the year she was clara

words cannot express my love for everly, and how proud I am to be her mama everyday.

and then you find out that her dream goal of becoming clara for her ballet studio's production of the nutcracker and it really all comes full circle.  

this was the year she was clara.

a winter recital [on Zoom]

well, if there is just a perfect way to end 2020, cancel the nutcracker ballet, replace it with a 'winter ball' streamed on Zoom.  sounds about right.

all sarcasm aside, I was so thankful to give everly this chance to perform.  this chance to feel like just one little piece of her life is normal, when really, nothing else is.

school is still online, indefinitely.

she still cannot see any of her friends, unless it is on an ipad screen.

our holiday plans are getting slimmer by the minute.  

and she's still grieving not having her grandma here with us anymore.

so to say I'm feeling hopeful for a new year, that is the understatement of the century.  

music:

"Underneath the Tree" by Kelly Clarkson

 "Happy X-Mas" by John Lennon

just dance!

everly has loved dance since we officially started a year and a half ago.  this kid loves music, thanks to her daddy who plays music whenever there's a chance to do so.  she is currently rocking out to a lot of 80's music, apparently yacht rock is her thing.  and yes, yacht rock is a thing.  and I'm so cool, I heard about it from my principal. anyways...


this weekend we celebrated with family and friends another summer recital.  I'm so proud of her hard work and dedication, not to mention taking something so seriously at age 6.  she is my child.  that cannot be debated.  however, her grace and dance ability, well, that must come from some ballet angel somewhere, because this former softball-playing mom did not give her these moves.  I barely could get the bun/lipstick perfected by show.  but man, persistence pays off.
since everly is too young to manage costume changes on her own, I watch from the sidelines.  thankfully, they sell the dvd of the entire performance so I can get the full idea of the performance.  recital days are always a bit hectic for me, but I think we are getting better with more shows under our belts.  however, I am so thankful for the few shots that the mr. was able to snap in the audience during the show.  the stage lighting is so harsh, but thankfully, the dramatic black and white filter using a color story did the trick!  for those curious, I used 'black lodge' in the b&w pack!

I love this post show smile.  she nailed her dances and felt quite proud, as she should.  she worked hard to memorize her choreography.  she let me know she only peeked twice at her dance teacher in one of her numbers ;)

after recital we took advantage of being done with everything by 11:30 in the morning and had everyone come over for lunch.  we had so many friends and family drive quite the distance to see the recital and getting to enjoy their company afterwards made the day extra special.  

and any time everly can get a little cooper time, she is an extra-happy camper.  

 ^this one is everly's favorite, she loves it because of how cooper is looking at her!^

what a happy day indeed.  two months until the nutcracker season begins!