Genes

Our kids have hyper-extendable toes - both of them.😕 

Auntie R is in the house! (and so is Sophie who is back from uni for reading week)

 

UFA Commencement 2024

Graduation ceremony / commencement

 

Gramps & Nana made a special trip

Everyone was on hand for a special late brunch

And then tea and memories on Fern

The shed

 We got it for free and holds a lot. But wow, is it hard to re-assembled when it goes wonky. Led by Seb, this great duo managed and without turning the air blue! 

Thank you both so much!!!

Out and about in London with Auntie R

Of course we founds books

And on Sophie's request, we found a pub (from the Victorian era)

Wedges' choices of tipple

And being 16, she had a half-pint of cider with a meal and under guardian supervision. She liked it!

 

Twas a family affair

Despite the risk of COVID and a rather small cast of dancers (and thus, parents to volunteer) the show must go on. After 10+ weeks of rehearsal (and some late choreography), Sophie and her fellow ballerinas pulled off a terrific Nutcracker. And if we had 4 people in the audience (over 4 shows), we must have 16 or so! Mum was on props and Dad did the set. Both baked and Sophie just danced and danced (5 roles?)

With all the final year dancers and Ms Bouman

 

What a busy summer: Part 1

The summer kicked off with a trip to see a recuperating Grandma in Montreal.

a visit to Atwater Market

grabbed some bagels - at a different location. Quel sacrilege!

and then the annual multi-family, long weekend camp out

All things Nutcracker

December 1-19 truly turned into all things Nutcracker! But what a glorious show it was, bringing joy to so many people. 

Mum was on ironing and mouse/lotus supervision. Dad was heading up the front of house volunteers. And Sophie rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed (all in a mask)!

Between watching in the performance space to a virtual watch party to people watching other performances online, we had almost 30 audience members: Gramps & Nana, Grandma, Mum, Dad, Bro, Auntie R, Dorothy & Peter, the Eardleys, Kevin & Arthur, Jane, Sydney & Deb, Mark & Mary, Wendy, Mona & David, Jeannie, Diana, neighbours Christina & Christine. I may have missed some but thank you all! You will no doubt agree that it's not a standard community production and the camera work this year was fantastic.

The all important foam roller for backs and legs

A supportive cast

Teens!

Ballet makes you strong



She had 6 roles and thus 6 multi-piece costumes and two sets of shoes (plus dancing barefoot)
Can you name her roles??
Young adult girl in party scene
Wind up toy soldier (solo and trio)
Battle soldier (same costume)
Snow
Amira, desert princess
Flower (one of the blue duo)
-- and back to Amira for the finale --

Ms Bouman and her leads

The glam squad

Pre-show warm up

always led by some of the senior dancers

Notes from the ballet mistress

Not very glamourous backstage...

Amira, princess of the desert

Battle soldier

The mice transfixed by the party scene (Sophie is far right)

The gorgeous and gregarious lotuses

And the beautiful, beautiful costumes