Chellisms

Take One

 

Yesterday was a very long day. Bailey had the dress rehearsal for her year end ballet performance, Sleeping Beauty. She is a member of the Royal Court and opens the show.

Her class is made up of six girls, including herself, and they are partnered up off and on through out their dance. Their teacher left after Saturdays regular rehearsal for a summer long trip to PA leaving them without an instructor. Last night they were short one girl, the missing girl is someone else's partner in the beginning of the dance and Bailey's partner at the end of the dance. They also intertwine around each other three different times during the dance, I can't explain it I just know that the girls are mixed up missing one person.  Needless to say things did not go well.

We were at the Performing Arts Center from 3:30 to 8:30, we were actually released at 7:45 but since the girls actually only got to run through their dance once with no instructor help and had no idea what to do being short one person I cornered an instructor and asked her if it was possible that the girls could go over their dance again with a bit of help. You know, since Thursday is the performance and they don't know how to do the dance being one short. They got to run through it one more time with someone reading instructions off of a piece of paper. The dance was better the first time. The school has a strict policy that if you don't make it to a dress rehearsal you will not be allowed to do the actual performance, this does not bode well.

As a parent I am extremely irritated. I completely understand the teacher's situation and why she is spending the summer in PA. The school should have compensated for that, there are several other instructors who could have, should have, stepped in and pointed the girls in the right direction. I realize the girls are 7 and don't expect perfection, far from it. I expect and hope for her to have a good time and to learn ballet, something she absolutely loves. She was not loving it last night, none of the girls were.

The hard part is that Bailey loves her teacher. I am undecided about next year. The school is across town, about 30 minutes from the new place. There is a pricier more established school closer, much closer. The closer school is about 2 1/2 times as much per month and the classes are twice a week opposed to once a week but I think she will learn more.

Yes, I am seriously considering paying quite a bit of money monthly to keep her in ballet. Ballet is her thing. She loves it and is serious about it, even at 7.

I just have to make sure I can work a soccer schedule around it. Sometimes having a husband who works swing shift sucks donkey butt.

Girlies

I have been meaning to post a picture of Taylor's new haircut but got sidetracked by Tim's colon. Ew, I know.

 

I had my doubts about letting her cut off that much hair but, eh, it's just hair. And it went to a good cause, this was her third hair donation. The childs hair grows incredibly fast and she has a ton of it.

When we went to see Joseph she knew exactly what she wanted. Joseph promptly talked her out of it. She wanted it cut right below her ears, all one length. I love that man. With the thickness of her hair she looks a bit mushroomy with it that short. He managed to persuade her that layers were the way to go. This is the first time ever, with the exception of bangs, that her hair hasn't been all one length.

I love to take a flat iron to it and a little texturizer and make it a little messy but she gives me the stink eye and flattens it back to how she likes it. One of these days...

A Party Girl at 6

Since Bailey began taking ballet classes in September she has been looking forward to dancing in The Nutcracker. After many Monday, Saturday and some odd surprise rehearsals her performance was last night. Bailey was a Party Girl in the first scene. She did very well, except for the hair twirling. When she gets nervous she twirls a strand of hair on the right side of her head. Typically she wears a bun when she dances and it has never been a problem, last night the party girls wore their hair half up with the back down and curly. Perfect for nervous twirling.

   

While the girls were waiting backstage they were running around and basically all spun up. We had to check in by 3:15 and the performance wasn't until 7:30. I had never been to the theater where it was being held so I printed directions, ha, someone built a building in the middle of my street so it no longer went through and all the streets in that area are one way and it was slushing and I sat in a parking lot calling a friend to get another friends cell phone number for help (holy run on sentence, Batman!). The second friend didn't answer but I eventually figured out where I was and we made it about 5 minutes late and snuck in under the director's radar, thank the stars.

All in all she had a great time. Tim stopped on the way to the performance and got her roses, she was most surprised and excited. The best part about the school and the whole production is the way the older girls interact with the younger girls, the older girls have so much patience with them.

   

Now all she can talk about is the end of the year performance. Hey, at least with ballet we don't have to sit outside in the rain.

Oh, and before I get any nasty e-mail she has on lipgloss and mascara. Her cheeks are always that pink.

Principal's Office

I happened to be at the girl's school today when on my out one of the secretaries stopped me and told me to stick around for a second. She popped her head in the principals office and that is when I caught sight of my youngest sitting in the principals office and when she saw me her face turned beet red and the tears flowed.

Evidently someone in Bailey's class was teasing her and it pissed her off. Rather than asking the other girl to knock it off Bailey jabbed her in the arm with her elbow.

No crying or bleeding ensued and I have to ask myself if they had been boys would they have been sent to the office?

Now, the actual principal and vice principal were out today so a teacher was filling in for them and he was a bit too soft spoken for my liking. If you are going to hand out punishment then just do it, don't drag it out for days.

I have stressed using your words and will continue to do so. I also told her to choose her opponents wisely, this girls outweighs her by a good 20 lbs and could lay her out flat...

Birthday Wishes from Bailey

Bailey: How old are you again?

Me: 29.

B: So, next year when I go to 1st grade and you are dead who is going to work in my classroom and pack me Cheez-Its?

M: Thanks for the vote of confidence on my life span.

B: Can you go to Costco this week and get extra Cheez-Its just in case?

M: (deep sigh) Sure.

It sure seems like everything in the child's life revolves around Cheez-Its. At her wedding, instead of blowing bubbles or throwing rice I plan on tossing Cheez-Its.

Whiny Walkers

Can you tell that all three of them are thrilled to be there?

What you can't see (or hear) is Ashley standing behind me complaining about the butt muscle she pulled. If it counts for anything, I enjoyed myself and my butt feels okay.

Backseat Rockstars

This one is missing the movie due to Vox/TypePad move. Once Ashley e-mails it to me I will add it back in.

Ashley and I decided to take the kids to Rainforest Cafe for dinner tonight. On the way there we listened to Radio Disney on the satellite radio. Hannah Montana came on singing Rockstar. Ethan had no idea who she was but as you can see he was darn happy to dance along.

The monthly subscription fee is so worth the moment above.

Intense Moments

While Ethan was napping Bailey and Ashley discovered their mutual love for the Nintendo DS. I think she might have to buy one for herself at some point, she has become pretty attached to it lately.

Sunday Morning Fun

Ethan with his ladies this morning. Bailey's patience wore thin shortly after this was taken, she decided to curl up next to Ashley instead as she keeps her elbows to herself and doesn't jab them in Bailey's ribs.

Taylor seems to have an endless supply of patience where Ethan is involved. They have been in this position for what seems like hours with no end in sight. I see a future in babysitting for this one, not so sure about Bailey.

Love of the Game

Can you tell that she is sound asleep in this picture? It lasted for all of about 3 minutes, then she was back to coughing.

I am happy to report that this was taken last week while a nasty viral bug still clutched Bailey in it's nasty hands. Last night was our first official night of being cough and vomit free. I am sad to report that I have washed approximately 32 loads of bedding in the past 9 days due to said viral bug.

While I am glad that the bug has moved along (finally!!) I sure hope he hasn't moved on to you, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.