It’s been a week of being out doing various things – dance festivals, getting out for walks, plus the usual after-school activities which started back again this week after the half-term break.
Saturday was a very busy day of being out and about – dropping my husband off to the airport for his flight to LA, going to the coffee morning at church and then driving to my mum’s and back before taking Sophie to her dance festival. I was very grateful that my mum was able to come and stay for the weekend and spend time with Thomas as it was such a busy one with dance festivals for Sophie with two dance festivals over the weekend – the end of Maidenhead festival and the start of Bright Star festival. She did really well at Maidenhead, coming away with medals for all eight of her dances as well as the adjudicator’s choice trophy for most promising dancer. She also danced beautifully as part of a senior tap group, dancing the same steps as girls who are at least four years older than she is. It was also lovely to see her with her dance friends from other schools. I love how supportive they all are of each other, even when competing against each other in the same sections.
Sophie also danced beautifully at Bright Star festival, coming away with three medals last Sunday – first places for tap solo (which was a new dance for her at this festival) and musical theatre duet and a second place for her character solo. It’s been quite a big week for her dance-wise – as well as the two festivals, she also had her first pointe class this week.
With the children back at school this week, I’ve enjoyed getting out for a couple of walks – one with my walking group, and the other with a group of bereaved parents. It’s such a lovely supportive group and it’s so nice to be able to talk about our children without any awkwardness and to be with other people who understand. I also had some nice quiet time with Jessica when my mum and I visited her before my mum went home on Monday.
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 304 – I am grateful that Sophie enjoyed going trick or treating with her friends.
- Day 305 – I am grateful for an absolutely amazing start to the festival year for Sophie, placing in all eight of her dances at Maidenhead Festival and winning the adjudicator’s choice trophy for most promising dancer. She also danced for the first time with the senior tap group, holding her own dancing with older girls in a beautiful dance that placed 2nd. So proud of how hard she has worked and how beautifully she has danced this week.
- Day 306 – I am grateful for a 1st place medal for Sophie’s new tap solo which she danced for the first time today.
- Day 307 – I am grateful for some quiet moments with Jessica.
- Day 308 – I am grateful for taking some time out to enjoy a lovely long walk.
- Day 309 – I am grateful for time to sew on ribbons and elastics on Sophie’s new pointe shoes ready for her first pointe class this evening.
- Day 310 – I am grateful for all the lovely autumn colours on this morning’s walk.
Joining in with Raisie Bay for Word of the Week.
How lovely to have your mum come and stay while your husband was away. It sounds like such a busy time, especially for Sophie! Well done to her with the trophy, you must be so proud.
The walks sound lovely and the people too. x
Congratulations to Sophie, she is doing amazingly well with her dancing. It looks like she really enjoys it.
How lovely that your mum came to stay. I hope she’s feeling better now.
It’s good that there is a walking group for other bereaved parents; it must be so helpful to talk to others who understand exactly how you are feeling.
I hope you are having a lovely weekend x
Amazing results for Sophie in the dance festivals. Hope the first pointe class went well too, and not too much in the way of wrecked feet so far! Nice to have some where to go and experience with others who’ ve been through similar to you with a child bereavement
That’s nice your Mum could come and stay. Big congratulations to Sophie on her medal haul! I imagine getting some peaceful time with Jessica was a lovely thing too.
It’s so lovely that you have your mum to help out. Mine was around when my older kids were young too and she was such a help. sadly she died when Boo was only one and she never got to meet the Little Man. Sophie has such amazing talent, If I’m around long enough I might even get to see her professionally as I love to watch dancing. Next year I’m already booked in for two ballets, Don Quixote (which my friends son is appearing in) and The Red Shoes. I really love it.
Wow what a week for Sophie, she must really love her dancing with all the competitions she enters. Does she get to dance and sing in the pants?
She does love her dancing and yes, will be getting to dance and sing in the panto too.