On Pointe

At last, the big day came.

She's so small we couldn't find a place to fit her anywhere nearby, so it meant a drive on Saturday. There were a few very small sizes in stock, but we nearly had to special order even smaller. XX would rather have had ill-fitting shoes than wait, however. Luckly, the very patient fitter finally dug up a pair that worked.

Brava!

 

Tag Sale!

We decided, rather last minute, to hold a tag sale. It wasn't as big as last year's, when we had loads of clutter to get rid of, but there was still a good amount of  loot for junk collectors treasurehunters.

XX helped with everything from pricing to setting up to putting up signs.

She wanted to sell something and have her own table. Rather than the usual lemonade and cookies, she settled on self-contained aquatic ecosystems with freshwater snails, algae and plants. Higher profit margin and she really wanted to make some money.

She worked hard to make her tiny biospheres, wrote up a "care" sheet and why these "pets" would need no maintenance. The explanation included information on the life cycles and the balance of the system. The price was $10, perhaps a little high for a child's tag sale table, but she wanted to try, at least on the first day. The jars cost a dollar each, so she figured she could clear $90 if she sold out. She made signs and hung them on her table, and waited.

As soon as a car would pull up, she would will them to open the door and step out. (A good many people looked at what we had, or perhaps, did not have, and pulled out again.) If they stopped, she greeted them and gauged whether or not she thought they might be interested. If they were, she went in for the kill.

XX is a fantastic salesperson. She sold out and cleared another $30 because people were so impressed they gave her money without purchasing anything. (When asked what she would do with the money, she said she was using it to help pay for her schooling at the Conservatory.)

She also made another ten or so because she worked so hard. Besides working her table, she helped with the sale in general, tallying up prices, cutting deals and wrapping up purchases. And all with a very cheery smile and a lot of happy chatter.

Galaxy came out to sit most of the day. She also waited eagerly for cars, and woe to anyone who even looked her way. They received many kisses and heavy tail-whipping.

We did have a few slow periods, but not too many. XX paced, Galaxy did not. (Red is not as hospitable as the girls so he had to stay inside.)

We had fun, made some cash, and at the end of the day, celebrated with fruit freezes. Even the dogs got to share in the treats.

We all had so much fun that XX is already talking about the next sale!

The Last

We've finally come to the end of the school year, and with it, the end of the performing obligations.

XX had an audition and performance this past weekend. She takes it all in stride now. It was great to see a friend at the audition and the two girls chatted and laughed until it was time to go in.

The performance was a benefit for a student-run clinic for the homeless. It's a cause near and dear to XX's heart, so she was thrilled to be asked.

She played well, received a standing ovation, an immediate request to come back and play next year, and best of all, an invitation to visit the clinic and see the work she's helped support.

Good stuff all around.

Family Day!

May 27 was number ten, in fact. It's gone by so quickly.

It's always a simple day, just the three of us.

XX asks for little, but this year, she wanted a tail.

She was thrilled.

And it was time for a new bike! A big girl's bike with gears and hand brakes. It's a little large, but she negotiates getting on and off perfectly. Now going up the hills is even more fun!

She still, alarmingly, often rides while looking all over except the direction she's pedaling.

We had ice cream. Ice cream so big she brought 3/4 of it home and has enjoyed it several more times. So far!

 

It was so much fun we made a weekend of it. 

We had lunch on the river where it was so loud, XX put in earplugs. 

 And we went to the county fair!

There were ... 

... camel rides ...

 

... a baby camel ...

 

... and duck races. Daddy got to help race a duck and he whispered plenty of encouragement to it. 

There were pig races! Daddy volunteered again and was a somewhat official "Pig Race Official." He was quite proud of his part in opening and closing the gates and loved his ribbon.

XX loved this little piggy who had fun flying over his hurdle. She had her picture taken with him later and is hoping to get a pig for Christmas. (I think she will be waiting a long time on this one.)
 

 

It was a great weekend, a perfect toast to ten amazing years and many more to come. We are so, so lucky to be parents to this girl. As my father always said, she could not have been more our child had we borne her ourselves. We thank China for entrusting her to us, we raise our glasses to her birth family so far away, and we hope they can feel in their hearts that she is well and loved.

Moving On

XX had to say good-bye to quite a few special people this May.

There was Miss Juli, the Donor Relations Specialist at the adoption/foster agency that XX supports by making toys for finalized adoptions. XX was privileged to play her violin at the retirement luncheon and also got up to speak about how special Juli was and how happy she (XX) was to work with her.

 

There was Miss Elizabeth, XX's accompanist at school. XX had so much fun working with Elizabeth who helped her "rock her jury" (they actually have stickers for this and XX was pleased to get one after she played) as well as accompany her for division recitals. We're sad, but so excited that Elizabeth was accepted to Indiana University to work on her doctorate.

Lastly, there was Miss Joanie, the head of Conservatory's pre-college program. Joanie has been XX's champion and seems to have understood her from the first audition. She never failed to ask about Steggie, and watched XX's progress this year with interest. We will miss her greatly.

 

Until we meet again ...

Conservatory

I had no idea, though perhaps I should have, that there were final exams for Conservatory.  I'd thought XX was done with this a week ago but no, she had to come in for finals in Musicianship (Theory) and Performance.

As if the word "exam" isn't enough, they add the word "jury" onto it. The performance test is a jury exam where you play two pieces in front of about five adjudicators. You generally choose pieces you play well, because you get a grade on this.

Unless you're XX.

She reluctantly chose the Haydn, which she's done many times in past few months. She's never had the opportunity to become so familiar with a piece before and it's becoming richer and more interesting each time she plays it. A good, solid choice.

But for the second piece, she wanted to play something new. As in, she only picked it up about two weeks ago.

I admit, I doubted her choice. But she worked hard and didn't seem to be nervous at all. And there was so much fun to be had rehearsing with her accompanist.



She takes everything in stride, so though she told me her "up-bow staccato" was a little messy in her jury, she was able to let it go and say, "But I did my best." Wish I'd learned that lesson so early.

On top of all this stress, she had a competition. I don't remember having anything near this amount of pressure on me when I was ten.

There was a moment of panic when she was asked for her music and hadn't brought it. She was told, in that case, she could play and get some general notes, but she could not compete.

That wouldn't do for XX, but luckily for her, her teacher was able to make some copies. The order of contestants was switched slightly so XX could go last and just in the nick of time, her teacher came running in with the copies.

And XX was honored to win 3rd Place that came along with a big medal. The other winners were older and really extremely, frighteningly good. So XX felt she was in good company.

So, kudos to her for finishing out the year with a bang (and a medal).

A Different Part

XX didn't think this was any big deal "I'm just playing a different part from my friends, Mama." But it seemed to me that this sort of opportunity comes rarely if ever, so I took the good video camera and set it up with the tripod, high in the back of the auditorium.

However, the audiences for Youth Symphony are not like the audiences for, say, the LA Phil. People come and go, walk back and forth ... and so someone (with poofy hair) came and stood in front of the camera just during XX's solo. And he stood not in front of all of the shot, just in front of XX.

So what I have is a very shaky version off my cell phone because I decided to try to get more of a close-up as well. But people walked and stood in front again, so I kept moving around to keep XX in the shot. Rei, XX's coach, also took some video, but didn't want to bother people behind her, so covered the phone so the light wouldn't shine. As a result, her video also moves around since she wasn't watching it, and XX goes in and out of frame.

Three cameras, not one good video. But great memories.

(Besides being shaky, etc., it's long and unedited, so watch at your own peril.)



Two very sweet moments were when XX saw her friend in the front row and waved, and at the end, when her friend ran up to give her a bouquet and a hug. The audience loved it.



Her name was on the gorgeous tickets as a special performer and she had a page in the program with her picture and bio. Her photo did not, however, show her with her violin. She declined that and said she wanted Steggie, her stuffed dinosaur, to be in with her. She put on her dino T-shirt, held Steggie up high and that was that. A week before the performance, she thought about it: "I wonder if I should have had my violin? Is it too late?" But the dino pic was pure XX.

I was proud to hear from many other mothers, that XX had not ever acted as if she were anything different than one of the group. "Just another part, Mama." She said it, she believed it, she acted it. But she didn't play it. She became the soloist for those few moments.

XX was both relieved and critical. Her first words were, "I wish I could do it again. I'd fix some stuff." Mostly she was sad that it was the last time until next year she would see so many friends. She was lucky to be part of a solid group of kids who were so supportive of each other. It has turned out to be a great experience for her, especially going in never having played in a group before. Her friends were helpful and patient.

What a lucky girl!

It was over too soon; I know she'll be looking forward to seeing her friends again next year.

Performances in April

Lots of performing this month.

There was the school/retirement home tour with the Youth Symphony. Five performances in one day, four before lunch.

XX loved riding on the bus with her friends. Best of all, she didn't have to be clipped down into her five-point booster!

Their conductor chose some vigorous pieces so they all put in a lot of energy. There was also a short talk, then question-and-answer session. I'm not sure XX enjoyed all the attention when at one place, all the questions were directed at or about her (as the little one in the group).

 

Once home, XX sat on the couch only a few minutes before collapsing, to Red's dismay. He was hoping for some play time after being left alone all day, but his best bud had used up every ounce of energy performing.

Since she spent lots of time practicing, he spent lots of time singing. He still enjoys sitting with XX and stretching his vocal chords.

Even in a full month, there is always time for discovery though. XX's sharp eyes found a hummingbird's nest with two small babies!

There is time for hanging out with Galaxy.

We had a treat when Brad came to visit for a few days.

All of us are happier when he is around. He got to come see XX's Youth Symphony rehearsal and John's first performance with the chorus he's joined. John had such a good time and did a great job. He even had a solo line that started off one song.

She performed at Conservatory with her quartet and will repeat the performance in May. It's a speedy piece that is lots of fun. 

XX worried that Butter, her violin, was sounding sick, so we took him in to the violin maker's one afternoon. A few taps and waves of a wand (or so it seemed) and Butter was well again. Yuriy also wanted to see what XX looked like on a 3/4 size violin (she is still on a half size). He comes to see all her performances and is frustrated by the lack of volume in a small instrument. XX looks like she's on a viola; I'm saved from having to buy another violin for a while!

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 She performed in a local recital, but there was no accompanist available, so she used her coach and a friend to accompany her. A little practice, a lot of fun.

She had Smarter Balanced testing. Grueling for homeschoolers who have to do it all in a day or two because it's hard to get them all together. But it's over and she was happy to get her sticker!

And finally, she performed at Conservatory. Unlike last time, she had a nearly flawless performance. She was more confident and played well. There was also the performance with chorus later that day. Her confidence there has grown and she said she's learned to enjoy the singing a lot. Singing real chorale pieces in Latin was tough at first, but the kids have all developed as singers and performers and they looked like they were having fun. 

And so did we.

Easter

It's always fun to get ready for Easter.

 

 

The day itself was fairly laid-back. It was nice to have a simple holiday at this time of year.

 

 First, XX played at our neighbors' church.

(She is wearing a dress I made her years ago, five to be exact. Proof she is growing up, but maybe not out.)

  
Then we met the family for lunch at a Thai restaurant. No photos because we were all too busy talking and eating. No one had to plan, clean or cook. Might have to become a tradition!

Last, but not least, chalk drawing and later, egg delivery around the neighborhood.

 

So definitely a Happy Easter!

Spring

When occasional high winds bring down big sticks (that must be carried home).

When occasional rain means walking in sloshy gutters.

When Spring Break means there might be a movie night, everyone piled in the dog bed. 

When Spring Break means it's time for Spring Camp!

XX really made me sad when she came home the penultimate day and said she was NOT performing in the dance number because it was too hard and she looked bad in it. She was lucky enough to learn some hip hop, and while she loved it, the technique is fairly opposite to her ballet training. There was a meltdown at camp, a call to me, and she was given the choice to perform or not, but no theatrics (even though this was acting camp!).

So on the day of the showcase, I braced myself to see her sit out one portion of the performance when what did I see? My daughter bravely up in the middle of things, trying her very hardest. I don't think I have ever been more proud, and yes, I cried seeing her up there smiling away. She was clearly uncomfortable, but doing her utmost. What could be better?

As usual, I loved her art projects. Hers always stick out, the one pufferfish in a sea of fish, and the one hat that didn't look like a hat. She always laments because she takes so long, doesn't finish, thinks she has weird ideas. Aren't those the very best?