I know that I am a couple days behind in posting this, but come on, it’s the week of Christmas and there is just so much still to do! This is a special month for Amanda and I… it has been for the last 7 years. On the weekends leading up to Christmas we get to the Pantages theater in the morning hours and leave when it’s dark, we eat subway for lunch and sometimes dinner, we laugh, take pictures, play on our computers, read, listen to music and just enjoy the ballet family surrounding us. There are always a few new ones, but many of the familiar faces that we enjoy every year. The Tacoma City Ballet used to be called The Jan Collum School of Classical Ballet when my sister, Wendy and I took it many years ago. I can still remember the outfits we wore, the performances we had and practicing at the ballet bar in our living room. When I signed Amanda up for it I had no idea that she would fall in love with it… just as I hoped… maybe I had some influence or maybe she would have loved it anyway.
Amanda on her computer… it’s the glow of the computer screen so cool!
I love the long lashes they wear… there are days I put them on just because!
I love watching her put all the makeup on…
but she doesn’t like me in the dressing room… so I just ignore her comments and come in anyway…
I have always been impressed that most of the girls do their own makeup and have been doing it for years. Although, this year they had some help from another mom… made things easier for sure!
Amanda has been almost every part you can be, as a child, in the Nutcracker… most kids enter in as Bon Bons… it’s a very cherished part by many. Erin made an adorable one…
and her sister, Taylor a very cute soldier.
Taylor has a hearing aid in each ear allowing her to hear some of the music. I love watching her talk to the other girls… she is always full of joy and much loved by all the ballerinas…
There is a ton of waiting on these weekends, since the kids have 2 performances in a day… for me, it’s relaxing… I think Kacey likes it too…
Kacey let me take as many pictures as I wanted of her! Amanda processed this photo. Loved showing her how to use Photoshop.
She processed this one too… she calls it the “scary clowns”…
Hannah (Gingerbread Soldier) and Amanda (Bugle Soldier) struck up a friendship again after not seeing each other for a few years… glad to see her back!
Fun to see all the costumes… there are many… many… many different ones, but here are just a few…
Party mom… she is beautiful!!! So vintage!
Colleen as Chinese.
Her brother Alex as Fritz with attitude and everything.
Morgan as snow… even though her costume is undone… they are so hot after performances that they are half off my the time they hit the basement where we hang out…
Lauren as Fairy… It’s so fun to watch these kids grow up and take pictures of them along the way.
Natalie as a Gingerbread Soldier.
Another Party mom and her Party Girl daughter (really is her daughter :))
Amanda as a Bugle Soldier and Bailey as the Captain. Bailey is one of Amanda’s close friends. We did a shoot of her family on Monday and will be posting those soon. I also took a few with in this post.
Thanks for stopping by and if I don’t post before Christmas… Merry Christmas from our house to yours!
Much Love…
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