Nutcracker 2022

The two-act Nutcracker Ballet is a holiday tradition, set to Tchaikovsky's famous score and dating back to the late 1800's, it's been danced by countless ballet companies around the world.  We are so pleased our four dancers can participate in this tradition this year with our local ballet company.  This is the second year these girls have been able to dance the Nutcracker in Ohio - this year they had 4 performances.  We are so proud of our girls!

*Maegli and Hiwot had the opportunity to dance as polichinelles in The Nutcracker with the Bristol Ballet in 2017  

*I've taken my girls to see a Nutcracker Ballet performance every year since 2011! (with the exception of 2020 Covid year)

It's such a joy to watch our girls perform on stage!

(Dabney is the lovely girl with the blue/purple skirt and shawl with the gold ribbon around her purple-trimmed hat.  Emory is the baby mouse on the far left.)

Nutcracker 2022 - dress rehearsals

 
Our four ballerinas have been working hard preparing for the Nutcracker performances.  Dress rehearsal week is always exciting - the girls have been looking forward to being back on stage at the Palace Theater.  

This year, Emory is a baby mouse - eating cheese (battle scene). Dabney is a package girl - decorating a tree and helping to hand the nutcracker present to Drosselmeyer (overture/pre-party scene). Addy is a cherub, and Maclaren is an angel - welcoming Clara and the Nutcracker prince to the Land of Sweets along with the Sugar Plum Fairy (opening the second act). 

Ballerinas

September has arrived, and with it school, cross country, and ballet!  

Our four ballerinas are looking forward to another year of studying with their ballet school (and another Nutcracker performance!). 
 

Spring Snow

One step forward, two steps back . . . spring keeps teasing us!  

We'll call this late March snow a gift ;)

(We had already put away winter gear, oops!)

Sisters

Family is more than DNA.  

We are so thankful for how God has grown our family.  What a beautiful (challenging, humbling, overwhelming, sweet) blessing it is to be called "mom" by 13!  

There are 7 sisters in our family, while they don't all share DNA with each other, they're sisters.

Each one is a blessing.

That said, I'm so glad these two sisters are both in our family ;)

See that you do not despise one of these little ones.  For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 18:10

*When did they get so big!?  Addy will be 7 in May, Alarie will be TWO!*

Nutcracker 2021

Four of our beautiful girls danced in our local ballet production of The Nutcracker:  a little reindeer (Emory), two street urchins (Maclaren and Dabney), and a baby mouse (Addy).  

We're so proud!

Ballerinas

Four beautiful girls starting back to ballet classes for the 2021/2022 season . . .

. . .  and super excited to participate in the Nutcracker this December!!!

 

Parachute Play

 

Our family is ever changing - it happens too fast!  Not too long ago, the now-big-kids were outdoors all the time with endless yard baseball games, frog catching, tree forts, and bike races.  Now, our big kids are busy with "big-kid" activities, and our yard is busy with this next group of kiddos.  

This great crew keeps our yard active with "nature walks," hide-and-seek, circus parades, duck-duck-goose, dodge ball, bike and scooter races, flower collecting, and parachute play.  

I love seeing them outside together!  I love hearing the (mostly) happy sounds of kids playing outside!

(And sometimes they even get a "big kids" to join in the fun!) 

Splash Pad

Another check-off for our Summer Bucket List: Splash Pad!!!

We're thankful to have a little splash pad in our local community park - so convenient!   (Once upon a time, we would drive 30-75 minutes for a summer splash pad experience!) 

This park also has a playground, dog park, several miles of walking/running/biking trails, and is next to the high school - our cross country kids run through the park daily (and enjoy cooling off in the splash pad!).