Music Through the Seasons

Last week we were privileged to go to a free concert given by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. It was titled "Music Through the Seasons" and the orchestra played compositions expressing the various emotions one might feel in each season. It was held in the incredibly beautiful Heinz Hall, which is a place that never gets old. My friend Sarah charmed her way into the balcony directly overlooking the orchestra, and of course we all shoved our way in behind her. Keepin' it classy. The kids were entranced with their bird's eye view of these talented musicians playing Vivaldi with gusto. We're beginning our annual six week study of famous composers and the orchestra in a few short weeks, and this was the perfect opportunity to once again ignite their enthusiasm for the gift of music. We finished the day cashing in our Book It coupons at Pizza Hut. As always, a wonderful day with a wonderful crew. So grateful for my people.

A few days after our trip, my sis texted me a picture of my sweet nephew James drawing the orchestra.
Oh, my heart.

Our Beautiful Ballerina

What happened to that shy little girl we used to know? What a beautiful and confident young lady she is becoming!

Our lovely Chloe danced the parts of Party Girl and Bon Bon in her dance school's production of The Nutcracker this past December. This is her first year in an exclusively classical ballet program, and we are so proud of our girl. It is excellent, challenging training, and she is turning into such a beautiful dancer. We can't wait to see what God has in store for her on the stage in the years to come!

Excitement backstage! Five minutes before the curtain went up.

Nana and her favorite ballerina.

The party girls and their wonderful teachers, Cynthia and Damian. They both are from Cuba and have danced professionally all over the world, including our very own Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. We are so grateful for their kind and excellent instruction!

Chloe and Genevieve. She has made such wonderful new friends this year.

Chloe and Isabelle.

Nana and Pop are proud of their girl!

Grammy never misses a performance. We love her so!

The fact that our beloved Aunt Cece could come because we all live in the same town again made this night extra sweet.

Flowers from two handsome brothers!

Chloe and David, The Nutcracker Prince.

Our wonderful family. What would we do without these people?!

The sweetest picture of the night. She will always be his little girl.

Hello 2016!

We decided to try out a new tradition for NYE this year. We found ourselves craving rest by Christmastime. It had been a very busy December with kids' activities, unpacking, and attempting to get settled. The day after Christmas we hopped in the car and drove to Ohio to celebrate Smithmas with Greg's family. Greg and I envisioned how we might feel returning to our wrapping-paper strewn house with suitcases full of dirty laundry and decided to plan a low-key NYE. 

The kids have wanted to try hibachi for a really long time, and we thought this was the perfect occasion! It was so much fun! 

Here comes the fire!

We forgot to warn our four year old that this was all part of the performance, because we are parents of the year.

Oops.

Safe on Daddy's lap.

Max tried his hand at catching the food the chef threw at him.

Greg has a knack for being really good at random things that no one cares about, and caught everything that flew by. He was the champion of our table, natch.

After hibachi we took our twelve pounds of leftovers ("Mom, I don't like soup with eggs floating in it.") and headed home for fondue and family game night. We've had a longstanding tradition of doing "Prayers and Praises" with our friends on NYE- praises for something in the year that's ending, and prayers for something in the coming year. Usually the adults gather around the table during this time while the kids destroy the house. But this year, since it was just us, we did them with the kids as we ate our fondue. It turned out to be a profoundly special time. The older kids had such sweet, thoughtful things to express. We wrote them all down and look forward to reading them next year as we reflect on all the ways we've seen God's hand in our lives in 2016.

Stuff dipped in chocolate gets high approval ratings from Charlie.

After I crushed the competition in Uno, Chloe and I snuggled up to catch up on some Food Network shows. Our fave.

This was us at 11:59 pm. We were five for six!

The first time we watched the ball drop as a family.

 

Happy New Year! Welcome 2016!

The Christmas Season, 2015

To say life has been full for our family the past few months would be the understatement of the year. Three days before Thanksgiving we closed on our beautiful forever house. We've moved enough times in the past three years to know for certain that we never want to do it again. When we found this house last Fall we jumped on it, despite the fact that we had planned on renting for a full year. It was the perfect house for us, and we love it. We spent the week of Thanksgiving making two trips a day with our cars loaded up like the Beverly Hillbillies, and then finally got most of our belongings in in early December, thanks to the help of the world's most amazing friends and family. Since then, our focus has been on blissfully keeping our heads above the water line. The house is still a bit of a wreck and the kids and I only baked three kinds of Christmas cookies this year, but only words of gratitude are coming from my lips. I am just so grateful to be back in the city I love, settling in to a lovely new home surrounded by the people who make my life blessed.

Here are a few of the special moments I want to remember from this Christmas season...

Attending Pittsburgh Ballet Theater's Nutcracker performance with our besties - a yearly tradition!

Chloe and her three best friends:

Dapper cousins.

Our wonderful CC friends!

Love these girls so very much!

Handsome fellas.

Lovely ladies.

We went to a new neighbor's Cub Scout pancake breakfast and hung with Santa.

Santa visits & hot chocolate parties with the Lewandowski's and Bozeks...

Who needs nightstands when you're 31 weeks pregnant? Grateful for this healthy growing baby!

Christmas Eve with the cousins!

Christmas jammies at Aunt Cici's...

He knows Jesus is the whole reason for the season, but he is still a 3rd grade boy after all...

Shiny new bicycles to ride down the tree-lined streets in our new neighborhood!

All she wanted for Christmas was a book about ballet. I love her sweet spirit so much.

Our reptile and amphibian-loving boy received yet another encyclopedia to add to his growing collection.

Lots of joy this year! So much to look forward to and be grateful for.