Ballet video

I am not sure how long this link will stay live, but for now, I wanted to share our ballet show with you!

Hannah comes out first in scene 2 (she's a villager).

Abigail will then come out as snow (in white.)

They are both in the HUGE Be our Guest scene. Abigail is a feather duster (in yellow) and Hannah is a napkin (in red.)

After intermission, Abigail is in a party scene and she does a quick change into snow again.

You'll see Isaac in the beast fighting scenes as they play is winding up in the end.

And I'll come out in curtain call with my four kiddos!

Ballet pictures

Zach and Zoey watched the last dress rehearsal with their mom last night as they are headed to pick up their deployed Daddy today!!!

Ana was in the newspaper!

I was excited that Katy (second from the right in the back) got to fill in during the dress rehearsal last night. Katy is dancing in Asheville now, but we got to have her for a night.

That's my Hannah second from the right! (And Eoin jumping on the far left!)

I love getting to watch Maryah and Ana dance as two of Belle's sisters.

I think this picture of the two of them is so sweet!

These pictures of Abigail were taken with Erin's phone so they aren't incredibly clear. But I still wanted to share them. This is Abigail's sixth show!

Isaac is making his debut this year as a villager off to "KILL THE BEAST!" He does a great job! And he gets to spend time with his cousin and best bud, Gabe.

Sidge does his back stage thing with two kids that think the WORLD of him!

Abigail is SO serious during ballet, but she took a moment for a picture!

Abigail also gets to be in a party scene and then has a VERY quick change into SNOW.

 

Harry Potter 2

This little 8-year-old is about to finish Harry Potter 2. She’s on the last few pages of the illustrated version. I’m so proud of her!

IOWA testing x 3

I decided to let my kids take the IOWA tests this year -- just to see how they are faring compared to their peers. I wanted to make sure I didn't drop the ball on any particular area of their schooling.

Hannah took her tests two weeks ago. Today, the older three took their's. They will take them from 8:30-11:30am three days this week. 

Here is a video of how I got them each a private area to test:

Fairness for women's athletes

I continue to be incredibly burdened and worried about the future of girls and their athletic careers because of the inclusion of trans athletes into their sports. I, honestly, am dumbfounded that I am having to have this debate. It just doesn't even make sense. However, this article really said everything I am feeling about this. Changing testosterone issues temporarily does NOT change the testosterone that has been raging through a man's body for the first decades of their life. It includes a statement from one of the greatest athletes ever: Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner who shares how dangerous this will be for girls and their athletics. I pray that our culture stops trying to be so inclusive that we exclude the girls who have worked so hard to be where they are.

Beauty and the Beast time

I'm very excited that I got to write an article for the newspaper in regards to the upcoming Beauty and the Beast production by Central Ballet Theater. To be fair, I wrote this piece in about 20 minutes. Literally. LoriAnn called me in a panic due to some miscommunication. She needed it. Fast. So I pumped this out. Fast. LoriAnn helped with the introduction but the story that follows is my perspective on being involved with ballet. Here is a link to the piece.