Cello Farewell-O

This past weekend I pulled together a final cello recital for my current students.

I used to be taller than Andrew, Sebastian, and Aidan. Aurelia is catching up to me, too. My, how they've grown.
I kind of wish their families could move to Iowa with me, too.

Sweet Iowa Home

The house hunt is over.

We took a quick trip to Cedar Rapids this week to look at some houses and neighborhoods. Parry drove the entire way, Teresa shared helpful observations, and both of them provided Ramona with ample attention when Forest and I were occupied with the seemingly enormous process of home ownership.

Although it was only my second time in Cedar Rapids, it is gradually beginning to feel like home. And now we actually have a specific structure within that city to call our home: a raised ranch with four bedrooms, two and a half baths, a fenced yard, fantastic counterspace in the kitchen, and its very own washer and dryer.

One small step for Mona, one giant leap into toddlerhood

How quickly a year goes by, and how quickly a babe turns into a toddler.

Dear Ramona,

You've been with us for twelve months now, and we hope to continue to get to know you for many more, but here are a few things we've learned about you so far:

-You prefer outdoors to indoors

-You do a great impression of a dog

-Your smile is like sunshine

-You are fascinated by mylar balloons. One got caught in a power line by our apartment and you pointed at it for weeks, long after it was limp and deflated. I got you one on the way to your birthday party at Grandpa Parry's and it entertained you the entire 45 minute car ride over

-You know how to party and put on a great show

-You like to share

-You are frequently the recipient of fan mail and gifts

-You used to love posing for pictures, but have recently become too distracted

-You enjoy the simple things in life

-You like trips to the park

-You attend church every Sunday and make lots of friends

-You express your creativity with pianos, large or small

-You love pointing at light

-You don't love wearing things on your head

-You may very well be aware of your birthday and when it is. You arrived exactly on your due date in 2009, and this year you stubbornly waited to take your first steps until you were twelve months old, on the dot.

As your mother, I am honored that those first steps were made in my direction . . .

. . . and, as your mother, I feel immensely blessed to have you as a daughter.

Happy Birthday Ramona!

Love,

Your Mommy

Third time's a charm

The job hunt is over.

Forest's third interview in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has resulted in an offer. . . which we will happily accept. I like to think that the Iowa interview went better than the two in Oregon because I went along to provide lucky vibes and iron his shirt, but the more likely explanation is that Forest was qualified for the position and made a positive impression--regardless of who ironed his shirt that morning.

And the house hunt has begun.

Princess Pigtail and her quest for Easter treasure

Once upon a time, there was a princess with two pigtails that stuck straight up into the air.
One day, she set out to hunt for colorful eggs in the sunny land of Sunroomoparry.
They weren't very hard to find.
And they made a delightful sound when she shook them next to her ear.
Soon, she discovered that the eggs contained hidden treasures: chocolate raisins, m&m's, and jelly beans. To her dismay, every time she tried to put these in her mouth, a giant snatched them away.
"Those are for me to consume," he said. "Here, take these to eat instead." And he offered the princess some cereal squares. "It is the cereal of Life."
Although she was a bit suspicious of the giant's advice, she agreed to partake of the specified food.
"What other treasures can be found in this land?" Princess Pigtail asked the giant. "If you stay here a while, you will hear voices of several sages in a great conference. Each of them offers precious treasures of wisdom if you will but listen to their counsel." "I will stay," said the princess, "but I cannot promise to remain awake the entire time."

Sure enough, near the end of one session of counsel, the Princess was fast asleep. Upon awaking from her slumber, the giant offered to escort her to a distant land by the Daffodil sea. Although the princess was only down to one pigtail by now, she felt that her adventures should continue. So away they went, to the Daffodil sea . . .
. . . and the princess found that it was a beautiful place to behold.

Princess Pigtail enjoyed the sights on the giant's tour, but she soon grew bored. "Are there any barking beasts nearby that you might show me?" she asked. "I will see what I can find," said the kind giant.

. . . and the giant was successful. "Here I've found a black barking beast," he said.

The princess was delighted, and she stroked the beast's fur before continuing on their way.
The travelers eventually made it back to the sunny land where their journey began, and the princess received further counsel from the wise sages. "Thank you for accompanying me on this part of my journey, and for showing me so many wonderful things," she said to the giant, "but I must be on my way. I've been invited to an Easter feast ."

This Easter feast was to be held at Carol Palace, in a land even further than the Daffodil sea or the land of the barking beasts. When Princess Pigtail arrived, she was greeted by the hostess of the feast and promptly presented with two baskets of treasures. "The basket full of edible treasures you must save for your mother and father," advised the hostess, "but this larger basket is all for you."
The princess, however, ignored the larger basket and began putting teeth marks in the chocolate treasures intended for her parents. As soon as she did, the smaller basket disappeared and two furry, long-eared animals were sitting before her.
"These are to be your companions for the remainder of your journey," said the hostess.

"Thank you," said the princess, and embraced her new long-eared friends. "I appreciate all of these gifts, but I've come a long way and I am terribly hungry. Does this feast include any actual food that does not disappear when I touch it?"

The hostess laughed. "But of course. Let the feast begin! Arrange for a special chair to be brought to the table for Princess Pigtail."

At the feast, the princess ate until she could eat no more, and then ate some frosting off of a cake. "I've enjoyed so many Easter treasures this day," declared the princess. "Perhaps next year I will be able to enjoy even more. But for now I must say goodbye."

The tired princess, who had lost both her pigtails by now, returned to her small castle home and rested from her adventures for a time. And she still lives there happily this day.