LMP

Tonight we saw The Nutcracker for the first time. Lily was so excited to see Golda. When Golda finally came on stage Lily was clapping and yelling "There's Golda! I see Golda". She then proceeded to move her arms just like Golda's. I think there is something ever so special about Golda that just drew Lily to her. I know she only spent less than eight hours with her, but Lily thinks of her and speaks of her often. Please let Golda know that she touched a little five year old heart in such a way. I hope Golda is able to fit her ballet classes in next summer for her little dancers, Lily is looking forward to them. ---A message from Lily's mom, Cricket Harvey-Longaker. Lily did one of my dance workshops. She is SO sweet and adorable. **I published this in 2019, so I had to guess on the year.

Nutcracker is over and I'm sad! It was so much fun and I made great memories. I fell on the last night during the Maid dance which was a bummer. My tray flew off my hand when I fell even with the strap on the bottom. I just pretended it was on purpose and made some hand gestures like I gasped and then walked off. Luckily it was at the end of the dance. I still had Waltz and finale and I wasn't going to let one fall make me sad or not do my best the rest of the time. Strangely afterwords I felt really calm and didn't really care until after party scene. It was kind of funny and I didn't hurt myself. The weird thing was that right before the performance I felt like I was going to trip or fall....and I did. Hahaha, well I'm just the really clumsy maid now :)  Maddie is a pro photo bomber. I just wish she'd bombed one of the bad pictures instead!  My favors for the Waltz gals  Emma being me...haha she'd be a great Maid! :) Love her  Cutie...

I can't believe it's here already! This week has flown by in a swirl of homework, makeup, leotards and laughing. Being two parts this year was incredibly fun, especially since I finally got to be in party scene! And with Freestone no less! He's an adorable party boy and being onstage with him is a blast. Ruby and Ari not being in it did put a damper on things but they were so gracious and there's always next year. My friends are seriously the most nice girls I know. They are always classy, caring and righteous. I am so thankful for them. We had a Nutcracker kick off lunch at my house yesterday and they each said thanks about ten times. I love being around them! Opening night was very good, except for my mess up in Waltz. We do a repeated combination in a snaking fashion across the stage and I have to turn the corner on a hard step. This time I was so ready but then we traveled faster and I had to turn the corner on arabesque which I was too early for. Oh well. I helpe...

I brought pointe shoes to represent my holy place:  the dance studio and onstage.  Dance has always been a part of my life and I'm so grateful for it.  I'm thankful that it gives me something to share a love for with my mom and sisters and now my little brothers.  This year Freestone is in the Nutcracker and it's been so fun to be in the party scene with him. I tried to calculate how many times I've been to the studio and I come up with somewhere around four thousand times.  It's my home away from home.  It's where I've met some of my best friends, where I've accomplished goals, where I've developed talents, gained confidence, learned how to push myself and found something I'm passionate about.  I love dance because it can convey something words and pictures can't. We come to this earth to gain bodies and our bodies are truly amazing.  I feel more connected and thankful for my body through dance.  I also feel more uplifted by feeling lik...