New pet!

Ally and I have been missing having a cat. Becky not so much.

Ally and I went to visit the animal shelters we got  Carl, Bryce and Nali from. At the first one the car we went to visit wasn’t for us. There was a kitten but I didn’t love it.

So then we went to the second shelter. The most adorable kitten was available. 

So adorable. Both the girl and kitten.

We texted Becky from the shelter. What could she say?




So home with us came the kitty. 

She was found at the dump and brought to the animal rescue league. They think she was about 8 weeks then the ARL cleaned her and her litter mates up, spayed her and microchipped. And warned us that she is “under socialized” which means she will need some extra patience and love. She tends to hide and is hesitations people. But once you get past her hissing she lets you pick her up and hold her. And if you pet her she purrs. 

Cloey isn’t allowed in Ally’s room for now. It’s the room the kitten lives in. Next week we will let her explore the house a little.


Willow met Daisy the kitten.



Every morning I take a picture of Ally bonding with Daisy.

Very happy girl.

Middle School Dance!

Ally went to her very first school dance Friday night. It’s been a big deal. What to wear. Boys. The usual middle school drama.

Ally’s friend Colette came over before the dance and they went together and then they walked home to our house after the dance with Willow and Cata. (Willow and Cata are on student council so they were at the dance early to set up.)

They ended up walking home with 13 boys going over to Sophocles’ house. Becky and I were laughing at the site the group must have been with 17 kids walking down the street. Very loud 11 and 12 year olds.

The girls said they had fun. They did not eat anything so we fed them pasta and carrot sticks and ice cream for dessert. And they had fun together. 

The girls didn’t go home until after 10pm and Ally woke up at 6am for her usual 4 hour practice Saturday morning.  

Ally requested waves in her hair. After some google research and the purchase of a wide barrel curling iron I was successful! She loved her hair.

What to wear was a challenge. But in the end Ally wore an acid washed black denim skirt. It was a faux wrap with an asymmetrical hem. Her top was rose gold  colored glitter smocked. She loved it. 

Paired with her sparkly silver high tops. It was age appropriate, comfy and she felt great.

I told her if it was over 40 degrees she didn’t have to wear tights or leggings. She got lucky it was 45.

Her peeps. Ally with Willow, Cata and Coco (aka Colette).

Ballet end of term shows

Ally has decided to cut back on her dance classes so this week was a little bittersweet. It was her final class and demonstration for pointe and her ballet 2 ballet technique classes. 

She will

Be taking a performance and choreography class starting in January. Her teacher is excited for Ally to take it. 

The class next term will teach Ally how to perform dance, with expression. Ally is so serious when she dances. 

Ally’s first meet of Level 5

Ally had her first meet last week. It was late on Sunday evening which can be tricky. She seemed really calm and ready but had a rough meet.

She fell off the bars, fell on balance beam, her floor routine wasn’t her best but then her final event, vault she ROCKED it. Her best vault in two years. We were so happy for her. She stuck with the meet, didn’t give up and in the end she came in 5th place All Around. 

This meet has a photographer and they give you a photo CD of each gymnast on floor and beam. 

Here are our favorites:

3rd place on Vault

Ally was so surprised she placed all around she didn’t hear her name called. All the other gymnasts were on the podium but her and the emcee had to call out the names again!

She was thrilled! 

Guat Girls December: Roxie’s Birthday

The first Saturday in December we celebrated Roxie’s 12th birthday. The girls decorated gingerbread houses and had a blast. Gabi and Alice were missed.

Ally, Roxie and Rosa!