RAD (as in Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams, not the term from the 80's)

Last year Mikayla took ballet exams for the first time.

I was impressed with how much she learned and what a great boost of confidence it was.

This year, we required that all our girls take the RAD ballet exams.

The week before the exam, our studio set up a time for the parents to come in and watch the girls do all their exam work.

First, here are the photos from that day:

{yes, I got to watch all three girls' classes on one day...3 hours...proud Mommy!}

Mailee is a beautiful dancer!

She took her grade 4 exam.

Graceful girl!

Sisters looking on.

Mailee was most hesitant to agree to taking exams. 

I was so proud of the hard work she put in. It really paid off!

Bar work.

Character dancing!

Gotta love those character skirts!!

Mailee with her friends from ballet and their lovely ballet teacher, Miss Emma.

{Emma is Mikayla and Maddie's ballet teacher as well}

{JSYK...we <3 emma="" miss="" p="">

Mikayla took her Interfound exam.

She's worked so hard this year, I love watching her!

Lots of smiles this year, I can tell she's enjoying every second.

The Interfound girls:)

At the bar.

Mikayla is in the middle

They do part of the exam on Pointe.

Awe!

Beautiful dancer girl!

Maddie's class did not take the grade 2 exam, but they did "class award" which is like a mock exam.

So proud of my littlest ballerina:)

I made some new numbers for the girls at our studio to wear for the exam.

Everyone was pretty excited after working hard for months to be ready...

Mailee was up first on exam day!

Getting ready to go in!

Pep talk from the teacher...

Mikayla {giving me a silly face because I pulled my camera out} pins a number on Abbi.

You know that nervous feeling...

ready to go in...

Happy to be finished!

Topping off the day with new team jackets!!!!

The next day we were back at the studio for ballerina #3.

More loving encouragement from Miss Emma...

I really appreciate the disciplined element that exams have brought to dance in our home.

I also love seeing the girls encourage each other and share in a common goal!

If your daughters are dancing, find out if your studio offers the RAD program, it is well worth the extra commitment!

Christmas Eve and the Worshipping Sheep

Through Creator's, Mikayla got the opportunity to be a part of the Christmas Eve services at Trinity Church.  She had a fantastic time being a part of a big production.  They had 6 services in all along with many rehearsals.  She has had quite a few opportunities to dance outside the studio this year and she loves it! This one was great practice in front of a HUGE crowd:) Here are a few of the church's photographs...( couldn't resist posting these because they are great quality and I have been resorting to iphone pics so much these days!)

They were sheep and the song was "it's a baby" to the tune of "call me maybe".

SO cute.

Insta-Friday Homeschool Edition

The first three weeks of school are coming to a close.

I am taking a deep breath.

It was all about...

Wednesday tea and treats 

cute and very distracting little girls

breakfast, lunch, dinner, repeat

Waldo finding

Mommy decompressing

Family bio contest winning

{at the homeschool picnic}

Cute nephew visits

moody three year old moments

favourite dress wearing

fun times with JD

{our visitor for 3 weeks from Ohio}

desperate attempts to cling to a schedule

crazy frantic teacher-mommy

{followed by realizations that I'm a little bit high-strung and need to tone it down a bit}

Baby finding opportunities to get into things while I am teaching

Baby being cute

kid photoshoot

laundry pile-ups

ballet dancing babies

creative play dough playing at snack time

{yuck}

Friends over for an afternoon

spending gobs of time and cash at the dance store

moving to the next level in dance.

{making the time and effort and cash all worth it}