MAY is almost over!?!??!

OK, I know, I know.  I've been a lousy blogger.  We have been so incredibly busy over the last few months that I've not had a moment to keep the blog up to date.  The school year is winding down rapidly, house projects are ongoing, vacation is just around the corner, and before you know it the summer will be upon us.  So before that all happens, here's a very brief recap of some of the highlights of the last several weeks...

A MUSICAL MONTH...

Simone has been our little songbird for as long as she could talk.  Everyone who knows Simone, knows she ALWAYS has a song on her lips and a twinkle in her toes.  She has been channeling this passion into chorus this year.  She was chosen as one of four kids from her school to participate in the All County Chorus (so happy for her)!  That honor also earned her the opportunity to sing the national anthem at the PTO fundraiser Faculty Volleyball Match.

Then after many weeks of 7am practices, the big All County Performance took place in late April.  They did an AMAZING job.  So proud of her!

Simone is in the second to last row, on the right side, second from the end.

Closer up. 

Smiles after the performance.

In addition to chorus, Simone also practiced for and performed in her school Variety Show in early May.  She sang "A Million Dreams" from the movie "The Greatest Showman", with her friend.

Simone with another friend at the show.

A FANTASTIC performance!!

A pose with her 5th grade teacher.

 And now fast forward to this weekend.  We've had a super soggy week and Saturday was no different.  That didn't spoil our chance, however, to take a break from house work and head to Reston Town Center for their annual Fine Arts Festival.  Yep, it poured, but the great part about that was absolutely no crowd! It was like having the festival all to ourselves.

After browsing the art vendors, Tony and Simone heading straight for the Mochi  tent.

 And finally, today the sun miraculously returned in time for Simone's spring piano recital.  Simone played Sakura -- a Japanese song meaning cherry blossoms.  Flawless performance!

So proud of her!!  I will try to be better at keeping the blog current over the next several weeks, which promise to be equally packed -- so no promises on that!  Eventually, things will settle down and I can catch everyone up.  Lot's ahead!

Final February Fun

 March has arrived, and at long last, we have launched the remodel of our master bed and bath-- so we are certainly about to be busy.  However, we wrapped up February with a bit of fun in preparation for a March packed with more work than play.

Last weekend we took a day trip up to PA near Lancaster to meet up with the cousins for lunch and tour of the dairy that makes Turkey Hill Ice Cream.  Food was great and the kids had a blast in the ice cream lab, making their very own flavor.

Outside the restaurant.  For those in the area, Railroad House Inn was super delicious -- we recommend!

World's biggest bovine?

How could they resist -- Dad's favorite flavor -- butter pecan.  Fun Fact: butter pecan is the most sold flavor of Turkey Hill ice cream.  And we could see why when we taste tested it!

At the flavor machine.

Waiting for our turn in the ice cream lab.

About to make our own flavors.

Then, this week at Simone's school was Dr. Suess/March for Fine Arts Week.  They had different themes and activities every day, but here were Simone's two favorites...

On crazy hair day, Simone turned her top knot into a birds nest complete with  "robin eggs" -- so springy!

Simone also put her own outfit together for Dress Like a Suess Character Day.  

And that was our week.  Today we got a surprise day off due to the intense winds, and took the opportunity to do some drapery shopping.  Yep, that's what our short term future holds.  But no fear, we won't be ALL work and no play! 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Happy Heart Day family and friends!  Today we had a little burst of excitement to mark an otherwise uneventful month.  Simone put in a lot of effort to make the whole day special for mom and dad, and here is just a little glimpse of it. 

We awoke this morning to a surprise at my bedroom door -- confetti and this little hand made "love bug"--  which greeted us.  

Then Simone played some songs about love while we got dressed.  After work tonight, she had a whole Valentine's festival set up in the kitchen with games, prizes, and gifts for mom and dad.  It was so sweet!

Posing at a party last Friday night.

Valentines bookmarks we made for Simone's class.

Simone posing in her DIY headband -- very festive!

And finally, we marked the occasion with some tiramisu heart cake that Simone helped daddy pick out.

She has promised one last live performance for our entertainment pleasure before bed.  We can't wait!  She's done a great job making the day special and showering us with love.  

We love you too Simone!! more than any words can ever say.

MLK Weekend

It's nice to have a long weekend so soon after the Christmas holidays.  We had a very productive three days, but also took some time to have little fun.  On Saturday we went for brunch in Arlington and then went to see On Your Feet at the Kennedy Center.  It was a GREAT show, far better than I expected. Simone decide that she liked it even more than American in Paris.

Checking out the theater.

After the show.  The musical ended with a confetti burst -- wouldn't want to be the clean up crew.

After the show Simone couldn't resist these music figurines in the gift shop, so she bought one with some of her Christmas money.  Her favorite was the white treble clef, which now resides in her room.   

And now it sounds like there is some snow in the forecast for this week, so we may have some snow days ahead.  We've already had 3 this year--sigh--could be a long winter.

Happy NEW YEAR and 2017 Wrap Up

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF OUR FAMILY and FRIENDS!!  Yes, indeed, we made it all the way past midnight to ring in 2018.

So, it's certainly been awhile since my last post.  But most of you know that the last few months of our 2017 were especially exciting for us--and very, very busy.  So a quick--ok, maybe not so quick-- recap before we launch into 2018!!

After a Thanksgiving weekend in PA with family, we moved into the Christmas holidays packed with fun.  First up was Simone's winter piano recital.  She played an excerpt from the Nutcracker and did a great job.   Way to go, Simone!

Simone and her piano teacher.

 The following weekend we had Simone's winter chorus concert and drama club show.

And then, before we knew it, we skipped across the pond for an amazing 2 weeks to celebrate the holidays European style.  We had a whirlwind tour of various Christmas markets in Copenhagen, Warsaw, Rudesheim & Mainz (Germany), and Strasbourg& Colmar (France), with a final stop in London on the way home.  It was our first ever holiday trip, and although we must confess that we missed some of our usual family Christmas traditions, it was an AMAZING experience -- one we'll never forget.

Our hotel lobby in Copenhagen.

The first of LOTS of delicious holiday treats!

Market in Warsaw.

Outside a cafe in Rudesheim with cousins.

Hotel in Colmar.

Gorgeous Strasbourg lights.

Santa gelato in Strasbourg.

A view of the market in Mainz.

Walking home after a lovely mass on Christmas Eve.  Yes, a full mass in German in a nearly 700 year old church.

With cousins on Christmas day.

At Christmas dinner.

Market in Rudesheim.

 The magnificent cathedral in Strasbourg -- a highlight of the trip for us.

Taking a walk in Eltville with cousins.

Market in Mainz.

Table for Christmas Eve dinner at Uncle Jim's.

Simone lost a tooth on Christmas Eve.  The Tooth Fairy and Santa on the same night!!!

Christmas morning.

Outside the restaurant for Christmas Day dinner.

After Christmas dinner with family.

Market in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Streets of London.

 Lots of London lights...

In Trafalgar Square.

It was so wonderful to spend such a long time together really taking in all the joys of Christmas in a new (and delicious) way.  It made an already special season truly exceptional.  With all travel, however, it's also wonderful to come home, which we did just in time for the new year.

We got back to some bitterly cold weather in Virginia, unpacked, and got ready to wrap up the year. The day after our return, we went to see a musical --An American in Paris-- at the Kennedy Center.   

Waiting for the show to begin.

And last but not least..

Our final event of 2017

a cozy dinner party at home with some dear friends to ring in the new year.

And tomorrow, we go back to work and school after a long winter break.  We'll be trying to keep warm as we plot some adventure for 2018!