Checking In. Yes, We're Still Alive

This picture was taken during one of the many dance workshops Bailee attended this summer.  This one was taught by Risa Mochizuki, who is from Japan - but works as a professional dancer in Romania.  Bailee adored her.  She was also thrilled because she was actually taller than Risa.  HOPE!  You always hear that ballet companies prefer taller dancers, and that worries Bailee.  She's still growing though.  I'm hoping that she might still his 5'5".  Maybe.  We'll see.

This is a photo of Bailee and her friend, Mary, plus one of their "fans."  Bailee is currently working as a teaching assisstant at her dance studio.  It's her first real job, which is pretty cool.  The "fans" she's garnered are a hilarious perk.  They are so stinking cute.  I'm finding many of the "fans" show up at The Dance Shop" to purchase "clothes like Bailee's."  So funny.

I am continually thankful for the friends Bailee has made at dance.  They're crazy when they get together, but they are so good with one another.  None of that Dance Cattiness one hears about.  They are very supportive of one another.  Such good friends.

Silly, aren't they?

 

 

I love that Bailee is passionate about dance.  We just finished our Red Ribbon Week - which is geared at keeping kids off drugs.  It has been proven that the whole "Just Say No" mantra does not  work when it comes to keeping kids off drugs.  Instead, the research is saying that if a child has something they are passionate about, they are the most likely to stay  drug-free.  So, we're thankful.

 

 

Besides, when you see your child pull off something like this ... you have to be proud. 

 

 



August? Seriously?

Well, we just got a look at our future.  The schedule for Studio One came out this week.  Bailee will be dancing 4 hours on Monday, 1 hour on Tuesday, 1.5 hours on Wednesday, and 1.5 hours on Thursday.  She'll also be have rehearsals on Friday night and Saturdays for the studio's upcoming performance of The Christmas Carol.  No moss grows on that child!  She just finished a month long contemporary dance workshop, and starts another ballet workshop on Monday.  That will run 3 weeks long, and will be taught by two dancers from the Romanian ballet company in Sibiu.  She'll have Sunday off, and then the regular dance year starts.  She's proving to us that dance is her passion, as she just can't stand NOT dancing.  We'll be reminding ourselves of that when she spends a portion of the summer down in Salt Lake at Ballet West next year.  It's going to be hard to let her go, but she'll be nearly 15 ... so the time is right.  Now, we just need to raise the money to pay for it.  ha ha



On the garden front, the basils and other herbs are doing really well.  Let there be pesto!  The bird nailed every single cherry before they were really ripe this year, and they are in the process of stripping the chokecherries.  This is not a real great year for fruit thanks to the late frosts and the horrible heat and lack of moisture.





Speaking of heat, we are SO tired of temps in the higher 90s day after day after day.  Next week they are threatening temps over 100.  Come on autumn!  Even if it means returning to school, we are more than ready for a change in season!  Caribou, our resident "snow dog" spends every afternoon sprawled on the kitchen floor by the window air conditioner.  Poor guy.  He usually likes to spend every minute outside during the summer, but this year he wants no part of it during the afternoon hours.

Bailee has been spending her time trying to eat as many raspberries as possible every day.  Thank goodness for Sam's Club!  Next year I'm going to take another stab at growing raspberries in a raised bed, since they HATE our soil here in Ammon.

The summer is winding down, and we're preparing to head back to school.  The family is looking forward to getting rid of all the school stuff I brought home to work on.  Me too.  It will be nice to have the house back.



Photo Updates

I had a few friends request that I put some of our Instagram photos on the website.  Happy to oblige!

#1 - Bailee Mutant Ninja Turtle!

#2 - In solo costumes for the Studio One June recital.

#3 - Fossils costumes for the recital

Video of dances:

http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b240/rbmcmjr/family/?action=view&current=MVI_0003.mp4

http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b240/rbmcmjr/family/?action=view&current=MVI_0007.mp4

The End (?) of the Dance Year

Last weekend Bailee and many of the other girls from Studio One performed in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as the finale of the summer intensive program at Brindusa-Moore Ballet Academy.  They did a fabulous job.  I still can't believe that they put together a full scale ballet in 3 weeks!


This weekend the studio did a casual recital showcasing the younger students, with featured dances with the older girls.  Bailee did her "Aquarium" solo from  The Carnival of the Animals, and the group number, "Fossils."  It was an enjoyable evening.


Bailee will be taking a workshop through July (but just 2 days a week) with one of the dancers from Odyssey Dance Theater in Salt Lake City.  In July, she'll be doing a weeklong intensive workshop with Risa Mochizuki from Japan, who is currently dancing with a ballet company in Sibiu, Romania.


The regular dance year begins in August.  Like I always say, our lives revolve around dance.  However, we're hoping to enjoy some different activities during July.  I'd like to make a few road trips.  After working like dogs throughout June, I feel like we're entitled to a little fun.