last of the nut

Closing night of the 2011 Nutcracker was a BIG night!

We had a big dinner- then drove up to the ballet. Thanks to Brittany for taking these pictures, since I was in the back chaperoning some baby mice... Chloe's age is old enough to go without chaperone's now-- which is FANTASTIC except that now I have to take my turn chaperoning someone elses little dancer. Don't get me wrong--- you know I love kids-- but these little girls can really be loud- I dreaded my assignment all day! Lucky me- I got the cutest little 8 year old mice. They were dolls.

 Brittany & Megan

 Hailey & Laura

 Laura & the bearded Brian

 Brian & Marcus... they must be missing Jack or something here in this photo? Or thinking about how they missed out in life because neither of their mothers put them in ballet lessons- serious envy over men in tights going on here?? hahahahhaaa-- oh that was a good one.

 Marcus & Brittany

 Trent & his DSlite-- you know, just in case he got a little bored. Newsflash: he was NOT bored & sat quietly with hardly any whistling the whole ballet!!!

 Brett & Hailey

And like an idiot...

I forgot to get any pictures with Chloe after the ballet!???

aaaah!?

Oh well- it was a GREAT Nutcracker year.

You were stunning Chloe- we love you.

back stage

 We snuck backstage after last night's ballet & got some photos.

wow

it's nutcracker week!

It's here- Nutcracker Week!

Yesterday I tried & tried to write a post... but I just could NOT get any of these pictures to download! AAARGH-- so I'm a day late. Oh well, what else is new?

Chloe is on point this year & is absolutely gorgeous- of course!

I went to the first dress rehearsal Tuesday night & sat in the audience hoping to get some great photos. It's really hard to get any photos with very crabby people (who don't like picture takers) around--- so I didn't get too many. Still- I tried!

 The orchestra is setting up & hasn't been lowered into the pit- so they were in the way of the run through but there's Chloe- 3rd from the left.

 There's my foot.

 I was quite a ways back because non chaperoning parents are discouraged from coming to dress rehearsal & told to sit behind row N. Well--- okay then!?

Waiting around by myself was just a little boring.

 dang- I've got a crooked nose!

 Chloe is dancing in there somewhere...

and now waiting in the middle for her turn.

I love Chloe- she is a beautiful ballerina & is the epitome of what a ballerina should be.

I cherish these ballet moments--- they won't last forever.

sigh

It sure seems like I'm sighing a lot these days, huh?

After this year, Chloe will only be eligible for 2 more Nutcracker performances.

shoot-golly

time flies when you are a mom

nutcracker 2011

I'm just getting home from a very long day.

(getting up before the sun to make lunches & breakfast, leaving extra early for 7 hours at work I don't usually work 7 hours but someone is on vacation, Trent's Dr. appt. at the U-- blah blah blah, ya I know everyone is busy)

It ended on a high note-- I was lucky enough to go the parent meeting tonight for all dancers who made the nutcracker this year!!! WOO HOO! YES Chloe is in the Nutcracker again- we are so thrilled. This year she will be one of the girls on point dancing in the Waltz. It's a great part... (certainly not as great as Arabian Soloist last year!!!) and she gets to be on point! Very exciting. We don't have any photos from try outs- this year they changed the system. Dancers tried out with their classes & didn't find out if they made it until later that night, when they could check it out on the dance school's website. It's a much better system- less drama & more fair to the girls. But no photos from us- it wasn't our carpool day.

I was getting ready to take a photo & saw myself like this in my IPhone. Oh My HEaveNS!!! I think I laughed out loud-- and then cried-- JKidding. HOley MOley I look like a crazy mess! I couldn't read the fine print so I had to pull out my readers- then later couldn't find my sunglasses because they were on my head, yes my readers were still on my face. REaders & sunglasses on my head + this foxy look= please don't kick my daughter out of the production. I do have to admit- the hair hiding the huge zit on my forehead is a bonus...

Fortunately I was privileged to sit by these two cuties- Blair & her mom. Blair is one of Chloe's dearest friends & got the AWEsome part of Clown this year- one of my favorite parts. Unfortunately (for us) they are moving soon out of state! WHAT?! Serious bummer.

It was a big, busy, day.

How was your day?

closing night & a little too much information?

I really can't believe how quickly the Nutcracker came & went this year...

Is it possible that time has sped up?

I'm serious...

is it possible?

Somebody leave me a comment-- I know it goes against all reason-- but I think it may be happening?

It felt like I took a million photos.

dang- I have hardly any & NOT EVEN ONE of her in her costume alone?

What on earth? I can only blame my new job, a house full of company & a lot on my mind.

Still... I'm so disappointed I didn't do a better job.

Three of her good friends from school came closing night.

So nice- such good girls.

They came to support Blair (left of Chloe) & Chloe.

I love that!

Aunt Ruthie, cousin Sarah & Sarah's best friend came too!

(Sarah is on the left.)

They are both ballerinas too & their nutcracker is in Logan this weekend!!!

At $17 a ticket... and me working Black Friday... we won't be attending- I'm so sorry Sarah! Break a leg- We love you!

Now that I'm private I can use Ruthie's kid's names--

and- by the way- Ruthie lives in Logan.

(Logan is 1 1/2 hour drive away.)

I'm not sure Sarah is speaking to me any longer...

She ordered this mint Oreo shake at Jake's Over the Top after the performance.

I of course, didn't want to eat too much dairy

(I'm lactose intolerant.. T.M.I??)

Then, proceeded to eat a hefty portion of hers.

It was so, so, so good - that I risked spending the rest of the night in the bathroom.

Lucky - the risk was worth it & I didn't get sick since Chloe & I waited for Brett to help unload the set into trucks until 12:30 AM. He didn't want us to drive home without him (winter storm coming).. so we didn't bring two cars & opted to go out for shakes instead.

Tomorrow's Topic

My New Job

It should be riveting- I work until 2:00PM so I won't write until later.

Don't miss it!

(that was sarcasm)

nutcracker week

Thank you- thank you

To all you readers out there!!

I was so surprised at the response I had to going private- wow!

It's just so nice to know there are people out there who love us....

SOOO

anyway...

thanks again

and I should be blogging more regularly - even daily now

-BACK TO THE BLOG-

THIS WEEK IS NUTCRACKER WEEK!!!

This cutie has been having the time of her life dancing all week up at Weber State.

Her ballet school puts on the Nutcracker there every year there.

It's such a wonderful production!

The New American Philharmonic Orchestra plays live music for them & there are 4 professional dancers from Ballet West in the show. Also- a lot of the costumes have been handed down from Ballet West so they are really great too.

Ya- I kind a like it...

It's a big commitment being in the nutcracker!
She tried out back in September- has been practicing since.
Besides selling a required amount of tickets (not too hard), chaperoning twice, being on a committee.... etc. Brett is helping take down the set tonight after the last performance.
It's absolutely worth it- every minute- when you see the look in Chloe's eyes. Well, that & see her commitment, drive & excitement about the whole thing.

Tuesday night- I chaperoned the Arabians.

Last year I finally learned that chaperoning on Tuesday night (the first dress rehearsal) is the best! Why- because you don't have to stay downstairs in the dressing room the whole time. During the act they are not in- you get to sit in the audience & watch with your dancers. It was so fun to sit next to Chloe & hear/see her reaction to the show. She absolutely loves it.

the Arabian scene is in the second act-

We went down & got costumes on.

While we were waiting I snapped some photos- these girls have been really fun & nice.. some of them frankly... have been a little jealous of the soloist (Chloe.)

Let's face it- it's hard being a teenage girl.

EVERY YEAR I forget and EVERY YEAR I am reminded of how nice my daughters are. I know they are not perfect- I know they have their bad days. But, sitting quietly as a chaperone in a room full of candy canes & Arabians I see some mean things, just a few- thankfully- but still. I of course... don't take to that very well & typically find myself embarrassing the mean girl by calling her on it ... but I won't go into that. (who's the real mean girl... ?)

I'm so grateful for Chloe's kind friends.

Blair on the left here is one of them... love you Blair.
She is a red soldier this year & I NEED a picture...?

Chloe- Thursday night, just before going on.

isn't she beautiful!

All the YW in our church congregation came to support her. It was so fun for her knowing her friends & leaders were in the audience.

Of course when the started chanting CHLOE! CHLOE! CHLOE!

that wasn't really, ya know... proper? oops.

Afterward- on the way home (11:30 PM)

we dropped Hailey off on our way home at Wende's house.

Months ago Wende was so sweet & bought Hailey a ticket to the midnight show of Harry Potter. Of course that's before the whole nudity issue came up. We let her go anyway... she's seventeen for heaven's sake & I didn't think it would be all that bad... Hailey said - even though that scene didn't need to be in the movie- it was not as bad as the media made it out to be- you couldn't see "anything" & it was just plain media frenzy? I'm curious what other people think now?

on to last night-

This is a LOOOong post.. I have so much to catch up on!

Wednesday morning my parents flew up from St. George where they live (my sister works for an airlines.) It's been a very special nutcracker year! They've never seen her dance before so we were of course, thrilled to have them. The whole family was here. Marcus, brittany & brit came up. We had dinner than traveled up to the ballet.

getting in those last few messages...

Trent loves brit & of course... wanted to sit next to her!

She is a 1st grade teacher & she is wonderful with kids- but especially wonderful with Trent.

DAd & Me

photo by Trent

siblings- after the show-

this photo is for you Megan & Jack.

I'm not so sure if Trent is happy to be in it.. ha ha? - he says he was trying to go cross eyed- Well, of course? That would have looked good! NOT

boys...?

Grandma & Grandpa with Chloe.

cousins

Grandma & Grandpa with the grand kids.

Chloe did such a GREat job!

Being the Arabian Soloist has been an absolute dream come true for her. It's so fun to have a part where everyone can see you & tell it's YOU. Every night several different little dancers come up & want to talk to her & point & stare. She remembers doing the same thing at their age. It's just been such a thrilling experience for her.

I love you Chloe!

I'm so lucky to be your mom

The last performance is tonight - I can't wait to be there- in ROW K!!

-awesome tickets-

BREaK A LeG-

well, not really
Love mom