Yikes, this month has been hella crazy. I have been running on steam to get through the mountains of monogramming orders, Nutcracker costume sewing, Nutcracker practices, dress rehearsals and performances aaaaand caring for my three kids and house and husband. I sure hope I have not failed some one in the process! Every year I remind myself I will get through this alive, but every year it seems I feel like I might spontaneously combust or evaporate. Don't get me wrong, I love all of the above it is just that they diabolically converge in the month of December. I am just now finding a space to breathe and, well, hopefully clean my house, and I look back on the past few weeks and cannot believe all that has transpired. The Nutcracker was everything I had hoped it would be and more. I am so very proud of Colleen Cannon Benoit and everyone else on the committee that has made The Nutcracker a reality once again in Lake Charles! It is something near and dear to my heart as I took from Cissie Clarke Ballet and participated in The Nutcracker as a snowflake and flower my senior year (So happy I made that hard choice since that was my last chance before leaving for LSU). I had never been able to be in it as a young child because it was only done once every four years and once we went on vacation during the holiday break and the next time I was not able because I chose to do cheerleading instead of Ballet :( I always missed that and watching Madeline fall in love with the whole process was so fulfilling. The girl does NOT wear down. She practiced every single weekend since September Saturday and Sunday for up to 5 hours at a time and loved every second of it. She was double cast as a parlor party girl and a Dreamweaver. I put in my time as a volunteer seamstress and backstage mom. I met some amazing mamas that I am so glad to get to know! Yes, I am happy things are winding down, but I do admit I miss the theatre and The Nutcracker music...Now I hope to plow through these remaining orders and have FUN with my family and yes, finally clean this house!
Ana-Claire, Callie, Mary Claire and Madeline, parlor scene
Madeline before her last performance :)
Madeline and her Nutcracker "sisters" from parlor scene
Madeline and a very proud MiMi
Nutcracker cast 2013
The fam
Madeline the Dreamweaver
