you posted!

School, Dance and more

School has started and seems to be going well. Hailey is still a bit sad when we drop her and off and on during her short day but she is doing well and seems like her new teacher and class mates. When playing around the house she plays "school" a bit...taking attendance etc. It is cute.

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This photo was taken while getting ready for the first day of school...

Lauren's new teacher is going to be fine/great. Mrs. Finke has taught at Beacon for a couple years and elsewhere for several years before that. She did not have long to learn the 4th grade curriculum but she is a very dedicated and motivated teacher so I have no doubt we are in for a good year.

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This was Lauren getting ready for the first day of school

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And they both got dressed but neither cooperated that well for the photo!

This past weekend was Nutcracker Auditions at the dance studios. Lauren went ahead and tried out for the Nutcracker at both studios (The International Ballet School and The Academy of Colorado Ballet) as a parent....I was more impressed with the audition at IBS than at ACB - as a student Lauren really wants to be in the Colorado Ballet's performance. They have not announced the parts yet at that studio so I don't know what we will do. She was awarded two parts at IBS (mouse and bon bon) and rehearsals begin on Saturday. We should hear from ACB by Wednesday and will have to decide at that time which show she wants to do because I really don't think we can do both.

Last week both girls tried a gymnastics class...and today we are going back to try again...I am not willing to register them for the classes yet because I can't tell if they really want to do them...Lauren tried a class because Hailey did...Hailey tried a class because she had been asking for months and I finally caved. Lauren enjoyed her class, Hailey left hers early because it was boring (too many kids) so....today's class for Hailey only has 5 or 6 little ones in it and we are going to try again....keep you posted. For Lauren...she is going to have to let go of something if she wants to keep going to gymnastics after today - Tap is probably going to have to go - she can not have "something" every night of the week...it is just too much.

Anything else??? Hmmmm...I don't think so. Oh...we had some Hawks come to visit on the weekend. There were two on the back fence. By the time I got my camera only one was left. Paige sent the photo to a friend that works for the Raptor Education Society and found out they were Juvenile Red Tailed Hawks. They didn't look very juvenile to me...but I certainly know NOTHING about Hawks etc...

From Hawk

From Hawk

overdue post

OK, so it has been about two weeks now since we went to the "Pick Your Own Farm" it was called Berry Patch Farms , about 45 minutes away and truly a great morning! We went with Becky and had a wonderful time. The picking was what they called "hard" but we still got lots of berries! The raspberries were the best, Strawberries were good too. There is nothing better than truly fresh fruit. The girls also picked some cucumbers and got to cut some flowers to bring home. We will definitely go back next summer!











A not so great adventure was had by Lauren a few weeks ago when she purchased a Coggy Doggy. Part of the Gears, Gears, Gears Collection by learning Resources. Now, I will say that the concept behind this coggy doggy is fantastic, problem solving, figuring, building, asking for help only when you are truly stuck...it was great...till it was done. IT DOESN'T WORK! IT falls apart every time you push go. The bark is cute. Todd and I tried re-building, tried using things to hold it together (duct tape for one) the darn thing is a bust. At $50 you expect more. I have been in touch with the store and the manufacturer to no real avail. The manufacturer offered us another gears product (yippee - ha) So the lesson here is don't buy one! It was fun to put together but offered great disappointment once done.





It is back to school for all tomorrow! YAHOO! We are ready and yet we wish we had more time. It should be a good year! I am not looking forward to having to be up, showered and ready to leave by 7:45 each morning again but that is ok! Dance starts in full swing tomorrow too. Lauren has had some ballet this summer but tomorrow kicks it all off! The busy dance schedule starts with something I think I will have to change...Hailey has Tap at the Academy at 3:30 and Lauren has Ballet IBS at 4:00 - Hailey's tap class doesn't end till 4:15 so....potentially I drop Hailey off, buzz Lauren to the other studio, drop her off, buzz back to the Academy get Hailey and cruise back to IBS to get Lauren...HMMMMM...If Hailey was older maybe. I am going to try it once but will likely be changing something!!

Oh, I almost forgot. Hailey has been asking to take gymnastics for a while now and I have been hesitant. She has some natural talent and is fun to watch but I don't want her doing too much or burning out. I did take some time to research some gyms around a couple weeks ago but the "good" ones (IMHO) are too far away. If I start her I will just take her up the road to Champs and hope for the best, if she sticks with it I will drive to a further one. So, Last night she was swinging from the bars out back...Before she grips the bar she stretches her arms up in the air, holds and her hands together (getting a really good stretch) wipes her hands on her shirt and grabs the bar with determination. She was trying to flip under the bar and fell several time in a row and just kept at it, fell on her head twice! UGH! My point. She looked like a veteran gymnast out there stretching first etc. TOO CUTE!

BUSY BUSY BUSY

We have spent this last week before school staying very busy! I wish I had fun exciting thing to blog about but I don't. I still need to post the photos from the berry picking farm and the coggy doggy Lauren built but haven't found the time. We bought our new lunch boxes and backpacks this week and Hailey carries hers with her just about everywhere we go! Lauren found out she has a different teacher than she was expecting on Thursday...so we swallowed that and moved on. She also found out a girl that she thought was not returning to school this year is in fact coming back...neither good nor bad news just news. I am wondering if CBS is going to tell Renny (Big Brother 10) about Gustav and New Orleans being evacuted? Just two more days before we hit the daily grind again...(Wednesday) WOW - Summer went by fast. I am glad the girls got to do a lot of fun things this summer though. I suppose I should stop typing my random thoughts as I really have nothing important to say!

The Birthday that Finally Came!!!

WOW, what a wait for Hailey. By Wednesday she was bursting with anticipation, wanting cake and presents. We made cookies to take to her class at school and that was fun, a little distraction from the wait.

Well, her birthday came and went and I think she had a great day! She really seemed so happy! She was a little shy during the gift opening process but she enjoyed EVERYTHING she got and tried hard to play with it all before bedtime.

Make sure you have your sound on when you play the movies below

Here we start with Hailey and all the bling, the cell phones, purses, jewelry, diva shoes, dress up clothes, REAL dress up clothes and more. She was in HEAVEN with all this stuff. Kept checking her cell phone in between opening gifts (no it is not real) she just loves this stuff! THANK YOU GRANDMA MARY!



Moving on to Golf. Hailey is so proud to have her own clubs in a real bag. She played in the yard for 20 minutes or more and wanted to go back out at 8:00 (we said no, it was bed time) but she absolutely loves to swing the club (and hit the ball!) Thank you Grams and Gramps!

And to sum it all up....the whole Birthday start to finish (minus most of the photos featured above) It truly was a great day for Hailey...hope you are enjoying the videos (don't forget the sound)

Be sure to check back soon because I have a couple more posts from this week to get up..We went to a "pick your own" Farm, Lauren built a coggy doggy... Posts....Coming Soon.

The Latest

Today Lauren and I had a great shopping spree courtesy of Grandma Mary's Birthday Present to Lauren! Shopping Spree in a box! Tons of gift cards to various stores. She had a blast - here is the Thank Slideshow we sent Grandma Mary!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Last week Lauren had a mini show at the end of her ballet intensive at The International Ballet School - here is a picture:



Wow, I had a lot of blogging to catch up on...next we move to the TWO WHEELER! That is right. Lauren is on TWO WHEELS now! YAHOO. Thanks to Scott (Alicia's Hubby) telling us the trick they used with Cailey - take the pedals off. That is right the pedals. Let her walk her bike around and coast for a while (4 days for Lauren) pop those pedals back on and GO. No chasing, no holding on to the seat and running with her, no yelling NO TEARS! YAHOO. GO LAUREN!



Next: ART CLASS. Our beloved Ms. Monteith has been practicing her Art Journaling with Cailey and Lauren this summer. They have done some neat things! Becky is so Creative! The girls have fun, learn and walk away with beautiful creations! FUN FUN FOR ALL!





AND: FINALLY ( I think ) Cailey and ben came over Tuesday night so Scott could take Alicia out for her birthday! (GO SCOTT) here are some pictures of the playing: