Maddie was a happy clown in this year's production of "The Nutcracker." We have been in the audience for the last few years so it was special to see her on stage. Her partner, Sophie, is a buddy from class and they loved their part. Unfortunately, Maddie got a stomach bug just a few hours before Opening Night. We didn't know if she would make it through three days of performances, so another girl rehearsed to take her place. But she rested, drank ginger ale, took a bath, and made it to every one. We were very proud of her!
Mother Ginger was played by different "local celebrities" each performance. The men were in drag and up on a platform with the clowns under her big skirt. Eric pushed out the Mother Ginger for one performance and he said the clowns were very giggly inside until they did their part. The audience cheered and Maddie said, "It was hard not to look at Mother Ginger being silly."
Eric and I got a babysitter for Gus on Sunday so we could have a "date" with Elise and watch the final show. Elise LOVED it and is already practicing to be a mouse in next year's production!
Maddie loves her dance teacher, Valerie. Her son is a ballet student in NYC; he and his partner had the lead roles as the Cavalier and Sugar Plum Fairy.
Backstage was very fun with all the kids playing games, watching movies, and hanging out.
Shelby, our old babysitter who is off at college, was in "The Nutcracker" since she was Elise's age. Her father, Steve, has played Clara's dad for 12 years and he was missing Shelby this year. He was very kind to Maddie backstage and encouraged us to all try out for a part next year! :)
Maddie and her partner Sophie. The red make-up for the cheeks stayed on for many extra days!
I took this while the clowns watched the big kids dance during rehearsal! In Awe!
The girls loved taking pictures after the final show with all the big stars!
Maddie's teacher even came to see her.
Maddie loved dancing with her pal, Brooke. Check out their cool boots! :) 
The younger sisters who will all be in Kindergarten next year together were dancing machines. Elise cannot wait to be at Mountain!
Tuesday, December 8th was our first snow day! It was snowing Monday night when we went to bed and Maddie could not sleep -- she kept talking about the possible snow day. We woke to almost a foot of snow and the kids were outside ALL day!
Maddie and the neighbor kids made a plan on the way home from the bus on Monday to meet out in the cul-de-sac at 9:30 if they were home. Their first fort was dig in an hour! By 10:45, they needed hot chocolate and they began another fort.
Gus did much better with his gloves, hat, and boots this year.
Thankfully, the neighbors shared their snowblower with us, but Eric's mono was made worse by all the snow moving. This winter he isn't going to be enjoying the snow as much as he'd like. Bummer.
Chaco and Bucky were in heaven!
Then we made little people out of gumdrops! Fun!
Maddie was a happy clown in this year's production of "The Nutcracker." We have been in the audience for the last few years so it was special to see her on stage. Her partner, Sophie, is a buddy from class and they loved their part. Unfortunately, Maddie got a stomach bug just a few hours before Opening Night. We didn't know if she would make it through three days of performances, so another girl rehearsed to take her place. But she rested, drank ginger ale, took a bath, and made it to every one. We were very proud of her!
Mother Ginger was played by different "local celebrities" each performance. The men were in drag and up on a platform with the clowns under her big skirt. Eric pushed out the Mother Ginger for one performance and he said the clowns were very giggly inside until they did their part. The audience cheered and Maddie said, "It was hard not to look at Mother Ginger being silly."
Eric and I got a babysitter for Gus on Sunday so we could have a "date" with Elise and watch the final show. Elise LOVED it and is already practicing to be a mouse in next year's production!
Backstage was very fun with all the kids playing games, watching movies, and hanging out.
Shelby, our old babysitter who is off at college, was in "The Nutcracker" since she was Elise's age. Her father, Steve, has played Clara's dad for 12 years and he was missing Shelby this year. He was very kind to Maddie backstage and encouraged us to all try out for a part next year! :)
Maddie and her partner Sophie. The red make-up for the cheeks stayed on for many extra days!
Maddie's teacher even came to see her.
