First Violin Recital!

Guess what! Autumn played in her very first violin recital on Saturday! I have a lot more pictures but I'm saving them for a Passing Pinwheels post. What I *do* have to post is very blurry video of Autumn's piece. I think she did super well! She's only been playing since August and was the newest of the students who played in this recital. There were 2 other recitals later in the afternoon which kept this blessedly short...although, I have to say, some of the kids who played Saturday were downright amazing! I also really feel like Autumn did well because it was an intimate location where all the people were just RIGHT THERE. Here she is, it's blurry and the youtube stabilizer cut her head off some but you can hear it fine. Mike has a better version but I know better than to wait on him, hahahaha.



During the awards portion Autumn...wasn't a fan of looking at all the people.

At all. She deadpanned for every. single. award. We were absolutely cracking up. Autumn racked up the awards Saturday which means we got to see plenty of scowls. She got a participation certificate, a ribbon for composing her own music, and a trophy for practicing 5 days a week all semester, and I feel like there is something I'm forgetting.

When she went up for her trophy, I stood up and made a huge, cheesy grin and pointed at my face. It worked!

Much better! Let's end on an even happier (and less purple-lit) note: pajama day at school! Autumn went ALL OUT.

Comfy!

Happy Grandparents, Grumpy Cousins, and Autumn the Instructor!

Boppa turned 89 this month!!

One of their friend's from church hosted a massive get together to celebrate. As you can see, Autumn broke out the fancy jewelry for the occasion.

Here's the problem with being a few weeks behind. See my hair? It's already different! I cut it short back in October and I really liked it. I was scared to go full pixie cut but on Friday I took the plunge. And...it's also blackish now. I still have long bangs but my hair is pretty short in the back and on the sides. So far most folks are of the opinion that it looks nice. Autumn feels like Ellie looks here. I told her not to despair because when in her short life can she remember me having the same hair for more than a few months??

Here's Kiri being cozy in Autumn's coat pocket. I love that coat. I fell in love with it at Target but just couldn't pay however much it was. So when I found it on clearance...well, you know.

I've been trying to get Mike to try a new hairstyle but it ain't happenin'! He had fun hanging out with Ellie for a bit. Her tiny little "no" is adorable and she says it all the time. Mike asks her questions she's going to say no to just to hear her. Whenever we're home and we say no, we do it in Ellie Voice!

She's so thrilled to be hugged my her overzealous cousin. SO THRILLED.

Autumn is happy to see Pd, OF COURSE. I never did find Lainey to get a photo of her with Autumn.

Over to the other side of the family, my mom and Autumn had some fun a couple Wednesdays ago. I enjoyed this picture of the two of them coloring. I think they were making cards for our Operation Christmas Child boxes. We went shopping together and had a great time.

Autumn's about to be too big for Lula pony rides. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

My mom is kind of interested in learning to play the violin so Autumn decided to do some teaching. For some reason I was thinking this was the same night as the pony riding but while reading the preview, I realized Autumn is in a different outfit. Anyway, she was ready to teach my mom how to play, like, Jingle Bells but I suggested starting with a scale.

Fun times all around!

I usually don't advertise when I'm going to be out of town but everyone keep me in your prayers! I am heading to California to train for and then take my black belt test in Aikido. Some of you remember that I did get a black belt earlier this year in combatives. This one is for my foundational art and I've been training 10 years for this! It's a more formal and traditional test and situation in general so I'm nervous but excited. I might not get a chance to post next Monday but I'm going to try to keep Passing Pinwheels and the Aikido Facebook page up to date with my adventures.

If we don't meet in person or online between now and then, have a fantastic Thanksgiving!!

Mobile Moments: Violins, Memories, and Molly is Weird Part 5002

So, I totally forgot to get Mike to share his album of our trip sooooo you get THIS. AUTUMN PLAYING THE VIOLIN.


Sunday was pretty fun. We got to skype Uncle Brad and he and Autumn played a Twinkle Twinkle duet. I should have recorded it but I did get a photo! I know a lot of people aren't fans of social media, technology, and other advances but, personally? I love it.

Last week we had Autumn as Fancy Nancy. This week we have mismatch day! Autumn got to participate for reaching her AR goal, yay! There are things I miss about Autumn over the years as she has grown up way too rapidly. One of the big things is when she had that cute cartoon sounding voice. I think another thing I'll miss is when she doesn't play dress up all the time. But then...maybe she'll be like me and wear a costume every chance she gets!

Okay, I have to post this video that's on my youtube page of Autumn and her cartoon voice.


Sigh. Anyway, we got pie Saturday. Autumn ROLLED through her piece. It was kind of amazing. I almost didn't get her a piece of her own but, holy cow, I am glad I did. I wouldn't have gotten any! This child eats as much as I do and I eat a LOT. If you are ever in the Germantown area, be sure to stop by Pie Folks. It's good stuff!

Other than eating and skyping and violining, Autumn is still doing her kiwi crate every month (um, if you're ever tempted to buy a subscription or a crate, go to my other blog and click the banner!). This crate was pretty fun. She made a hobby horse! I have no idea where it went but before we even started, Autumn lost one of the ears. She named the horse Holy after our friend's cat. The cat has a damaged ear so they named her Holyfield. Recently, I explained to Autumn, at her request, the reason behind the name. "So there was this boxer named Mike Tyson and he was CRAZY and there was this other boxer named Evander Holyfield. Well, one day..."

Oh, and speaking of cats, if you were wondering how Molly is doing, she has a new hobby. She found the unpaired sock basket. So now we find socks in random places all over the house. The strange thing is that we have never actually seen her carrying the socks. I don't know when she does it or why. It's kinda funny and weird. One day last week we came home to Molly standing over an entire pile. Maybe it's like how some cats bring chipmunks? Molly brings SOCKS.

August Mobile Moments!

It's been a while! I forgot one week and then the next was a holiday and I'm sure you know how that goes...anyway, here we are! Since we last met here, Autumn has started violin lessons! She's way excited about it although after 3 weeks I think her homework/daily practice is wearing thin. She thinks she's bored but I'm not sure Autumn really gets that the foundation is super important. I'm guessing that's pretty common with kids. I know a few of my aikido students (of all ages!) think they are ready to be Steven Seagal TOMORROW but they have to do a few other things before they can start tossing people into walls and have movies called something like [student name here IS] DEATH to NINJAS.

Something funny, Autumn had to make up a word rhythm to play on her E string. The teacher had her play "Mississippi Hot Dog" as an example. Autumn's rhythm is "Momotaro-san." The grandfather of one of my students gave me a copy of a beautifully illustrated book he bought in Hawaii many years ago. It's a Japanese fairy tale called Momotaro which means Peach Boy...elderly parents find a baby in a giant peach and he grows up to become a warrior who defeats an island of demons. Autumn is absolutely obsessed with the story and while singing a song written in the back of the book (that we attempt to sing in Japanese sometimes) she decided on that for her spoken rhythm. Too fun.

Other than violin, we're chugging along with school, work, and all of our regular life things. I try to make sure Autumn gets time outside with her friends because she's struggling with the long school day and I told her we'd be sure to have active, fun time every afternoon. This week she's been sword fighting in a yard with the neighbor kids. A couple weeks ago, she and her other friends were raking which was fun? I put a question mark there because it's not MY idea of fun but they enjoyed it.

I've been doing a hanging challenge and encouraging Mike and Autumn to do the same. Mike because it'll be as good for his back and shoulders as it has been for mine. Autumn because kids have so many natural skills that we have to relearn as adults so I'm hoping to help her keep them as she gets older! Hanging, squatting, breathing from the stomach and not the upper chest, those are all things I have to reteach! It's kind of amazing how long she can hang and all the wiggling around she can do.

Kiri is still around! Our friend Amy gave us a cat bed that her cat rejected, thinking Molly might like it. NOPE. Molly prefers shoes or socks to sit on. As a matter of fact, Molly has discovered my mismatched sock basket. She has learned to pull it out and now I am finding single socks all over the house. We caught her carrying one around and it was way amusing. Anyway, Kiri uses the bed as a nest so it isn't a complete waste of a nice cat bed!

For any parents who have kids who hate the dentist: there is hope!! Autumn used to think the dentist was going to take her out with the dental tools but now she loves getting her teeth cleaned. It was a gradual, 5-year change from terror to chatting with the assistant through the tools but here we are. I think having the same person every time was a big help.

Last picture! Autumn was so sad because we had a girls night one Friday. She was all, "so, you're going to have fun? With girls? Without me?" Ha! Heaven forbid I have fun with girls without Miss Autumn, right? Well, fortunately, she had her own girl's day the next day! Aunt Penny came over for snacks and Frozen. Autumn, of course, had to wear her costumes. First Anna, then Elsa complete with wig. As the movie progressed more and more of her Frozen friends joined us on the sofa and we had to hold them all properly.

Well, that's it for August! It wasn't a bad month. I hope September continues on smoothly and that everyone had a great Labor Day!