Hannah was excited to graduate into the ‘big kids’ choir this year and with that came performing an entire Christmas musical. The kids did great and Hannah was in her glory!!
My little princess didn’t miss a beat when her crown fell off!
Love her beautiful smile!!
Each Sunday evening Hannah goes to the children’s choir at our church while I attend a small group Bible study. At first it was a little tough to give up our Sunday evenings together but we soon connected with the people in choir and the small group and now look forward to this time! Hannah enjoys the choir and we also take one of her little friends that she attended JK and SK with so it’s neat to keep up that friendship now that they go to different schools. I am finding the connection of a small group to be wonderful and not only are the adults learning, growing and getting to know one another but the kids are too. When we’re all together at a social there are over 40 of us and we have a blast together! So thankful for these friendships that are growing for both of us.
The children recently presented their spring musical and it was such a treat to watch and hear Hannah sing! She was nervous beforehand but I could tell by her face that she was really enjoying herself!
As summer draws near we’re enjoying our quieter Sunday evenings but it will be great to get back to children’s choir and small group in the fall.
Last week I hosted a piano recital for my students and it was wonderful! In the past I have always shared the recital with a great friend but unfortunately this year it didn’t work out. When I first found out I would be on my own I briefly considered cancelling it as I only have 5 students but just as quickly knew that they would shine and I wanted to offer them the opportunity to share their music with family and friends! I’m so glad I went forward with it!
Hannah was there to play for me and she was also a big help in preparing for the recital by helping Mom and I! Thanks Hannah!
She played Twinkle, Twinkle once again and then we played our duet. What a special moment it is to play piano with my girl!!
My students! They all played so well!
Two of my students are good friends of Hannah’s. It was fun to see the 3 of them running around together playing after the recital.
Kaitlyn has been my student for almost 10 years and her playing has progressed to a level where I have taken her as far as I can. In September she’ll be moving to Hannah’s Nana for lessons and I look forward to hearing how she progresses! It has been such a treat teaching you Kaitlyn!!
Here are a couple of Kaitlyn’s pieces from the recital. Beautiful playing!!
One of my co-workers is an amazing baker and she made these cookies for me. They tasted as great as they look!!
I created little covers for the water bottles and the kids thought it was neat to see their names on the bottles! It was a fun little surprise for them!
I am so thankful these girls and the pleasure of teaching them to play the piano. The one evening I teach each week Hannah enjoys time with Grandma and Grandpa. Another wonderful year of teaching and I’m looking forward to September as a whole new curriculum has been introduced!
Hannah is working so hard at her piano practices, lessons and playing this year yet she still knows how to have fun too. As you can see by these pics…sometimes more fun is had than practice accomplished.
She can play with her toes
and her chin!
Once she gets her sillies out we can normally proceed with a good practice. We’re consistently practicing 5 days a week, most days before school and this is a much better time for both of us!
This little performance highlights not only my hard working little girl’s progress but also her fun, outgoing, adorable personality that I love so much!
One night we went to one of the local country clubs for dinner knowing that it was home of the singing servers. What fun!
Their first set began with ‘Be Our Guest’
Just before we ended our evening one of the guys sang ‘Let It Go’ for Hannah. Here she finds out they’re singing a song just for her! (She was the only little one in the restaurant and a huge hit with her Mulan dress on.)
Unfortunately my camera battery died shortly after he started singing for her but thankfully Nana’s iPad captured a bit more.
It was a great way to enjoy dinner together and such a different experience. We’d do this again for sure!
I have been teaching piano for more than 15 years yet this year’s recital stands out. This year Hannah played in my recital and she played really well!
LOL – I will also say that I have a whole new appreciation for my parents and the team effort of student and parent that practice is. I’ve heard my fair share of ‘I’m too tired!’ and been faced with a Hannah flopped over the bench for additional effect just in case mommy needed more convincing. Oye! Most days she does okay and the drama is minimal and we can complete her practice in 15-20 mins. Other days…not so much!
All her (OUR) hard work since the fall when she began her lessons with Nana is evident and she is progressing well for being just 5yo. I want piano to be something enjoyable for both of us. Most days it is and other days welll…we won’t go there! Heh – I’m sure any parent who has spent time practicing an instrument alongside their child will understand completely!! There are times when I sit at her lesson and cheer inwardly (and sometimes even outwardly) when she masters something that she has worked hard on at home!! Piano is not an easy instrument and Hannah is working very hard! I love that I have the opportunity to offer this to Hannah and I hope in time she will appreciate it too.
Hannah and her friend Ava (one of my students) waiting for the recital to begin.
Mommy and her little princess. I let her choose her dress for the recital and I think she made the perfect choice!
This morning as Hannah and I were on our way to church she began to sing and I couldn’t grab my camera fast enough! I didn’t care where we needed to be or when we were supposed to get there. This moment was all about the beautiful concert Hannah was offering and I wanted to soak up every single moment. Love her ‘creative’ wording and rap style of ‘Twinkle Twinkle.’ I’m sad to realize that by next Christmas her creative words will be left far behind so I was thankful to catch this and appreciate it today!
Birthday celebrations spread over 8 days.
7 birthday cakes to enjoy.
14 candles to blow out.
More love and excitement than I can express!
These past 8 days have been filled with so many birthday celebrations for Hannah that I’m guessing tomorrow she’ll wonder what’s happened? Hannah is loved by so many and they all wanted to celebrate her birthday in a special way so we partied over and over and over again!
You know what’s so neat? Every-single-time we began to sing Happy Birthday to her her little face lit up and she was absolutely adorable. That little face is captured well in the first video below. By the end of the weekend Hannah was even joining in on the singing and today serenaded herself on more than one occasion. The words are creative but there’s no questioning what it is she’s singing. Enjoy the cuteness!
And we continued after a quick call from Hannah’s cousin who had been trying to call her for a couple of days to wish her a Happy Birthday. Thanks Noah!
I’m working my way through many pics and videos so there will be more birthday posts to come but for now, wanted to share these with you.
I remember when I first began my wait for Hannah, one of the real concerns I had was about playmates for her. I wouldn’t say I really ‘worried’ about it as I’m not a worrier by nature but I was concerned at times for sure.
At the time I was 38 not a kid, and most my friends had children who were already in school and some were nearing their teens. I’d find myself wondering if Hannah would grow up mainly surrounded by adults unless she was at school or Sunday School? That would have been ok but truly it’s was not my heart’s desire for her. My heart’s desire was to have a group of friends myself who also had young children so that we could all spend time together as families.
Well, I need not have been concerned. As always, God has provided in more ways than I ever could have hoped or imagined!! He provided a sweet cousin for Hannah who is only 4 1/2 months older than she and as they’re growing up, they’re beginning to enjoy playing together which is such fun to watch.
God also provided SO many new friends for Mommy while I was waiting and now their children are Hannah’s friends too. So cool!! Our lives are full of love, family, fun and friends. Who could ask for more?
Last weekend we were invited to hang out with some friends for the weekend and we couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough. Well, Mommy said yes and Hannah found out hours before we went where we were going. She was going to see her dear friend Ben and she was excited! Since our FL trip she talks about Ben daily.
My first attempt to take a pic of our busy toddlers together. You can see that they’d much rather play than sit for a photo shoot!
As bed time neared we turned on the TV for a little wind down time after hours of running, jumping and fun! Check out the cuteness! 
My little sweetie wanted a little more closeness (read: she wanted Ben’s chair whether he was in it or not!) so she took matters into her own hands. I laugh that she seems totally oblivious to Ben’s concern.
All weekend it was ‘Monkey See, Monkey Do!’ What one would do the other had to do also. Here they were running circles around the main floor each holding one end of a monkey. Pretty appropriate! 
All too quickly our time together was done and it was time for Hannah and I to travel home. Hannah takes her goodbye’s seriously. Ben? He thought whatever was on the TV was far more interesting that kissing some girl! Heh!
We truly enjoyed our time with your friends and are already looking forward to when we can do it again!
This coming weekend Hannah and I will be hanging with more wonderful friends. Auntie K and mommy are due for some long overdue catching up while Hannah, Chick and Pea will enjoy their time playing, running and jumping together. (Notice a pattern with Hannah’s play times?)
I have to work late Friday night so don’t have to go to work until noon that day. Auntie K and I are going to take the kiddos on a trip down memory lane tomorrow morning. While we were on mat leave together we attended a music class on Friday afternoons. Tomorrow we’re going to a class for toddlers offered by the same teacher . I know the teacher will be excited to see them! Here’s a pic of them at our first music class together in January of 2010. They were all such babies! (Sorry about the awful quality.)
I’ll try to take a pic tomorrow of the children enjoying Zita’s new music class.
Hannah and I are blessed to share our lives with many friends. Some mommy has known since she was young and others have come into our lives over the past few years. Whether old or new, we treasure each of them and the time we are blessed to share together.
