Bowers Blog: Advent Calendars, Nutcracker, and an SEC WIN!!!

This weekend not only was the start of Advent, it was the annual Nutcracker ballet. Emma was in it for the first time this year as a mouse. Ellie participated in her third year as a toy soldier. It is always a very busy week as they prepare for this, but it is such a great kick off to the holiday season. The dancers work so hard, and it shows onstage. I'm partial to the performance since my best friend from college, Allison Shenton, is the director. I know how hard she works behind the scenes to prepare the dancers and the performance, and the guilt she feels for being away from her boys during this season to put on this 40 year tradition in Valdosta. I'm so proud of her and everything she puts into it. I was also proud of my little mouse and toy soldier. They both didn't miss a beat and did exactly as their teachers asked them onstage.

The Nutcracker has 4 shows all weekend with 2 different casts. Each cast performs in 2 shows. This year, I lucked out, and both girls were in the same cast. Ellie and Emma both performed for the Friday night show and the Saturday matinee. Mia and E.W. came to the Friday performance, and Grandma and Papa came to the Saturday show. I apologize for not having great pictures this year. I deserve a D- on taking pictures, it was really hectic trying to dress and make up 2 girls in the chaos, let alone take tons of really good pictures.

Saturday, Worth headed to Atlanta to watch UGA play Auburn again, but this time it was for the SEC championship. Worth pulled the Dawgs through and we came out with a win! So proud of my Dawgs and the coaches! Georgia is now ranked in the top four and will play Oklahoma on January 1st for the playoffs. GO DAWGS! It's been a long time coming, y'all. Georgia hasn't won an SEC championship in a long time, so it was good to see it happen. I'm also very glad my friend Allison cast my girls so that I could be done with the Nutcracker just in time to watch the game. I don't think that was something she intended, but it worked out well for me.

December 1st (Thursday) was the first day the kids could break into their chocolate Advent calendars. They were so excited! These little calendars come from Hobby Lobby and have become a big tradition in our family. Mack had to wait on his candy though. He had been warned to stay in his bed (he tends to get up 1-2 times per night, then again at 5am just to chat, need water, want breakfast, etc.) He was told if he got up out of his bed that night and came out of his room he would lose his Advent candy that day. Well, he came out of his room twice. The second time announcing it was ok if he didn't get his candy, he just couldn't sleep anymore (at 5:30am.)

My 2 girls getting ready backstage.

Emma's dance teacher applying her whiskers.

Mia and E.W. were there Friday! Grandma and Papa came Saturday. I never got a picture of them, but we were thankful they were all able to come see the girls dance.

Friday night, Ellie was so serious as a soldier. When I reminded her to smile when she was on stage, she informed me that she was a soldier and she was supposed to be serious. Emma was beyond hot in her 20+ year old mouse costume. Alison wants to get new ones, but these were all handmade and it would cost her a fortune to have them all redone.

I got a better picture of them before the Saturday performance.

I was backstage for the Saturday show. I didn't get a good picture of Emma coming out on stage, but the little horse/mouse booty facing you in this picture is her. She was waving some other mice onto the stage.

Emma's entire class waiting for their cue to run and steal presents from under the tree. Emma is leaning slightly forward in the upper right of the picture. (Her costume is almost covering her eyes.) Her class was huge this year. There were 22 mice on stage in her cast. They barely all fit on stage.

Stealing the Christmas gifts.

Ellie is waiting patiently to go on stage. She is the first one in line.

There were 3 soldiers that started the dance off. Ellie is the tallest one. You can see her face slightly forward of the other girls.

They had a lot of very difficult lines to maintain in this intricate dance. I hate to brag, but this group of 3rd graders NAILED it. They all did so good!