Palace Ball

This has been a particular view that I want to preserve of Katie's panto experience this year. This is the scene that she always watches from the wings. She was taken out of it because she was absolutely terrified both of the ugly step sisters and a wicked stepmother moment that happens in the scene during dress rehearsal. She still doesn't like them going near her though tolerates it for the finale when one of them is in front of her. She stands in the wings and when the kids have their silly dancing bit, she dances with Prince Charming in the wings. He fusses her every day so she doesn't feel left out as he goes on and fusses each of the other kids. It's very sweet.

We'd had a leisurely get up at grandads and then just gave her breakfast and jumped straight in the car to come home and get ready for panto. After the show, we jumped back in the car and went straight back to Scarborough! We had been invited for a meal at my aunts with some cousins that we haven't seen for ages.

Katie had asked to take her clarinet. She decided to hide in the conservatory and play with (very musical) cousin tom. When she played Rocking Around The Christmas Tree she ended up with a family audience and a round of applause. She looked an adorable combination of proud but shy. Her and tom then played around with the clarinet - he taught her mixolydian scales for the first time, which amused her & she's excited to show B. She had a lovely time crafting with my aunt as a calming activity following been thrown around by the cousins in fits of happy shrieking. A good evening!