High School Reunion, part 2

Back in October we traveled to Illinois to attend my 10-year high school reunion. It had a great turn-out, but didn't feel quite complete to me because my friend Anne Marie was not there.

She was one of the first friends I made in junior high. I remember sitting behind her and her long, yellow braids in 7th grade social studies class. I also remember sitting with her at the same lunch table (and feeling so grateful to find a lunch table where I belonged). Among my few memories of 8th grade include those of sitting in the same bus that drove us to the high school for Freshman algebra one period each day. (We always made fun of ourselves and that short little bus). Once we were actually in high school, I remember being in the same car with her for driver's ed. (She was a better driver than I was, but Mr. McIntyre only had to use the break pedal on me once). Most of my memories of her are those of playing in orchestra and string quartets together. I always sat across from her as she drew beautiful notes from her grandfather's old violin and made it look easy.

As it turns out, Anne Marie has been a Colorado resident for quite some time now. After our family has lived in this state for two years, we finally were able to have Anne Marie and her family over for dinner at the end of April. (It was literally on my to-do list for months!)

It was an especially sweet reunion for me because it was the first time I met her husband Jonathan and her daughter, Junia, who happened to be born exactly a month before Paula. She is such a beautiful little girl, and cuddly, too.

 

While they were here visiting, I half-jokingly suggested that we get out some instruments and play a little music. To my delight, Anne Marie took me up on the idea. She patiently waited while I dusted off my violin for her and dug through several piles of music to find my cello/violin duets. She was apologetic about her playing, saying she hadn't picked up her own instrument for quite a while, but she really hadn't lost her touch at all. After setting down the fiddle, she hopped over to the piano and accompanied me on Gounod's Ave Maria. Sight-reading every note and still making it all look so easy.

At one point in the evening, Anne Marie expressed that she wished she had taken high school less seriously--that she had spent a little less time worrying, studying, and practicing and a little more time on forming friendships. The memory of who she was back then seemed to make her cringe, and I laughingly admitted that I shared her sentiment in many ways. Perhaps it is a good thing, though, to be able to look back on who we once were and feel that part of that person is no longer a part of who we are now. If we believe in the improvement and progression of our souls, and endeavor to better ourselves each day, I think it should be counted as success when our former self appears less polished and refined than that of present.

For now, I am going to celebrate the successful completion of High School Reunion, Part 2: The much-anticipated dinner with my friend, Anne Marie, the music we got to play together in my home, and our little babies, who hardly fussed the entire time.

Easter Weekend

The Saturday before Easter we took our family to the park for a neighborhood egg hunt. There was not much actual hunting required, so it was an easy activity rewarded with ample sugar.

In the afternoon we hosted another cello recital for my students. We still had balloons and streamers up from Ramona's birthday party--and actually, even as I type, we still have balloons and streamers up from Ramona's birthday party. But at least I had a chance to take down the Louvre pyramid, Notre Dame, and Arc de Triomphe--we didn't have any French music on the recital program, after all.

Easter Morning there were some eggs hidden around the house. But instead of being filled with candy, they each contained an egg joke. Perhaps the bunny played a trick on us this year. And perhaps he thought we had had enough sugar.

Eventually we got out of our pajamas so we could go to church and contemplate the deeper meaning of Easter--first we took some pictures in our Sunday best.

After church we did a final round of celebrating with dinner at the Snodgrass residence. It was sweet to see all of our little girls playing together in their springtime dresses.

Having so much Easter "fun" crowded into one weekend (immediately following Ramona's birthday) left me feeling pretty worn out. For accuracy, I probably should insert a photo of myself nearly passed out on the couch as a conclusion to this post. And to further depict reality, I should have also included some pictures of Ramona and Mika in the midst of emotional meltdowns as they declared they were not having a fun time at various points on Saturday. But I don't have those pictures, and I guess that's ok. It's more fun to remember the smiles and the fact that we got to be together on such a beautiful weekend.

Fancy France-y

Last week on Ramona's birthday was her much anticipated Pink Paris Party. Guests were scheduled to arrive at 1:30pm, so we spent most of the morning cleaning and transforming the main floor of our house into Paris. But when we weren't doing party prep, we did get a chance to just celebrate Ramona. Forest made some special #5 pancakes for breakfast.

And for lunch she ate mac and cheese off of a birthday plate designed by Teresa.

I would like to say Paula celebrated by wearing this adorable cupcake outfit (thank you Carol!), but in actuality I didn't get it on her until the following day. With all of the excitement on party day, I never got a chance to change her out of her pajamas.

 The last hour before party time, Ramona helped decorate cupcakes . . .

 . . . then took a whirlwind tour of Paris with Mika.

 

At 1:30, our tour groups entered the city, decorated their pink purses, and filled them with fake currency. 

Then the groups split up to spend their money around town. Ramona's group (the fleur-de-lis) started by contributing some artwork to the Louvre.

 

Next, they got some manicures at the Arc Nail Salon.

After getting their portraits done next to Notre Dame Cathedral . . . 

 . . . they made a stop at the pastry shop for some refreshment. It was also the rendezvous point for all three tour groups.

By the time each tourist had finished her chosen sweets, the cinema across the street had opened for a rare showing of "Anastasia." Ramona and her friends made it in just in time to see the last half hour, beginning with the Paris sequence.

Soon it was time for the girls to head to the airport and catch their return flights home. It was a lovely afternoon in Paris--especially for our birthday girl, who seemed to be walking on a cloud the entire remainder of the day. Mika seemed to have a good time, too, and for the most part dealt well with the fact that her birthday was not until August.

It may be safe to say that one of Ramona's favorite birthday gifts was the "Frozen" movie.

She literally jumped for joy when she opened it.

Of course we had to plan a family movie night for that evening. With popcorn. I loved hearing Ramona's voice sing along to all of the Frozen songs and seeing the contentment on her face as she watched. Five seems like such a magical age.

Dear Ramona,
    We're so blessed to have had you these past five years. You have grown to be such a thoughtful and inquisitive little girl, and you like to add your own splash of fun and imagination to both work and play. Thank you for all the care you give your sisters, and for taking the time to say, "You look beautiful, Mommy." Your sweet compliments always lift my mood in moments when I feel frazzled and sloppy. Most of all, thank you for your affectionate hugs and "I love you's."

We love you, too!