And she danced...

The Nutcracker

Some of you may know that Karsyn has been involved in dance for a year or so now. Actually, she’s started taking ballet as a pip-squeak a couple of years ago, but has been involved in a little more than a year. I’ve not been a huge fan of the whole thing, because of a bad experience I had with her first formal performance. I’m not enamored by the way the studio seems to siphon money out of the parents for every little detail.

Anyway, she enjoys it, and I haven’t pushed back on it, so it is what it is. Anyway, her studio somehow is involved with an upcoming performance of the Nutcracker by the Moscow Ballet. They held open auditions for the children’s parts last Friday, and low and behold, Karsyn made the cut.

I’m not sure there really was a cut, but I do know that she will be spending many weekends until the end of December rehearsing for this performance. Now, I can’t tell you how renowned the Moscow Ballet is, but it sounds impressive doesn’t it? They at least own the url: http://www.nutcracker.com/ I have to think that there’s got to be some pull there.

This isn’t the Bolshoi Ballet, but it is the touring company that is best known for it’s rendition of the Nutcracker.

In any case, there is a real live Russian instructor teaching the kids. His name is Boris Baskarov, but “Boris Badanov” seems easier, so that’s what I’ve going to refer to him as over the next few months.

I dropped K off at her rehearsal on Saturday and got to see them in action. There’s certainly a divide between her and the kids that have received more formal ballet training. But, I have to say that I’m pretty impressed with this seven year-old kid trying to play the part of a ballerina. She seems to be very focused (wish we could channel that to some other areas!), and she’s having a good time.

At the S.F. Ballet

The history here is that Sonya has taken her to see the Nutcracker every year for as long as I can remember. Seriously, I can’t think of the last time she hasn’t seen the performance come holiday time. Karsyn also use to go to sleep listening to the music of Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet every night for years. Needless to say, she dug up the CD and is once again counting sugar plum fairies jumping over her bed each night.

So, kind of ironic that she’ll be the one out on the stage this year. She will be dancing in two different scenes. The first is the party scene in Act I. She’ll also be appearing as an angel in one of the latter acts.

For those who need a refresher on the story line, checkout Wikipedia

Kids & Pumpkins

The Pumpkin Dance

Made our annual trek to Half Moon Bay to pick up some pumkins for Halloween. It's a 40 minute drive, and yes we could pick up pumkins from the supermarket, but it's really the experience. Too many things have been simplified in our lives, that it's nice to get out and experience some things every once in a while.

The kids love it. I love it. We let Ry pick out his own pumpkin this year, and as things turned out, he's a very selective pumpkin picker. He had to trek to the farthest side of the patch before selecting something that he thought was adequate.

Only three days to Halloween, do you have your pumpkin?

[More Pumpkin Pics]

Gickr

Found this cool site that will build animated gifs for you called Gickr. Checkout the quick imiage animation I put together in 8 clicks:

Game On!

Ry getting chomped

This Thursday night, all things will be right in the world. Hockey season starts and my butt will be planted firmly in my seat at HP Pavilion to watch the Sharks attempt to bring home their first Stanley Cup.

Ry Ry is evolving into quite the fan himself. He loves going to the game, and will actually sit through an entire contest. Granted, he will spot the cotton candy vendor from 400 yards, but he's pretty good.

He is slowly mastering the chomp (he knows to do it when the Jaws music starts), and when to say "Hey" and pump his fist after the Sharks score a goal. It's very impressive for a two-year-old.

Watching from the glass

He's probably going with me on Thursday night, since his big sister has school on Friday morning. No hockey on school nights. He has a hand-me-dwon jersey (courtesy of his sister) and a real affinity for the home team. Sharkie, the team mascot, scares the hell out of him, but I guess if a shark that was 8 times my size nuzzled up to me when I was that age, I'd probably freak out myself.

I can't wait for Thursday night. Hockey is back!!!

Toof-less

Karsyn decided to get into the act by losing a tooth just in time for the drop of the first puck. I snapped this photo of her shortly after it popped out. She'll probably be ready to drop the gloves with her brother when she finds out that he's going to opening night, and sh's staying home with mom.

Maybe I'll make them shoot for it in the backyard. We have a hockey net back there. Best of 10 shots from 25 feet perhaps. Ry has a wicked slapshot from that range, so he'd probably take it anyway.