Christmas in NY

Ally and I drove to visit my parents and celebrate Christmas with them. Becky is home sick with a cold.

It was a late night drive over after practice, we got here at 1045pm. Ally spent the day in her pajamas. We watched a movie, baked cookies and played games. It snowed all day so before dinner Ally went outside to play in it.

Since the super snowy winter of 2014 Ally says she doesn't like snow. But when it snows she loves to play in it. And eat it.

She told me that pice must have a lot of snowflakes in it. Yum! She said and ate a big bite. Freshly fallen clean white snow is tasty. 

Of course there was gymnastics in the snow.

And we made a snowman!

Selfie with the snowman!!!!

Ally before bed with my mom and dad!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We decorated the tree one Tuesday after school. Tuesday and Friday are Ally's only free days after school. And weekends can get busy.

Ally and Becky did most of the actual decorating. I was shopping on my iPad.

But I did provide my shoulders for Ally to sit on to reach the top of the tree. 

After church one Sunday we took Ally to visit Santa. Becky told her she looked like a model all perfect and posed on Santa's knee. It's a far cry from when she was a baby. Every year we frame her picture with Santa, and all 10 of them are displayed as part of our Christmas decorations. 

The annual un-pageant at church, we were running late and knew we wouldn't get costumes, so Becky made this halo for Ally to wear. 

Ally asked for new matching pajamas with Cloey, and I sprung for Santa hats too. Ally loves it!

Ally wrapped all of the gifts she is giving. She worked hard to make most gifts, and others she picked out.

Wrapping with a pug.

Ally got a new chair for her room. One that anyone can sit in, not just her! And it's fur. She loves it.

Posing in front of the tree.

Ballet - mid year showcase

 

Ally is dancing at a new ballet studio this year. We had to look for a new place, because all of the class times at her old studio conflicted with her new gym's gymnastic practice times. The new place has a larger class of 12 girls which is nice, and its pretty traditional and specific. Ally doesn't seem to love ballet, but she likes it and she knows it helps with gymnastics and she is good at it so that all makes it fun and worth it.

 

This studio doesn't allow parents to watch most classes - there were 2 parent watch days during the semester and at the last class of the term, there was a 30 minute showcase (performance) where parents were invited to come and watch the girls dance. It was very enjoyable.

 

She is a wonderful dancer. After the show the teacher spoke with parents individually for a few minutes - she told us Ally is very talented and a joy to teach. It is always nice to hear such praise for your child. Ally isn't really smiling in these pictures - she has a cold (again) and confessed that she was concentrating hard on not sniffing up or sneezing or coughing. Always a diligent performer.



 

 

 First they showed us several barre exercises. Before each exercise or combination one of the students came forward, introduced herself and said the name of the combination and why she chose it for the showcase.

 Ally introduced the above combination - I do not know what it was but I remember she said she chose it because its really beautiful.

 leaping across the floor

 

I got one smile after the performance.

 

PS - I've been experiencing some blog technology difficulties this Fall which is why I haven't been blogging as much. I do hope that Santa (or Becky) will bring me some help with this in the new year and I can get back to regular blogging. I do continue to take pictures and feel that blogging is the best way to use those pictures.