What I Did for my Summer Vacation

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!

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!

Christmas 2010

It has been a wonderful Christmas break for our family.  The kids have enjoyed their days off from school hanging out inside, catching up on sleep, playing with friends, hiking in the woods near our house with friends, going to movies, helping me bake and clean up around the house, and spending time together as a family.

We decided not to travel for the holidays this year, since we had travelled to the northeast both last Christmas and last summer. We know we have lots of upcoming travel for Lilly's surgeries. Still, any time we are not with our families for Christmas, I feel a sense of emptiness inside. I was thankful, however, for skype, which allowed us to see my family all gathered at my parents' house in Pennsylvania, and open presents "together."


We had good friends over for Christmas dinner--the Greenbaums--who have a 5-year old girl also adopted from China. Libby and Lilly are becoming great friends (and Heather and I are as well!).  They also have a fun little cutie pie 2-year-old boy who keeps Jared in line while they are here!

The weather has been great for getting outside as a family, hiking, walking the dog, and jogging. We hope to get in some ice skating at some point soon, too.

So enough words.  Here are some shots to give you a glimpse of the Cantilina Christmas, 2010.

Lilly's preschool had a fun celebration with a special visitor.  We don't talk much about Santa at our house, but she knew he would be coming to Happyland Preschool this year (she remembered him from last year!). 

Here is Lilly with her good friend, Libby.

We went to see "Tangled" together at the theater.  It was a bit too intense for Lilly and we had to leave about 2/3 of the way through. 

Lilly helped me a lot with all the baking and chocolate kahlua cake preparation to give as gifts to friends, neighbors, and colleagues.  Mostly, however, she enjoyed the chance to eat chocolate chops and lick batter bowls when I was through...

Jared and Anna have spent quite a bit of time like this--in front of the TV watching "mythbusters."

Jared and his friends went to see Narnia together (and Anna and I got to tag along).

LIlly helped Daddy and me to make the traditional Cantilina Christmas breakfast--"canes"--a Dutch pastry, some filled with almond paste, some with an apple nut mixture.  This is Tom's favorite. The kids opted for chocolate crescent rolls for Christmas breakfast.

Christmas Eve service--Lilly and Libby.

Lilly and her sweet friend Nicole.

After a stop at the Washburns for a Christmas Eve gathering, we headed home for our own tradition of Christmas Eve fondue--meats cooked in oil and chocolate fondue for dessert with fruit.  Mmmmmm....

They clean up pretty well...

After opening two presents on Christmas Eve from Nana--the Christmas jammies and a tree ornament for each of them.  Ready for bed!

This is how it looked, ready for Christmas morning.

They were under strict orders not to come into the living room until we said it was ok.  They are awaiting the word.

Jared apparently laid in bed for quite awhile waiting for his sisters to finally wake up.

ON the couch, ready to start!

Lilly was so grateful for each gift!  Here she is hugging Anna after opening up some colored pencils, scissors, and a little notebook from Anna.

Christmas dinner with the Greenbaums.  Good food and good company!

Fun with friends during Christmas break.