SUMMER AFTERNOON

Summer break allows for ice cream runs on the way to piano after work...

PIANO RECITAL 2019

(I need to hunt down the recital pamphlet so I can record the songs he performed...)

Ms. Ruth awards her students with pins and certificates

Since Sammy started piano this year, Cora had a buddy to enjoy post-recital refreshments with!

FL SUMMER TRIP: PART TWO

The kids spent two full weeks at Gramma's house this summer and the middle portion (5 days!) was spent WITHOUT their parents (first time ever). They were so excited about this portion of our trip that the minute we arrived on Saturday, June 23rd, Cora asked when we were leaving... and the next morning James couldn't help himself and asked "So... what day are you guys leaving again?" While we weren't feeling the love, it was nice to know they were so excited to get to spend time alone with Gramma. They got up really early on Wednesday to drop us off at the airport, and then they were off!

Here are all the photos Gramma shared with us while we were away (it was so fun to see what the kids were up to and know everyone was safe and happy - they had the best time!)

Arriving home from the airport and attempting to go back to sleep:

Playing in the tide pools at the beach later that morning:

(We had ordered them sun hats similar to the one I wear for field work because they're just easier than constantly reapplying sunscreen to the ears - and James' short hair doesn't protect the top of his head like his usual haircut does)

They attended a few special events at the library, including Harry Potter day:

There was a little piano practicing...

...some new butterfly growing...

...and more sunset trips to the beach (when it was lots cooler and easier on Gramma):

(These photos have since been cropped and framed by Gramma - it was a project they had in mind when they went out that night)

Lots of crafting (and a little bit of BrainQuest and handwriting work):

Some video games, of course:

More library events and lots of book reading:

Plenty of time at the beach (and Gramma let them swim in the waves - they promised to stay close to shore and be careful):

James' caterpillar (given to him at the library as part of the monarch program) ate his entire plant overnight...

Clearer water day at the beach:

Another Sunday at church:

Some soccer practice:

And one more sunset at the beach before their parents returned the next morning:

Thank you Gramma for giving them so many fun memories and for taking such great care of our little loves while we traveled!

PIANO CAT

Play him a song, he's the piano cat!

(Cannon is a big fan of James' morning practice and usually climbs up on the piano bench to encourage him with meows in between songs.)

JAMES' FIRST PIANO RECITAL

He cleans up so nice! The bag was a gift from his piano teacher in which to keep his piano books and binder, his weekly assignment book, and a pencil to do his homework with.

James was SO nervous when we first got there (notice his tense fingers - he was gripping air and practicing his moves and chewing his nails, poor guy)!

And poor Jay - we dragged him out of bed for the show (he'd been sick with the flu for 5 straight days and today was the worst of it - we sent him right back to the car after the 30 minute recital while we visited and snacked on Ms. Ruth's homemade cookies).

His second song was too long to post here, but here's his first! He did so well with both his songs (he'd been practicing them for a little over a month)!

This is the full group of Ms. Ruth's students this year:

He was so pleased with the certificate and pin that his teacher gave him!

Ms. Ruth is truly a blessing in his life. He really looks forward to his lessons each week and the one-on-one attention is something he doesn't get anywhere else (dance and soccer and Scouts are group sports/programs, though we do try at home as often as we can to split he and Cora up for some mama/daddy time!) He is always proud to show her when he knows he's done well practicing a particular song and she's very patient with his love of jokes and puns during lessons when he should be playing with his mouth closed. I hope he sticks with piano for at least a few years!