End of the Summer

Two more weeks until I move to California and start college!!!
Lots of fun things have been happening in the meantime.

Jack, the sweetest tomcat around

driving to Sioux Falls for a shopping trip

fun on SDSU campus

Katie came over and we accidentally coordinated

Farmer's Market fun with mom's new bike

Two Recitals

     This weekend was a busy one: special Mass for the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions on Saturday morning, then a voice recital Saturday afternoon. Mother's Day Mass and brunch on Sunday morning, then my last studio piano recital on Sunday afternoon. A little tiring, but good practice for my senior recital, which is in less than two weeks!

I sang "Intorno All'idol Mio" by Antonio Cesti and Tessie and I did a duet of Franck's Panis Angelicus.

Seven kids at Mothers Day brunch!

For the studio recital I played the fantasia from Bach's Partita III in A minor.

I got a special trophy and pin for being a senior.

Mothers' Day and Flowers

After singing at Mass, we went to McCrory Gardens for a Mothers' Day brunch. It was raining when we got there, but not long after the sun came out and we walked around the gardens after eating.

Mostly tulips out for TuliPalooza. 

This one still had rainwater inside it.

New growth, kinda felt like a toothbrush.

Cool tunnel #1

anemones

Cool tunnel #2

Cool sister #1 

Cool sister #2

More Easter Pictures

From Mom's phone.

The official group picture.

Setting the table.

Just a sample of our numerous eggs...most of them mine. 

Coconut cake!

Easter Vigil Exsultet

Ukrainian Eggs!

We used to do Pysanky (Ukrainian eggs) a lot when I was younger, but a few years ago we got rid of the supplies and hadn't done them since. So Mom and I ordered a kit to do during this Lent! It's so fun and relaxing, and the smell is really nostalgic.
Susannah, Nicole, and Marie came over and we did our first batch of eggs. It took a little re-learning, and there were some cracking mishaps, but we had a lot of fun.

The first done ones! And some unfinished.

All our supplies: candles, dyes, kistkas, eggs, and wax. 

Day two:

Valentine's Day

Mom and I visit the homeschool co-op on Tuesdays so she can teach art and I can help with Latin. We get there during snack time, and sometimes they offer us some of their treats. Today I received several little gifts--so cute!

Hot chocolate mix, a slinky, a heart made of molten crayons, a little rock person, and chocolates (which I already ate).

Mom's Birthday!

Happy birthday to my wonderful mother! Thank you for everything! I will miss our times together next year! 

with aunt Sr. Martina, OSB, in Germany this past October

2016 in Review

The new year is here, and it's time to reflect on the year that just closed. I'll look at the highlight of each month of 2016.

January
In January I got to go to the March For Life, spent 74 hours in a bus next to my best friend, attended Mass in a roadside ditch during a snowstorm, enjoyed sleeping on a gym floor with nothing but a blanket, and most importantly helped make history and gain media attention for the pro-life cause.

February

North Central ACDA Regional Honor Choir was by far my favorite of my honor choir experiences. Dr. Head was an amazing director and over that magical weekend I learned so much about myself as a musician.

March
Sang for four Masses and one Good Friday liturgy over the Easter Triduum. And early Easter meant that when I turned 17, it was no longer Lent!

April
In April BHS choirs went on a trip to Omaha to see Phantom of the Opera live at the Orpheum Theatre. The production was too fabulous for words.

MayMy best friends graduated from high school. Crazy how time goes by.

June
Got to live with Nicole for two weeks while my family traveled around the country going to weddings and getting proposed to. Also, Shakespeare Camp began in late June.

July
TAC Summer Program. I wish I could relive those two weeks exactly how they happened. So happy to be returning there for college next year!

August

South Dakota Honor Choir, though exhausting and a bit much right after TAC, was still an unforgettable musical experience. Good ol' Randy Stenson and the IlluminAltos.

September

After my last Broomtree, I started senior year. Which I wish were already done.

October
Mom and I went to Germany, stayed in a picturesque abbey, ate delicious food, spent time with my now-professed aunt, and witnesses the miracle at the tomb of St. Walburga. So much history. So much Catholic. So much joy.

NovemberNaNoWriMo 2016. Wrote a novel which I changed into a novella after meeting word count quota. Kind of a tragic story but beautiful in its own way. Also, official acceptance from TAC plus a free t-shirt.

December
The twins came home from college and we went on The Bestie Roadtrip. Great music, laughs, conversations, hugs, food, everything. The ultimate road trip.

So yeah, 2016 was pretty cool for my life. I can't wait to see what 2017 brings my way!

Christmas 2016 (part 2)

In the past week, the weather has been like this...

...so we've spent a lot of time inside playing games, etc.

Some interesting/special Christmas presents:

"open when" letters from Cecilia

bamboo watch from Mom & Dad

Catholic planner from Mom--it's insanely complete

Rosary bracelet from Spare Mama Kane

I knitted this scarf for Claud...it was a long and fun project!

A few days after Christmas, the besties came over and we baked gingerbread. Dad and Patrick were especially pleased with the results.

We had a quiet New Year's Eve. I went to bed early because I was singing for Mass this morning.

Happy New Year, and feast of Mary, Mother of God!