Skylin's First Dance Audition

Skylin had her first dance auditions this weekend!  Skylin tried out for the summer intensives for American Ballet Theater (ABT) and Ballet Austin.   While it was just an audition, it was a chance for her to see how she stacks up against some of the best ballet dancers in the area.  For ABT, Skylin was one of 82 girls trying out in the 11-13 year old division.  For Ballet Austin, Skylin was one of 38 girls in the 11-14 year old division.  Her chances of making one of these is very low.  She is at the low end of the  age group and they only take about 9% of the girls that try out (about the odds of getting in to an Ivy League school).  She will find out in about 2 weeks.  

Regardless of the outcome, it was a great experience that will help prepare her for the future.

Here is Skylin before ABT audition.

She was #111.

Here are the girls stretching before the audition.

We had to turn in 2 pictures.  One of her doing an arabesque and a head shot.

One of her head shots.

Another head shot.

Dancers in the audition room.

They did auditions at the Ballet Academy of Texas.

This was a board of all the summer intensives.

ABT Summer Intensive.

First Annual Gingerbread House Competition

This year we decided to have a contest as to which group could make the best gingerbread house.  There were only a few rules.  First, everything had to be edible.  Second, you could only use food and materials that were already in the house.  Third, each team had only 2 hours. 

After the houses were completed they went up on Facebook for people to vote for their favorite. 

This was Brittany and Skylin's house.  Yes, I know it looks like it came straight from Pinterest. 

This was the house Reese and I decorated.

This was Noelle and Triniti's house.  

This was Shawn Jr., Abby and Josh’s house.

Here are all 4 of them on the counter.

This was the Facebook post.

As you might have guessed, Brittany and Skylin dominated.  They got 71 likes.  The next highest had something like 10.

Helms Family Christmas 2018

Below are some pictures from Christmas this year.