Blue Door Window

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.