THE NUTCRACKER
Eleanor was in the Nutcracker with the Russian Ballet Company of Maryland and the Suzanne Farrell Kennedy Center Ballet Company. Gabe danced in it, too as a party scene extra (thanks Gabe, for letting me sign you up for that!). Eleanor was so beautiful in her little angel and mouse costume. I cried watching her dance - she was so happy.
Eleanor in her wings, waiting for her turn to go on stage during a rehearsal. Precious.
Getting ready before the performance.
Final bow
Eleanor with Michael Cook
Violeta Angelova
Teacher, Miss Marina Timofeeva
Elle with the ballet school director, Svetlana Kravstova
Mr. Vadim Pijicov
VIOLIN HAPPENINGS
Sebby's first violin lesson with Ronda. Cried a little through that, too. I'm feeling sentimental about my kids getting older!
Elle leading the pre-Twinkle group class
Recital, January 2012
Elle playing a good-bye song for our great friend, Beada Hill. She moved to a nursing home in St. George. She was a clarinetist and physician in the ward.
Playing with the McLean Symphony. Elle and Seb came to watch.
My student's recital
WATERFORD FAIR, VA
John DuRant and Son gave us a free CD of theirs because Elle yelled, "I remember that guy in the red vest from last year!" They were singing the Unicorn Song- Noah forgot the Unicorn.
19th Century schoolhouse
PICS OF THE KIDS
Ivy in her Halloween costume.
Turkey bowl
BWI Airport Observation Park
Ivy doesn't ever want to play with toys, she just wants to draw
(and not always only on paper, argghhh!)
Ice skating for the first time
CHRISTMAS
We had surprise 'tree inspection singers' Christmas Eve. So fun.
Christmas Eve
Sleeping downstairs on the hide-a-bed in front of the fire
Ivy, Christmas morning
Nutcracker book for Elle, to remember her beautiful performance
FRIENDS
Playing at Mary Finnigan's house
Teonte, our mail lady. I made her a wreath from old hymn book pages that she wanted. She put our mail inside our door on the bench every day for two months when I couldn't walk after my radiation and surgeries. Elle and Seb love her, they watched for her truck every day at lunch to wave and go out and say hello.
Sleeping at Michelle's, in her amazing historic cabin home in Virginia.
Fighting with Mary
Dinner with ward friends- trying Elder Dutson's impossible chair trick.
Kailen Stucki, my new great friend and laurel in the ward- just moved here from Ohio. Without knowing it, we bought the exact same shirt and a grey sweater. Funny.
Seb might be in love with her
Thanksgiving dinner at the Reinsch's with the Hawleys and Winnie
Elders over for a good-bye-Elder Dutson-dinner. So sad.
Elder Christofferson
Elle's new best friend, Mason
Movie night at Ninon's house
Carving Joe's pumpkins from Ohio
Neighbors came with us to the Trunk-or-Treat. Pete wins for the best (and most shameless) costume!
Christmas Eve dinner at the Laumanns. Brother Laumann making his four different kinds of famous genuine Louisiana gumbo.
Ivy kept giving hugs to Didier Deprieux.
Queens came over for dinner
Christmas Day dinner with the Christensens and Hawleys- making cotton candy.
Dinner with the Schoeneys and Joslins- GW hospital admin friends
Movie night with Kailen, trying to skate in my slippery new slippers
Tour of the hospital rehab center
Trying to take steps up and over into gravel with a broken leg
Wow- old phone booths
Handwriting Without Tears class with Beth and Mason and Owen
