Stella's for a Democratic Society: 2013

Monday, December 09, 2013

Last dance class

SDS has been dancing at Cary Dance Productions for a little over three years and tonight was her last hurrah!

Here's a picture from her first dance class in October of 2010:

With Ms. Catherine and Vonnie at the end of season one:

Each of her recitals:

2011 in her ballet outfit

And her buddies from class that year, including Emily, London, Estyn, SDS, and Maggie.

2012 ballet

2012 tap

Maddie and SDS 2012

SDS with Estyn in 2012

2013 in her hip-hop outfit and three-year participation award

2013 ballet

2013 tap

And her ballet class in 2013

And here are some pictures of her last night (tonight), three years later:

Thanks for the memories, CDP!

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Actually, it's the fifth, not the 2014th, year that we've visited the small burg of Meadow, NC, for the Christmas lights and whole-hog (literally) North Carolina buffet at Meadow Restaurant. We've gone all of those years with our good friends and this year was one of the best (barring a few mishaps). If you live in NC and haven't been to Meadow Lights, it isn't the most overwhelmingly awesome light display you've ever seen, but it's nice. It's dinner at Meadow Restaurant beforehand that makes it uniquely...North Carolinian. (I mean that in the best way possible.)

We're lucky to have been introduced to these places and shared this annual event with some wonderful friends, whom we'll miss dearly once we move. So, I'm glad that we could document our last (or maybe not?), great visit to Meadow.

The topper is that SDS sat on Santa's lap for the FIRST TIME EVER this year! We're so proud of her. And, apparently she whispered in his ear what she wants for Christmas -- an American Girl doll. Well, we'll just have to wait to see if Santa's elves come through on Christmas Eve.

This is the cake table. I've written about this table before, but it deserves to be raved about repeatedly. There are other tables that include things like fish, shrimp, barbecue, fried chicken, salisbury steak, and hushpuppies and other vegetables (har har), but the cake table...it's an entire table dedicated to cake.