May the Fourth 2019

Back in 2019, the Clearview Library hosted some amazing parties. On Saturday, May 4th, they held an event at Boardwalk Park in Windsor to celebrate all things Star Wars.

Ramona shooting off a 2 liter bottle rocket:

Mika and Paula taking a turn:

Mika interacting with Page the Pelican, the library mascot:

Wylie found the perfect activity shooting balls at bad guys

Windsor Lake Beach

Wylie's first encounter with Chewbacca:

Some stencil spray art

Chewbacca

R2D2

Yoda

Wylie's second encounter with Chewbacca

The kids' yoda crafts--his nose looks a bit like a Hitler mustache:

Now the kids are in a Marvel Avengers phase and hardly remember their enthusiasm for Star Wars. Hoping to bring it back at some point, somehow . . . we can always stand to have a little more of the force with us, right?

May 2019 Orchestra Concert

This concert was a milestone for me because it was my first time playing principal cello for the Loveland Orchestra. Not because I got promoted--I got bumped up to that seat because Heather Cowan, who usually sits principal, had a scheduling conflict. But it was still an exciting new experience. You play differently when you are supposed to lead the section . . . you want to give the right cues and help everyone stay together. You need a tighter connection with the maestro as you watch every flick of his baton and work with him to execute clean entrances and cut-offs. 

The program was mostly movie music, but also featured the winner of our 2019 Young Artist Competition, which was organized by yours truly. Emma Johnson blew everyone away with her piece, "The Lark Ascending," by Vaughan Williams. She actually made one of the judges (Maestro Louie) cry at the competition because her playing was so pure and beautiful.

This show's movie music theme inspired a few fun costumes. Our second bassoon player's husband dressed up as a T-Rex (nod to Jurassic Park), and Mika dressed up as Rey from Star Wars.

After the show with my stand partner and dear friend, Anita Kufeld:

So long, Star Wars. Goodbye, Imperial March, with your relentless bass line. Adieu, Princess Leia Theme and Jurassic Park Theme--thanks for sharing your soaring melodies with the cellos. Will I ever see you again?

Preschool Field Trip 2019: Fire Station

Wylie's preschool field trip to the fire station was canceled this month, due to COVID-19. But he actually had the chance to go with Paula's preschool class back in May of 2019. Here are some photos that might jog his memory:

Kids plugging their ears at the sound of the fire alarm:

Fire Pole:

Fire truck tour:

Class Photos:

I have yet to regret taking a shameful amount of photographs of my children . . . not when they allow us to take a virtual field trip as consolation for yet another canceled event!

Ramona's 10th Birthday

Ramona woke up on her 10th birthday with a low-grade fever. She had to stay home from school, but felt good enough to practice her violin and get some school work done.

At noon, we did something unthinkable these pandemic days, and went to Freddy's for frozen custard within hours of Ramona's temperature reading. We didn't even wear face masks! How irresponsible is that?

Birthday girl opened her presents in the afternoon. 

The moment she met Randy the Racoon:

Dangly Earrings!

Instead of birthday candles in cupcakes, we did birthday candles in sushi rolls. Having a little cold didn't keep Ramona from her sushi.

Dear Ramona,

   These photos mark a decade of YOU! I know fourth grade was a rough year for you, marked with many disappointments and big emotions. You had to get braces, and you hated them. You didn't get to have your closest friends in class with you, there was a lot of friend drama at recess, and you were told there was no longer room for you in show choir after initially being accepted. You had to accept the difficult reality that schoolwork (among other things) triggers a large amount of anxiety in you. 

   But here were the good parts: Your fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Drage, ended up being your favorite elementary teacher of all time. You picked up the violin, and despite feeling plenty of frustration with it, you didn't give up on it. You got to work at the Bethke school store. You were a host for the Bethke KBOB show that included morning announcements, weather, and student birthdays. You were a ballerina on a big stage. You won an award for your mermaid costume at Halloween. This was the year you finished the Harry Potter series and got into Percy Jackson books. You accomplished a lot, learned a lot, and overcame a lot. 

   So even though you may remember that you had to be sick on your 10th birthday, I hope you will also remember that there was a lot of good to celebrate. There is a lesson in that: You can always find moments to smile, even when things aren't perfect. You are stronger than you know.

Love,

Mama