October Outdoors

Eek, what a busy month October was! It began with a trip to Colorado. For my brother's wedding! Thank you for planning it in a glorious spot at a spectacular time. (Also, my brother is MARRIED!!!)

This was preceded by a September during which we all tried to make sure we had proper clothes for a fall wedding in the mountains. Or honestly, even just fall clothes that fit (Elise was all out of pants and did I unthinkingly donate Kalina's hand-me downs?!?). Turns out, only Matt had everything he needed. As the predicted weather switched from slightly chilly and partly cloudy to quite chilly and drizzly, and as all reasonable, matching cardigans sold out pretty much everywhere, that final week before the wedding was a bit of a scramble. 

Elise also packed her loud, sparkly rubber chicken, because Uncle Tom.

The trip started with a strange noise that the van was making, and by the time we'd almost arrived, Naomi's dental appliance had broken. On a Friday afternoon. When the office was closed. When we were a state away. We adopted my favorite strategy: pretend it didn't happen and that everything would be fine. Although we only got it reattached nearly 4 weeks later, due to busy-ness at the orthodontist's office, things still seem to be fine. For the record, Naomi is a trooper.

The remaining 45 minutes of the drive were pretty perfect. We arrived with plenty of time to make it to the rehearsal dinner, after first saying hi to Aunt Nancy and checking out the gift shop at the YMCA of the Rockies, where we were staying along with Aunt Nancy, Grandpa and Marianne. Because the time to buy souvenirs is definitely before you even begin the trip, right? Of course.

We weren't able to check into our room yet, so we headed over to the rehearsal location where we got to meet the bride's family and see lots of Tom's friends we hadn't seen in forever (or ever, in the case of some of the girls). Naomi was taught not to just drop the flower petals--because that's boring--but instead to toss them high in the air. She was totally up for it. The ring bearer, meanwhile, napped on his dad's shoulder. Naomi began to see that throwing flower petals would only be part of the job, and that she could have her work cut out for her getting that ring bearer up the aisle.

We caught up with people, ate a lovely dinner, and even squeezed in the most straightforward game of Telestrations I've ever played, with other guests, before heading back to our room for bed.

The next morning we trekked out on a gorgeous hike past the Twin Owls, along with other members of the wedding party and cousins. We enjoyed exploring and catching up along the way. Then, it was time for us to decorate for the reception and get all the bits and pieces in place (including, we debated, the chicken in a place of honor as part of the head table's centerpiece. Although we hated to waste the opportunity, we decided against, in the end. We didn't want the bride to have any reason to second-guess her decision. :) ). 

Back at the Y, after a drive through the elk festival in downtown Estes, which turned out to feel a lot like driving through an actual elk herd, we had enough time for a cooler lunch, showers, dressing and--for Naomi, hair curling before heading back through the crowds to the wedding. Naomi was actually quite excited to get all dressed up and although the curls didn't stay in very well, she exuded radiance and looked quite lovely.

And the wedding! Naomi scattered the petals with gusto, and also probably helped the ring bearer feel comfortable enough to make it up the aisle. The ceremony was gorgeous, and not nearly as rainy/chilly as I'd feared throughout the week before as I'd stocked up on all the warm wedding-ish things I could find for the girls of the family.

At the reception, the chicken did make an appearance on the cake table, and the photographer may have snapped a photo, but it wasn't too disruptive, I don't think. The girls enjoyed their food--Naomi having secured my promise beforehand that if she ordered the chicken fingers and fries she wouldn't actually have to eat the chicken ("Mom, a chicken had to die!"). I debated, but decided that in the spirit of unforced celebration, Matt could finish off the chicken. Elise had been glad, when we responded to the invite, to be allowed to choose the grownup lasagna instead of a kids meal. It all felt fancy and delicious--we don't attend too many formal occasions. Yum.

Elise managed to get in a little dancing (and maybe Naomi, too?), as did Matt and I, but I believe Kalina stayed glued to her spot, in true Hanks-Odegaard style. 

We had a lovely time but were ready for bed before everyone else was. However, that meant we were awake in time for a short hike in the morning with Aunt Nancy. The rain had held off so well, but we were nearly drizzled out this morning, being a little cautious about finding ourselves in a downpour a mile out from our warm, comfortable van. Still, we enjoyed some beautiful aspens and didn't really get wet, thanks to all the raingear I made us drag along. (I packed for ALL the weather.)

After hiking, we stopped at the store to pick up all the amazing brunch food, before heading to a lovely, elk-infested park for the post-wedding picnic brunch and a few rounds of spikeball. After which we said goodbye to all the relatives, and began adventuring on our own, namely in the form of a hike at RMNP. 

We may have spotted some endangered fish, but we definitely made it to our destination: Emerald Lake. After which, the weather looked a bit iffy (was that rain?) and still not wanting to be out there in a downpour, we yanked the kids away from their quiet admiration of the view and quickly retraced our steps to the parking lot. No rain, so we hiked the easy Bear Lake loop.

For dinner we decided to return to the yummy-looking mac and cheese we'd seen in the grocery store's deli when picking up the food. As if we'd only dreamed it, however, the mac and cheese had been replaced by a shiny, sterile, completely empty serving bin, ready for the next day's mac and cheese. Honestly, I think I was the only one that had major problems with that (hot. warm. comforting. dinner. now.). Matt, sensing the kids were in danger, wisely removed them toward the summer sausage, crackers, and cheese, while I glared at a row of prepackaged cold deli food.

Once eating my stupid pasta salad, doctored up with summer sausage, back at the hotel and divvying up cookies, though, my good nature returned and we made our plans for the next day before everyone else went to bed and I sat up for 2 hours reading alone in the dark (which I had 0 problem with).

The next morning we first hiked, and then hung out at a favorite part of the park: the Alleuvial Fan, an area with large rocks to climb and a waterfall. Climbing around on the rocks and wading in cold, clear water was pretty fun, but even better was taking turns with Elise's LifeStraw and sampling the water. Delicious, refreshing, clean... the list goes on. Best of all, no one got sick!

Back at the lodge, we ate a quick cooler lunch and Matt began putting in 1/2 day of remote work while the girls and I headed to the craft cabin. Kalina mosaiced an amazing cat pawprint, Elise turned a picture frame into a creative half-mosaic, half mountain artwork (and it turned out really cool!), and Naomi painted a lovely pumpkin for fall. She's been super into pumpkins lately. It poured while we were in there (and I chose that moment to run to the car to bring everyone's rain jackets in case it was still pouring when we left...not my best-thought-out idea ever), so I was glad we weren't hiking.

After our projects were finished, we headed to downtown Estes for some souvenir shopping. I love hiking with my girls, and I also love shopping with them, and I love that they love hiking and shopping as well. Kalina was looking for a t-shirt (preferably for much less than the $30+ we were seeing on many price tags), Naomi wanted a rock animal, and Elise wanted maybe a shirt, maybe a keychain, maybe a sticker--we'd see. 

Naomi was delighted to find two dinosaur rock animals she wanted, and kept her spending at that. Kalina eventually found a shirt that fit pretty much all of her qualifications, including price, and Elise found a super reasonable long-sleeved one as well. We also somehow found something to buy at the taffy store (aside from gifts for our pet-sitters), and wandered through an art gallery that left us all almost wanting to be CEOs when we grow up so that we could buy all of it. 

A spectacular sunset, a cooler dinner, and a bunch of packing rounded off the day. And the next morning, we headed back home. It sure is a long drive... wish we could make it more often, but we're pretty sure we'll be back!

But we weren't done with epic outdoor adventures in October! As part of her role as Girl Outdoor Lead with our AHG troop, Elise had the responsibility of planning the fall campout! And as there was no mentor in place for her and I'm her mom, plus the troop vice coordinator, I did my best to support (not control) her. Spoiler alert: the campout turned out awesome and Elise and I feel like we make a really good team. 

Actually, much was beyond Elise's control: she helped narrow down campsites, but our coordinator chose her #4 choice out of 4 options. The option we chose included a built-in evening activity--Elise was on board, but again didn't have much say. We also informed her we wanted to tie-dye matching troop t-shirts on the campout--an idea she loved, but had no say in. And finally, our troop shepherd and her team had an hourlong activity to do. So Elise was left with scattered chunks of time to accomplish her goals: namely, to complete/work on the Camping badge!

Elise decided that we'd go on a hike, and she figured out the meals, with some help from another team member. She also created the schedule--a monumental task that many adults would have trouble with--made a controversial decision about how the girls would contribute, delegated/invited other girls and adults to help, and wrote various communications. She wrote a packing list and made sure we had the right supplies.

The kicker: "I feel like I didn't do enough," is how she self-evaluated. Read: "I'd liked to have done it all!" Glad she likes her job!

One thing she couldn't have planned: the weather, which was pretty much perfect. 

In the end, despite a few mess-ups, the camping badge was as earned as it could be, the hike was fun, the meals were enjoyed, the evening activity was... okay and memorable... tie-dying was amazing, and the girls seemed to have a blast. It's going to be really hard to top, but as Elise is brimming with ideas, I'm pretty sure if anyone can do it, she can. 

Chaos and Camp

Thumbs up for summer camp!

Every week in the summer is different. Which is super refreshing and fun at first (towards the end I'm usually way ready for a schedule again). There's VBS week, with younger kiddos out of the house in the morning, there are various half-day camps, occasionally, and there are the weeks with nothing planned that end up planned anyway (but with trips to the pool, Hobby Lobby, fun places around town, playdates with friends, and random walks). There are also the inevitable trips and visits. 

Plus occasionally I like us to do math in the summer, and most days I assign some sort of a special chore, in addition to regularly scheduled music practice. As I commanded my kids to clean the baseboards, walls, doorframes, doors, and cabinets one morning, I realized that I wasn't sure I'd ever actually cleaned my own baseboards--or at least not more than a couple times. Only my mom's. It's totally a kid job that gets neglected when there are no able-bodied kids in the house. Another mommying mystery, solved: which adults actually regularly clean the baseboards? None of them! Why? Because it's not that important and it's hard on our knees! Why assign it to kids? So they learn to work/keep out of trouble/it's hard to mess up! Plus they're the ones who get them dirty in the first place! (Or, if you regularly clean your baseboards, just disregard this part. Also, I suppose now that I know better I will probably stay up on it, but for now it's totally a kid job. Please don't look too closely.)

And actually, cleaning the woodwork is a job they all actually really get into--especially Elise and Naomi and Magic Erasers. There's something truly satisfying about scrubbing dirt off polished wood. 

Anyway, summer is basically managed chaos (but good kinds of chaos!), which totally freaked poor Matt out when he first started working from home, and still does--especially when he actually tries to stay on top of our movements. I'm not sure why anyone tries, actually, because it all changes at any moment anyway.

Plus it helps that I purposefully schedule in plenty of down time. 

Chaos doesn't mean kids hanging from the chandeliers, by the way (except Elise recently hanging ribbons from the chandelier so it looks like a giant jellyfish--a big improvement). Sometimes it means everyone is peacefully reading one minute and then rushing out the door to piano lessons/pool/local attraction/playdate/etc. the next. 

Ah, summer!

But nothing challenges a chaotic summer schedule like a week of sending the older kids off to a 5-night camp. 

To prepare, we bunched all of our activities into the week before and week after (talk about chaos!). We also discussed all the "what ifs?" To help with these, we devised a code, knowing that the camp photographer would make her rounds every day.

In addition, watched videos on horses, as the camp was called Horse Wilderness. They would be doing wilderness things, and also horse things. Kalina, not being super into horses, was going to have to fake it. Elise, not being in 7th grade yet, was also going to have to fake it. [The camp was officially for grades 7 and 8, but by nudging Elise into 7th--which she could totally be in anyway. As long as no one asked too many questions. Plus usually once people meet Elise, they want to keep her, so she I knew her personality would work in her favor if need be.]

And finally, we packed. The girls packed from a rather sparse list, and we asked our friends about the rest. They actually ended up well-prepared, and not really over-prepared. Perfect.

And I wrote letters, one to be delivered to each girl, each day. I believe most kids got a, "Love you! Mom" type of letter. Not mine. They received 3 long, fun (to me!) letters from me, and another each from one of the cats. 

And then we were off! It took me an entire day to drop them get them to camp, and return home empty-handed.

The drive up was fun, getting excited about camp. We talked through scenarios and discussed what to do at each one. The girls read. I savored the last couple hours of me and my older girls. And finally, we made it to the iconic restaurant we'd agreed to meet up with our friends at, with whom they'd be attending camp (just the kids, though). 

After another drive, we arrived at the camp. And then, after I spent 4 hours in the car, plus a restaurant meal, it took all of 10 minutes to drop them off. I felt ripped off, and ripped apart.

I didn't mean to come back a zillion times after dropping them off, but it happened. First, to encourage sunscreen--after all, they were standing right in the sun! Seriously, girls?!? Then, to ask Kalina if she wanted the book that was on the front seat (she didn't). Next, to take their picture. Everyone was laughing at me at this point, self included.

The whole cabin! Elise has
apparently found a snail, and
the fun counselor is
interviewing it for the
photo. Because Elise.

Finally, I actually drove away, with Kalina loudly predicting I'd be back. Soon, it dawned on me that I hadn't told the counselor that the girls would be picked up by their friends' parents, which is kinda important. Back I went--but that was it! I turned on my audio books and hit the road. 

By evening, the camp had uploaded loads of photos from check-in and the first chapel service. And there I was! One of my many attempts to say goodbye was captured for posterity. More important, there were my girls, vehemently giving me thumbs ups in each picture.

Kalina makes breakfast

Why thumbs ups? It's all about the code we'd developed. We agreed that if the girls saw the photographer and wanted to communicate to me that the camp was actually a forced labor camp, and they needed to be picked up immediately, they were to smile and wave for the camera with one hand. If the girls saw the photographer and wanted to communicate to me that there were no bathrooms nearby (this was a legitimate worry for about 30 terror-stricken minutes during packing), she was to wave with two hands. If everything was fine, they were to give me a thumbs up. This made us all feel better.

Waiting for breakfast

I wondered if all week, all I would see in photos would be thumbs. Fortunately, that was not the case--they relaxed and had a fantastic time, from the looks of the photos. I did not, unfortunately, get a single shot of one of my girls on or even near a horse. But I did see that they cooked breakfast outside (Kalina tended the fire and checked the meal), did a perfectly coordinated Church Clap at chapel, and threw hatchets at a target (embarrassingly, I didn't actually recognize them until they got home and they showed me...). 

Church clap!

Another stalker-Mom moment happened every evening when I checked their account balance to see if I needed to add more cash. You know, for things like candy and slushies (cushy camp!). One night, I saw that Elise had spent something like $17 and I figured out that she had probably purchased a milkshake and a t-shirt. But which shirt? After checking out the store online, I found the camp horse shirt that looked just like Elise. Was I right? (spoiler alert--I was only wrong about the milkshake!)

This is a picture I
didn't recognize
until after they
showed me at home.
Because ax throwing
?!?!?

The girls had a fantastic time, adored their counselor (who also adored them--and regained hope after having been ready to quit her job after the previous week and was giving it one more just to see), slept under the stars 3 nights in a row (and got rained on the last one!), rode horses a lot and BOTH enjoyed it, went down the water slide, rode the giant swing (terrifying, apparently!), enjoyed the food just the right amount (they were really excited about my lasagna, corn and bean salad, etc. back at home), loved the other kids, learned an amazing new song they're still singing, and decided that of course they'd be going back the next year. (Surely there are amazing camps closer to home though, right??)

But Kalina and Elise weren't the only girls who had a fantastic week! Naomi started talking the minute they left and didn't stop until after they got back home. We loved hearing from her. 

Plus, she attended our favorite art camp with a good friend, Emily. As a bonus, the camp has a mini farm attached to it, and the new animals this year were bunnies. Every "recess," Naomi bonded with the same one. The whole recess. 

Naomi and her non-
bunny friend

Naomi and her camp bunny

Naomi and Emily, although they were only 8 and 9, were allowed to be in the upstairs area this year, with more advanced projects. They actually did a stained glass project that turned out beautifully (Naomi made an orange cat), as well as a hanging clay planter and one or two other things. They had a blast. 

You'd think we would've had a lot of extra time on our hands, but that wasn't the case. I'd found a sweet little paper flower kit and we poured over the complex instructions and completed a few steps every day, waiting to let the glue dry. We learned a lot and produced a poppy and a purple one by the end of the week. They were lovely, but time-consuming! We also worked on a couple badges, since Naomi's trying to fill her AHG flower this summer, having just moved up to the next level. And baked, and read, and chatted, and played games.

With a playdate or two and other random things going on, the week passed super quickly, but we enjoyed every moment of it. In fact, we might just send the older girls away for a week every year...

Naomi and her art

Our friends stayed the night after
camp! After lots of showers, we
had dinner and celebrated 
Kalina's birthday early, because
we could.

Orchestra at last

Kalina after her concert.
She was delighted by
the knowledge that 
everyone was going to
completely clash in their
Christmas outfits and
bright orange masks!

Ever since Kalina has been old enough to understand that music is different than other sounds we hear, she's reacted to it. First, but a super-smooth dance move I didn't see anywhere else. Then, by singing and humming, in tune. With great rhythm, no less. 

Although she's not one to just pick up and start playing of her own volition, with a couple nudges, and the occasional strong persuasion, she flourishes. Kalina began piano at nearly 5 and picked up on it quickly. She stopped wanting to practice a few weeks in, but, after the 3 or so years we've required of all our kiddos, she didn't push (too hard) to stop.

In her low moments we always reminded her that learning piano would help her with other instruments as well as develop her brain.

Then I heard about a highly reviewed homeschool orchestra program that I just knew Kalina would love. Right? She agreed that it might be a good idea to try, and when it finally gcame time for Kalina to bring home a rental viola, sure enough, she was able to dig right in. 

I'd taught her a few violin skills a while back, which she actually remembered. We also attended a class offered by the music store about the care and keeping of a violin. She's shown the utmost diligence in adhering to the guidelines--sometimes annoyingly so (putting the entire thing completely away just to make a quick trip to the bathroom mid-practice-session).

Kalina quickly learned a new clef, thanks to her masterful transposition skills, and gradually began to make the instrument sound tolerable, while I attempted to provide just the right amount of instruction to keep her going, but not so much that I overwhelmed or irritated her. Sometimes I succeeded. I promised her that although our schedule conflicted with homeschool orchestra at the time, she'd be able to sign up for it the next year (so, fall of 2020).

But with the good ear Kalina has for music, she knew her playing wasn't up to standards. Which made her want to try harder, right? Nope. She put on a brave face for a month or two, but then she was kinda ready to be done. And who can blame her, honestly? "I feel like I'm getting good at piano, but viola...?" She wasn't wrong--we all know something like learning an instrument is a long haul.

After the usual pep talk ("I know this is hard, but I really think you'll think it's worth it when you play in orchestra next year, and if not, you can quit, plus you're really sounding better all the time"), she'd begrudgingly pick up her instrument again.

Repeat every few weeks.

We inched along in the music book the music store had prescribed, with Kalina hesitant to forge ahead, and me walking the tightrope between patience and non-threatening nudges toward progress.

We did have a few highs: she found a few gems in the beginner book, including a round she could play endlessly with me on piano (unfortunately for her, I couldn't). She started to think of herself as a viola player.

But keeping the practice routine going was a chore for both of us. Finally, to save our sanity, I started giving Kalina a week off a month. She only reluctantly picked up her instrument at the end of that week, but at least found the arrangement somewhat fair and so didn't argue (much).

By early summer, Kalina was nearing the end of her music book, as well as her rope. I encouraged her to skip to the end, since the final pieces were more interesting and therefore more motivational. But also more intimidating. Lest I sound pushy, I'll take a moment to remind us all that Kalina was born with perfect pitch, perfect rhythm, and a strong appreciation for classical music. She's no slouch.

Unfortunately, the steam Kalina had been coasting on evaporated in the lazy summer heat. This time I could tell nothing was going to work: no refreshing breaks, or cool pieces, or pep talks. 

And if it hadn't been for the fact that orchestra would be starting in just 4 weeks, I think we would've handed in the instrument and pretended it never happened. But at least we would've stayed friends.

As it happened, not only was it finally, finally time to sign Kalina up for orchestra, but she'd need to perform a low-key audition just so the conductor could place her in the correct orchestra for her level. "Can she come tomorrow?" the conductor asked over the phone. Knowing my girl, I bought her an extra day or two to let her get used to the idea.

With her self-respect on the line, she practiced without needing an extra nudge. 

I knew the audition would be low-key, but what I didn't expect was that due to the fact that I try not to overuse air-conditioning, my temperature would be slightly elevated when we entered the store and I would have to wait outside. Fortunately, Kalina's was fine, so Naomi, Elise, and I killed time in the car and the conductor came outside to chat from a distance after they were finished, and let us peek into the large orchestra room while enumerating their covid precautions. 

And as often happens in life, but is by no means assured, Kalina's hard, if occasionally reluctant, work paid off! She was placed in the intermediate orchestra, and given a few tips on holding the bow. 

And my hard work, too, by the way. Because it's been real. And now I get to officially call myself a viola teacher, which is probably enough to make any actual viola teacher cringe.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that I wasn't able to enter the store, we'd have to return at a later time to fit Kalina for the next-size-up viola. 

At home, my temperature was perfectly normal--but the 20-minute round-trip drive meant I wasn't eager to return the same day. Still, I appreciated their caution, especially since we were going to be sending Kalina in for orchestra once a week.

When we arrived the next week to claim a larger viola, I blasted the air conditioning, and we were all admitted into the store. A viola was quickly found, and when Kalina played it her eyes lit up--the larger instrument meant a richer, mellower sound, plus shiny new rosin, and she was hooked, at least temporarily.

We celebrated with frozen yogurt at the nearby place, and the girls giggled at the fact that they weren't allowed up to the counter to pick out toppings ("No Children [and their grubby little hands and uncovered sneezes] At Toppings Station," a sign warned us). They had to call their topping choices out to me from 10 feet away, and then we all ate outside.

Practicing went better as Kalina enjoyed her new instrument and began digging into the first few exercises in the orchestra book she'd be using. The month or so left to wait before orchestra began, however, dragged on. But just as Kalina was again about ready to throw in the towel, I was able to remind her that orchestra was the next week...and then the next day. 

Nervous? Absolutely. But guardedly excited, Kalina responsibly packed up her instrument and music, forgetting nothing and eagerly headed out the door. 

Was I nervous? Thank you for asking! Actually, I felt as though my career as a mom hinged on this event. I'd taken the risk of nudging, urging, pushing, and pulling Kalina into orchestra--not without her acquiescence, but sometimes against her immediate desires (to go read instead). But the question remained: how well do I know my own child?!?

I walked Kalina to the door, and she bravely headed in. While I bravely headed back to the minivan.

The weather was beautiful and I'd left Naomi and Elise home with work-at-home Matt, a few short assignments, and a Magic Schoolbus DVD. The commute back and forth to orchestra class is significant enough that I didn't want to drive back and forth, so I spent my time at the park planning for my writing class and chatting with a new homeschooler (there are a lot of those nowadays).

I would imagine we've all guessed it: Kalina came out of orchestra ecstatic about her opportunity to play with a group. But also intimidated by the amount of music she'd need to learn by next week. We might have to pick up our pace--something deliberate Kalina has not encountered before, as she usually prefers to take her time and learn something 100% (and remember it pretty much forever) than rush through--and her piano teachers have always appreciated and accommodated that preference. 

This proved to be a stretching experience. But Kalina seemed to show up (mostly) prepared for each class, plus her skills improved greatly. Being a "caring" [read: nosy] mom, I asked her each time I picked her up if she was keeping up okay. In subtle ways, of course. It sounds as though although the cello section wasn't quite pulling it's weight all the time, Kalina probably was. Or she's old enough to do a great cover-up job when telling her mom about it.

Plus, she took it seriously enough that she was uncomfortable with the idea of going in unprepared. So although Kalina still doesn't relish practicing, the weekly class is enough to keep her going. I got to hear play-by-plays of the progress they were all making on the way home.

Naomi, Elise and I settled into a Thursday-morning routine of dropping Kalina off at orchestra, and then heading to the nearby park for nature study, drawing, science, poetry, literature, writing, PE, a little math--or whatever fit into the morning. Most of the time, the weather cooperated well enough, and either way, the van was warm. They LOVED this (except when we studied bugs--that was not Naomi's favorite) and although it took a little extra creativity and preparation on my part, I usually did, too. 

In this way, Thursday mornings were good for all of us--Kalina would come out of orchestra just glowing, and Elise and Naomi enjoyed a different type of learning, plus some sister bonding.

Kalina's on the right, hidden
by a music stand, and in direct
sunlight. But she's there!!!

We were so excited for Kalina's concert for two reasons: the first was that we'd actually get to see her play. The second was because two of us would get to attend in person, with careful covid precautions. Elise and I were the lucky two: Matt and Naomi would watch from home. Additionally, lots of family were able to watch from their own homes, which we think is just an awesome silver lining of this pandemic.

The playing was impressive, and it's clear the conductor was proud of the kids' work. Kalina played well and came out on a cloud of air: "I feel like I could play in orchestra for the rest of my life!" She's already counting the days until the next class, in mid-January. And practicing!

While we wait, we're enjoying playing Christmas music together (with me on piano) and Kalina's working on some new techniques. She's sounding great, too. I'm just so grateful she's found an activity she truly loves, and that the rest of us are enjoying as well!