Proud mama gets to brag

Miss Lily handed out the RAD exam results to the Grade 3 class tonight.

Jess scored 80 out of 100, so a pass with Distinction.

It is ten sections scored out of 10. She was a bit disappointed with the marks for character dance as she thought she'd done that ok. Sautes were her highest mark for the third year in a row.

Not as good as Grade 2 mark last year (93), but she had lots of extra practice with an older Grade 5 girl last year. This year she didn't do the extra practice, had the distraction of a full on cheer competition straight after the exam plus she freaked herself out about the exam while waiting to go in.

So all that taken into account, 80 is a very good mark.

Now onto the BAL exam in two weeks...

Tuesday update

The end is in sight! And I mean that literally: the end of the fabric is in sight.

Penguins on Ice #20 is done, only 2 of the little critters to go.

Wish me stitching vibes so that I get them done by the end of August. I need Sep/ Oct to stitch diligently on Bears on Balloons so it can be framed for the mid-Nov birthday deadline.

I always seem to have stitchy down time after I finish something. Does anyone else have that problem? Or are you so excited at being able to start something else that the issue never arises?

Tamsin got her certificate for doing her RAD Pre-Primary "exam" today. That means that Jess will get her marks for RAD Grade 3 at class tomorrow. Proud mama promises to post the result.

BAL exam is Sunday Aug 25 and then that's ballet done for the year. Jess wants to drop ballet, and reduce down to just gymnastics from now on. Fees-wise I can cope with this decision. I'm a bit sad otherwise cos she's been doing some really lovely dancing lately. Tamsin I'll keep at ballet to at least the same level Jess has reached - the pros of ballet are worth keeping her at it till at least Grade 3.

Tamsin was doing sautes today in class: she is just as springy as Jess. Miss Lily, in the run up to the RAD exam, was telling Jess that the grade 3 sautes were petite, not grande like Jess was doing. Jess then demonstrated what her grande sautes looked like. And as Jess was perfectly in time to the music, Miss Lily had to accept that Jess' sautes were always going to be twice as high as the rest of the class. Coach Richard just laughed when we told him. What else do you expect from a student who can do standing flics and punch front saltos?

It's been awhile...

...but at least I have something to show for it, LOL

This is a Celtic Knot in an issue of UK's Quick&Easy from about 2 years ago. Really liked this one when I first got the magazine, but only just this month found an excuse to stitch it. Not visible on the scan is the DMC Light Effects threads I used, or that it is on a navy blue evenweave. Oh well.

Now I need to work out how I want to "finish" it so I can give it to my sister for her birthday. It will be a bit late, but I gave her a cool bracelet a couple of days early so I'm ok. Thinking of making it into a small bag that the bracelet can go in. It's a chunky shell braclet so the design is not too big for it.

More Down Under Spirit!

Last post about cheerleading, as we are dropping this activity off the after school list to focus on the ballet and gym commitments.

I have now got some photos taken by people who went with the team, and of course proud mama had to share them!

July Finish, yay!

Dandelion Bear, from the June 2007 issue of UK's Cross Stitcher is finished. Yeeha. This is to go in a cot quilt being made by Sarah for a mutual friend who's baby boy is due in November.

Jessica is home from gym camp - she had a great time and is happy with her progress. This is good since it is only 4 weeks to a competition the club is planning to go to.

And school goes back tomorrow (so back to making school lunches, oh well) and Tamsin will be in her new class, woohoo.

Tuesday again

Tuesday really does seem to be my day for blog entries.
Anyhoo, Jessica arrived home safely last Wednesday. She was tired but buzzing from a very enjoyable trip. No photos yet as those that took any are yet to get back and send them to me :( Still, that's what I get for not going. However, I truly believe Jess had a much better time without her family tagging along.
Then it was 3 days of solid ballet plus back to gym class. The BAL exam is the last weekend in August, so the girls have lots to learn and perfect.
Right now Jess is at a gym camp til Saturday. She'll be glad to get back to school for a rest!
Meanwhile, I have been stitching and Dandelion Bear is progressing nicely. Pics soon I promise!

Allstars Rule!!

The home phone rang last night, around half 7. A very excited voice said "Hi mama, WE WON!! And the seniors won their division too!!"
Go Allstars Junior Elite Development, yeah.
Also got a text around the same time from friends over in Surfers for a holiday and coincidentally staying at the same (huge) hotel as the cheer teams to say that Jess had a medal and that they'd managed to get some photos of her with medal and the trophy. Won't get copies of those till they get back in about ten days, but great that they took some for me so thanks Mark & Jo.
The teams have workshops today, then off to Movie World. Seaworld and shopping tomorrow, then they head home on the midday flight on Wednesday. Wouldn't want to be on that plane - figure it will be pretty loud!