2013 has just minutes left. I decided to take the countdown as a challenge to get one more post in this year!
What a year it was for me and our family! While I’ve shared a lot on instagram and Facebook I havent have a moment to post more than once about what Im spending the majority of my life doing in December: the nutcracker and cookies.
Id like to wish a farewell to my daughters first year in the New York City Ballet Nutcracker! She has had a blast and although it was a lot for our family to juggle, as a mother I can sort of compare it to childbirth and say (now that it’s over) it wasnt so bad to go through.
Im glad that Macy had the extra time to develop some great friendships with some really nice girls and I’m glad that I had the extra time to chat with some really nice parents.
Of course there were lots of cookie involved.
I was thrilled to make Nutcracker cookies for so many people and organizations this year. My original little guy made his way to events at the Ohio Dance Theatre and the San Francisco Ballet, as well as several other of my etsy clients.
I also made a new Nutcracker design for Joffrey Ballet School NYC for the dancers recital gifts.
But what was most enjoyable was sharing cookies with the children’s cast at NYCB’s Nutcracker. Macy was super proud to pass them out and when they announced that I had made one for each of the 65 kids the parents applauded me…..I covered my face in astonishment. The children were so sweet, many of them came up to thank me, its like they really understood how much time each little cookie took me and they appreciated it. I made a solider, angel and sugarplum fairy with the costumes as close as possible as I could get to the real deal.
I loved taking snapshots of the life going on under the stage each night (incase you aren’t familiar the children perform about every other day for 6 weeks) Since there is not wifi or cell service on the Lower Concourse of the David Koch theatre the children entertain themselves in traditional ways, like card games and Jacks. Yes kids still know how to play Jacks! They celebrate birthdays, give secret santa gifts and squeeze in homework. Parents read the newspaper, address their christmas cards and occasionally share a bottle of wine.
I thought a collage was best way to share all of those backstage shots, for my readers and for Macy its sort of a keepsake. One of the snapshots of Macy made it as our Christmas card, sometimes those are the best!
I hope all of my other ballet moms had unforgettable holiday performances and I look forward to continuing to share and chat with you all next year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
XOXO, NIKKI
nikkiikkin.com 
What a sweet post! Thanks for sharing. It was sweet to see behind the scenes!! xo
So thrilled to hear you had a memorable Nutcracker experience. My daughter, Morgan (age 11) also enjoyed being in the Nutcracker again this year. We look forward to it every year and are so sad when it ends! We came to NYC last week and saw the Nutcracker on 12/28–such a beautiful performance with lovely costumes/scenery and of course–amazing dancers!
Sadly, we did not get to see your daughter dance on this trip–maybe next year!
NY was such fun–we enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city, shopping, eating and her favorite, a pointe shoe fitting at Freed of London/Chacott! Morgan was wearing Russian pointe shoes so it was a treat to fit into the Freed’s. She feels so special in these shoes!
Look forward to more of your posts.
Debra
Baton Rouge, LA