So, it's back to school time...the kids have been officially back to school for 2 days now. Time for me to get caught up on all sorts of things around the house that have been set aside for the summer months so the kids and I could take full advantage of their time at home. One of the long-neglected things has been my blog! I have had plenty of fodder for thought and for writing, but, really, no time to sit and bang anything out here on the keyboard. I have taken lots of lots of pictures to prove it.
So, to jumpstart my return to hopefully somewhat regular blogging about happenings at Casa Cantilina, I offer you here a "back-to-school" photo essay to catch you up since the kids departed school late last Spring.
Let's begin with the end of the school year...
Anna had a field trip to the NEwseum in Washington, DC, and I got to be a chaperone! Yay! Cherry blossoms were out, too. Bonus.
The Mei Meis and I got to go cheer Jared on in one of his home track meets in the spring. Glad there are no scents on the blogosphere. He ran fast though!
Lilly underwent her next VEPTR expansion surgery, and again amazed all at her speedy recovery time. Surgery was on Tuesday, and we were home in time to get Isabel off of the school bus in Wednesday!
Arriving home from CHOP that early allowed me to participate in ISabel's kindergarten field trip to a local farm, complete with hay ride, strawberry sampling, and a picnic. Here she is with her beloved Ms. Pleasant, who lives up to her name in every way.
So, in the midst of end-of-school-year frenzy, Tom pinned on his next rank of Colonel. The ceremony was beautiful, held at the National Archives in Washington DC, standing right in from the the original Constitution of the UNited States. How cool is that? We were joined by a contingent from both sides of our family and made a fun weekend of it, complete with a breakfast reception after the ceremony and an evening reception at a lovely historic Mill House at one of our local county parks, joined by friends, family, and church family. We are truly blessed!
Shortly thereafter, several important things happened (on the very same day): Isabel celebrated her 7th birthday (the party took place a few days later)...
...and Tom took command of the 779th Medical Group at Joint Base Andrews, the very place where he completed his family practice residency 13 years ago (and where Anna was born). He said farewell to the folks at the Defense Health Headquarters, Office of the AF Surgeon General...
...and humbly took command at a wonderful ceremony.
Meanwhile, end-of-school-year festivities abounded, with ice cream parties, field days, slide shows, awards ceremonies, and Isabel's kindergarten "Author's Tea."
This is from Anna's end-of -year slide show, with her good friend, Tess.
Here is Isabel with Ms. Pleasant, receiving her author's certificate.
And then...summer vacation finally arrived. I, Mom, was determined that we would A) work hard at chores around the house and homeschooling, so that B) we could get out and do fun things. I think we succeeded at both:
Blueberry picking...(picked 14 pounds!)
National Harbor (Jared enjoys doing parkour anywhere he gets the chance...this place offered some good obstacles...)
Visit from dear friends from Florida and some DC sightseeing...
Visit from a departing friend from Tom's days at Eglin...
Trip to see Monsters University with neighborhood friends...
We spent 4th of July weekend catching up with old Hopkins friends the Murrays and the Kims at the Murrays beach house in Delaware--fun times!
And then straight home to VBS week!! Fun for all...Anna helped to lead worship, Lilly and ISabel each took part, and I served as a guide for a group of 1-2nd graders. It was amazing, and exhausting. And Lilly placed her trust in Christ.
We made a point to see dear friends we haven't seen enough of since moving the the DC area! Here are the girls with my friend Gretchen's daughter, Poppy, also adopted from China. They enjoyed playing in the outdoor water fountains at Fairfax Corner Mall.
And here is my brave friend Gretchen (from our days inTurkey) who had brain surgery just afew weeks ago...she is strong and brave and amazing...
We said a lot of goodbyes and hellos as Jared visited his friend Zach in South Carolina for a week...
We got to catch up with old Turkey friends the Matthews, who recently moved to the DC area. Jared and their Kaelyn did kindergarten and first grade together.
We said goobye to Anna who went away to Mount Gilead Christian Girls Camp for her second summer away. She had a BLAST!
The Mei Meis got to attend soccer camp with their cousins Peter and Naomi at their church in New Jersey...
While the littles played soccer, us older folks did some fun hiking in New Jersey...
And we did some more DC sightseeing...tours of the US Capitol Building and the Library of Congress, as well as the Bureau of Engraving and Printing...
We got to spend time with longtime friends from our early married days in DC--Ed and Karen Moy (as well as "Auntie Gracie" who we try to see as often as possible!). The Moys also have two daughters from China...so we did a photo of all of the Chinese people present. They outnumbered us white folks. Joy!
Jared snuck away for another week at overnight band camp with his Oakton High School Marching Band, and we joined him for family day at the end of the week, always a fun time. Meanwhile, I neglected to mention that Jared got his drivers' license this summer...look out!
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| And who, you ask, might be sitting next to Jared on this bench...hmmmm another new season! |
The littles and I, in addition to spending time every day that we weren't traveling or sightseeing doing some "home schooling" tried to spend time at the playground and the neighborhood pool. ALOT of time.
We capped off our summer with a fun trip to Pittsburgh to spend a long weekend my parents, and to surprise them with a 50th wedding anniversary party. We had over 80 people attend, from all different parts of my parents' lives. It was a great day and a great joy to celebrate this awesome milestone. Jared, Tom, my brother Justin, and I played some hymns as a brass quartet to honor God for His faithfulness just as they have been faithful to each other for 50 years. We also enjoyed some wonderful time as a family dining outdoors and doing some Pittsburgh sightseeing.
As for me, I spent some time teaching cycling classes (got a job at Gold's Gym back in May!) and still a contributing author at
Beyond Bath Time, which has been a fun outlet for me (and maybe one reason I'm not writing on here as often)...
Phew! I think that about sums it up! So, now we begin new fall routines...fall fun...and more crazy chaos in Casa Cantilina!
Stay tuned!
