Slide Show Sunday: New Year's Eve 2010

A few years ago we spent New Year's Eve in New York with my parents. We went into NYC to take the ballerinas to the American Girl doll store. It was heaven on earth for them. For the adults, it was an overcrowded nightmare. But BSD and the Big Ballerina probably had the most fun stopping at every hot dog vendor they happened upon. I think the final count was five "street dogs" before the day was done.

New York City is my parents' stomping grounds. It's where they both basically grew up, met and worked their entire lives. For many years, my dad worked for the Associated Press in Rockefeller Center so that day we stopped inside to warm up. My dad tried to take the Big Ballerina ice skating, but the line was way too long. I think back on that day often. I so wish he would have been able to take her. I know it would have been a lifelong memory for her. Unfortunately all the ballerinas remember of that moment was when Grandma spilled coffee on BSD.

This year I decided to make that memory for the ballerinas. Unfortunately, it was without Papa. Without Grandma. And without Rockefeller Plaza. But it was close.

There was snow.

There were crowds. 

There was ice skating.

And best of all. There was love.

Hopefully, we'll get back to New York City one year and do the real Rockefeller Plaza skating for Papa. But for now. This felt good.

Later that evening, at our house, we carried on with the festivities. I think the Big Ballerina had the most fun. She partied like a rock star.

The Little Ballerina did her share of partying too.

There may have even been some table dancing,

a teeny bit of champagne,

a bunch of kissing,

and some careful countdown monitoring.

And finally, the stroke of midnight arrived.

 And we were all awake. And together.

And hell bent on making sure the whole neighborhood knew it!

Slide Show Sunday: Christmas 2010

Christmas morning arrived early this year. Neither the sun nor I were even awake yet. But the ballerinas were. And so the madness ensued. At 6:10am. I think the last gift was finally ripped into by 8:07am.

Santa brought the Big Ballerina a motor scooter. Just like she asked. The Little Ballerina was majorly surprised to find that Santa brought her a Barbie Vacation Jet. I think it was much more exciting than the iPod Touch she asked for. But didn't receive. Amazingly, there wasn't a kayak in sight. A pink tackle box and a couple of casting nets? Yes. A kayak? Not so much. Phew! I don't think our living room could have handled it.

The rest of the day was mellow and lazy. I'm not sure if I ever changed out of my pj's. Friends came and went. Ballerinas pinged and popped from toy to toy. College girls tutored me on the very basics of using my new Smartphone. But I still have no idea how it works. I'll be lucky if I can make a phone call with it by the new year.

We made a spiral ham for dinner. We've never done ham before. It's always been either a Christmas goose or turkey. But without my parents to share it with, it just didn't seem right. Plus, BSD and I were both too lazy to attempt such a big meal on top of all the Christmas chaos. So we opened a bottle from my dad's wine collection and ate ham. And it was all good. I think a new tradition has been born.

A two hour Skype call with my mom and sister in Connecticut finished off the evening. And even though it wasn't the same as having everyone together, it made their absence much less painful.

Sunday Slide Show: Indoor Natural Light

Today was my Portrait class. I mentioned earlier that the assignment was to shoot using indoor natural light. I also mentioned that I had become obsessed with looking for light. Luckily, my friend, Nicole who is taking the class with me also became obsessed. So together the two of us drove our families, friends and neighbors nuts. Not to mention ourselves.

Even though we never found the location of our dreams, I think we both came away with some good new knowledge. All self-inflicted, through fumbles and foils. Due to a deep-seated need to follow the rules to a tee.

I am beginning to see where the big ballerina gets her safety patrol instincts from. There were classmates (not ME or Nicole, of course) who did NOT follow the rules. And, boy were there kicks under the table and disapproving glances passed between the two of us this afternoon. Yep, I think Nicole and I were definitely high-ranking safety patrol officers back in the day.

Were my pictures perfect? Hell, no.

Did I follow the rules? You betcha.

Integrity, baby. Integrity.

Critique: "Light too harsh."

Critique: "Much better. Light patterns on the wall make the pictures interesting." 

 (BSD in his shaping room)

Critique:

Me: I really feel like these captured the assignment the best. Definitely portraits and the location helps tell a story. 

Teacher: Yes. Good use of light. You can tell he's in an industrial place. Power cords. Tools. And that thing in the middle.

Teacher is definitely not a surfer.

Slide Show Sunday: Halloween

Yes, I know it's Monday. Sunday was just too busy to get some blog lovin' from me. Halloween is a big day around these parts. Not only is it one of our favoritest holidays, it also happens to be my birthday.

And, since I am so loved, our whole neighborhood throws me a giant party. Complete with a Tiki Bar, dogs and burgers on the grill, and all night merry-making. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of the special bar they built in my honor. Or the giant crowd in attendance. Or the jello shooters.

But I have an excuse. You see, my costume had a very key accessory. A heavy accessory that had to be worn around my neck. The same neck that would have had a heavy camera around it. And since I don't have two necks. And I didn't want people to think I was just some skanky mom in a rubber jumpsuit. I had to forgo the camera in place of the binoculars.

Next year I will be a little more careful to choose a costume that does not require binoculars. Or any other heavy object to be worn around my neck. That may interfere with the documentation of my huge birthday bash.

Slide Show Sunday: Portraits

I'm currently taking a portrait class. The first assignment was to do a session using outdoor natural light. On Friday before the Sunday class, I finally got the ballerinas to agree to going out for a "photo shoot."

They were willing to dress up for the session. 

We found a cool old turquoise phone at a yard sale to bring along.

 

The lighting was going to be perfect for a whole hour. 

 

I was going to knock this assignment out of the park.

No more than 15 minutes into the shoot, the Little Ballerina tried to climb a jagged tree stump. Her skirt got caught. She wailed. She screamed. And by the time I got to her, she had a gash down her leg a good two feet long. For real. It was big. It was bad. It was bleeding. Needless to say, she was done. 

Photo Shoot Take 2: Saturday afternoon

The Little Ballerina wanted nothing to do with trying again. She wanted to stay home. She is six. Umm...that would be a no-go. Luckily, the Big Ballerina was willing to help me out. She put on another outfit and walked over to the dunes behind our house with me. 

She was patient.

She was a ham.

And she was serious.

She let me blind her in the sunlight.

She tried to figure out how to dial a rotary phone.

And she danced in the setting sun.

When we were done, I was pleased with the portraits. I felt they captured the ballerinas' spirits. I played around with sun flare. Something I've wanted to try. 

Did I knock the assignment out of the park? Not. even. close. I had a good share of criticism from the teacher. Hopefully, I'll remember it all the next time.

Slide Show Sunday: Fall

NOTE: It's weird because this collage is a 4 picture x 4 picture grid. It shows up that way on my desktop, but on my laptop it's only 3x3. If you click on the collage, you can see it properly.

Up went the Halloween trimmings.

Down came a bunch of chard still growing in the garden.

Out came the big red pot.

Off to the pumpkin patch we went.

On went the hoodies. 

In we welcomed Fall.

Slide Show Sunday: Bake Sale

Just one more ballerina post and I'll shut up. It seems like we're consumed with all things ballet right now though. 

The big ballerina's studio is expanding. Very exciting. With a $135 donation, you can purchase a three foot barre section for the new full stage-sized studio they are building. Big deal, right? It is to the Big Ballerina and her buddies. Because underneath that section of barre they will post a plaque bearing THEIR names on it.

So today the ballerinas held a bake sale. Dressed in full ballet attire. Buns and all. 

(although the heat and humidity was too much for BB's curls to handle.)

 We baked. We posted signs.

We sold lemonade. And the girls hawked their wares...

Until there wasn't a single cupcake left.

Counting the money every 5 minutes was a coveted job.

And two hours later....

Goal Met!