May was a crazy month finishing school, but we so enjoyed all of the hustle & bustle. Attending James & Anna’s performances & activities is one of our favorite things to do!

We started the month off with a couple of band concerts. James performed in concert band & jazz band and played a variety of instruments. In the video below he is playing the drumset. While you can’t see him, you can hear him! 

James playing in a percussion ensemble for Solo & Ensemble Festival.

Anna performed in another show in early May, this time with a contemporary dance. So fun to watch her enjoy another genre of dance. She’s getting to be an expert with her contacts & stage makeup now & enjoys making a time-lapse video while she gets ready. 

James & Anna playing piano together. Makes my heart happy!

Track season continued into May. James prefers to run sprints & relays but sometimes Coach enters him in long-distance races too. After one 400-meter race, James wasn’t feeling too great, hence the pictures of him lying on the field with his feet in the air. 

Anna singing Allelu with the 6th-grade girls in assembly in May. 

Spanish Day in 6th grade included students presenting their PowerPoint presentations on their Latin America country project. Anna studied, wrote about & presented on Costa Rica. The day also included fun with a pinata, ordering in Spanish from a taco truck & enjoying other foods from the countries the students studied. Anna brought in fried plantains to share with the class. The Spanish 3 & 4 students from the high school came to run some of the activities which was fun. They spoke to the kids in Spanish & definitely tested their skills. This was our last curriculum day together which was kind of bittersweet. 

Anna & Emmy hanging out together, painting rocks. The rock on the front porch says ‘Besties = A+E’. 

Girl’s Night, hanging out at Scheels & riding the Ferris wheel!

I love the varying weather we get in the Spring – snow one day & new little leaves appearing on the trees another. 

Anna began rehearsals for The Sleeping Beauty in February, & performed the show in April. The performance was the full-length ballet & was so beautiful. 

April included more track practices & meets for James. I love this photo of James handing off the baton to his best friend, Caden, in a relay. 

Anna had so many “lasts” in April at the elementary campus which included her last Art Show & last Service Run. While we recognize all of the last things she’s doing, these events have been joy-filled for all of us as we anticipate her move to Jr. High in the fall. 

Kenny came to cheer Anna on in her last run around the school, & I helped as a lap counter.

I love these ‘Then & Now ‘collages that Google makes!

In April, my parents came out for a visit. We attended a track meet & jazz festival that James participated in, & also celebrated our April birthdays together. James turned fifteen! 

Anna performed in her last music concert of elementary school in April. It was a special opportunity to dance en pointe as well. Anna & two other friends who also went en pointe this past fall asked if they could dance to one of the songs & their music teacher was all for it. The girls did a wonderful job choreographing a dance that complimented the music so beautifully. 

Our principal giving her appreciation of the girls’ dance

The girls & Mrs. Crane, their music teacher for seven years

In the fall, Kenny & I planted tulip & daffodil bulbs in our backyard. We’ve been anxiously awaiting their arrival this spring & were so pleased with the result! We covered the tender shoots & stems with buckets & blankets during frosts & snows. All of that hassle was worth it!