On Friday, I was messaged through YouTube because of the audition video we had made for Walnut Hill in 2007. My son was 10 when it was made, and his skill level was vastly different. That said, they wanted to know if he was signed up for any programs, because there was still space in theirs!

So I checked them out on a message board that dissects different SI programs across the country, and while this one is relatively new - there seems to be good buzz about it.

From the program description:

"Featuring: Russian ballet technique directly from the Vaganova Ballet Academy (Kirov) given by teachers who come from the prestigious academy. All ballet teachers have been students of Vaganova, Tarazov, Plaht, among others, with a high quality expertise in Russian, American, European and Latin American ballet companies."

My son had *just* completed two summer workshops at his home studio, and they allowed us to videotape them. (his director is really strict about pictures, we've never been allowed to in 7 years) The timing was impeccable! So I spent the weekend capturing and editing the tape for YouTube.




3 other videos from the summer workshops here

So I've posted the videos and emailed the program with the links. The rest is about biting our nails and scrambling to see if we can come up with the money to get him down there and back.

We just got the photos of our ballet company's spring production, Cinderella. My son is an apprentice to the company, and my husband often does supporting roles as well.

Its so exciting to watch my son's ballet career blossom. He loves dancing and looks forward to all of the opportunities still ahead of him - I can hardly wait to see where it takes him.



This time, my husband was the giant and had to make his way around the stage on stilts while the youngest dancers ran all around him! It was the first time he really used stilts, so involved a lot of practice in order to feel comfortable on them. (he towered to a height of 8 feet!)



My son was both a page and the aspect of winter, and pulled off an amazing pirouette. It was a beautiful production and I'm so very proud of the both of them.

My kids are home from school for the summer, so my daughter and I have been cranking up the craft machine!

We have a seasons tree that we decorate through the turning of the year. So for summer, we made tulle flowers, origami butterflies and paper leaves with summer haiku on them. :)

Here's one thats hanging from the tree now!

I like to see bugs
but they're scared of me instead
because I kill them

Last month was super busy for my family, so Ive ended up neglecting my blog.



We saw Radiohead!! They are my absolute favorite band of all time and seeing them live was one of those things that I vowed I had to do before I died.

They did not disappoint. We were in the cheap lawn seats, and even from there it was incredible - the light show was inspired. They had cameras set up on stage so that you could see video on the wall behind them of each member as they played. The light ropes that hung down from above changed colors and patterns to the music, adding a whole other element to the experience.




It was the music though that brought it all home. They played the entirety of the new album with a generous mix of favorites from older albums. I was able to let it all wash over me and seep into my bones.

I won't ever forget it, and I hope to someday see them again!




My son is an apprentice to our local ballet company, and he performed in the spring show, Coppelia. Hes been dancing for seven years, and we're very proud of him!



I have been painting in the interim, and I plan to share it all with you soon! :)