Coming Soon To A Stage Near You!

THE NUTCRACKER!

starring Sadie Weston

Sadie has been very busy this fall.  Her dance studio is performing the nutcracker this Christmas season.  It is not just any nutcracker ballet.  This is the nutcracker Alive Danceworks style and it is going to be fun!  There is not just the infamous sugar plum fairy ballet and the Waltz Flower ballets but there is going to be lots of hip hop and jazz dancing in it as well.

Sadie is dancing the Russian dance, the Mirlinton, and is a lead for the Waltz Flower Ballet.

A rehearsal clip for the lead in the Waltz Flowers Ballet.  These video clips were taken right after she had learned her part so they are rough but gives a snippet of what to look forward to at the real show.

These are a few pictures taken before a dress rehearsal of her Mirlinton dance.  

As you can see it is not a typical nutcracker ballet type of costume!

 2 weeks till show time and we can't wait!

Movember

Oh Movember!  The month that every girl dreads . . . when the boys have an excuse to grow facial hair.  Carson had a pretty good beard going by the end of the month.  He kept it trimmed nicely and actually looked pretty good in it.  He was pretty proud of his hair until basketball season was ready to begin and realized how itchy it was when he was sweating.  And so  . . . off it came.

Speaking of facial hair check out my brother-in-laws handle bars.  

Hey Jeff, your facial hair isn't really that dark is it????

Cousin vs Cousin

JJ - my little baller!

And when I say little I mean little!  Look at how tiny he is compared to the boys he plays with.

He doesn't let his size get him down.  He just tells himself that he has to be quicker than the big guys.

The day final came when Jordan and his best buddy (and cousin) got to face each other on the court!  They were so excited to play against each other!

To make the game even more fun it was brother-in-law versus brother-in-law in the coaching boxes.  They had fun telling each other to sit down and the assistant coaches weren't sure what to think as they didn't know they were brother-in-laws.

Cody getting warmed up!

 Game Time!

Jordan and Cody were not too worried because they knew they wouldn't have to guard each other on the court.  Of course Jordan would guard the smaller guards and Cody would be guarding the taller players . . .

 . . . until Jordan finds himself playing help defence against Cody who is 7 inches taller than JJ.  Jordan was all grins when he saw Cody coming at him and I think Cody was laughing too! It was really cute to watch them.  

 Looks like Jordan grew a few inches during the game!   (He wishes!)

Maybe one day these two can play on the same team and be teammates!  I was teasing Jordan the night before this game because he was having Cody sleep over at our house.  I asked him why he wanted to sleep with the enemy.  He said "Mom, Cody will always be my best bud and even if he is on the other team and scores I will cheer for him and if I am on the court I might even high five him.  That would be fun wouldn't it?"

EMHS and Playoff Weekend

So Ernest Manning High School had a busy weekend of play offs!  Their Football team was in the City Final game and so Jordan and Grant went to cheer them on in the cold.  

Then all four volleyball teams were in the city finals!  

Carson has always wanted to see his name in lights so here he is.  How do you like his listed height?

 It is the month of November and you know what happens in November besides volleyball play offs?  Boys grow beards and moustaches.  Carson was pretty proud of his facial hair this month.  He couldn't stop touching his face during his games.

Just before starting warm up in the city final game I caught him telling his coach how they were going to win even if they didn't play well because the other team was going to be so intimidated by his facial hair flowing in the wind when he jumps to set the ball!   Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

 A little jump serving action during warm up.

 And our mascot getting ready for the big game.

And its game time!  Coach Larson giving Carson encouragement as he heads on to the court for his last game of the season.  "Make it count Carson, you are the quarter back of this team."

Action!

Reaction . . . after an amazing 51 set and Sean pounds it down!

 Coach Larson as the boys win another rally.
One more point to go to win the City Championship!

One more rally and . . . .

They won!!!

 Carson receiving his gold metal!

Three of the four Ernest Manning Volleyball teams city championships that weekend.

A few more banners to put on the gym wall!

Cavaliers in the Playoffs!

Kailey's volleyball team did really well this year!

Kailey was actually told by her doctor and physiotherapist that she needed to take a few months break from her sports because her knees are giving her such problems.  She gave up cross country and basketball training this fall but wouldn't give up volleyball.

 She played setter for the team this year so she didn't have to do as much jumping on her knees (except for blocking).  It was a sad finish to the season when they lost in the semi finals by 2 points after playing all 5 sets.  It was frustrating for Kailey because they had beaten the team before but just couldn't  pull it together on the night that really counted.  Cavalier volleyball is now over for Kailey and it was a sad day for her.