A few holidays

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, the holidays are passing fast and furious these days.  We've enjoyed spending time with family and occasionally getting to slow down a bit.  We still feel a void and sadness through these holidays without Nana.  It's not the same without her.  The girls had a good Christmas and are happy with their haul and have enjoyed watching their list of movies.  They've been helpful as well getting things ready for the holidays with plenty of chores.  They've had lots of fun in Waconia, as always. One additional treat was a trip to the U of M library that had some of the original copies of classic stories.  We got to see some of the first sketches, re-writes, and notes from Strega Nona, Goodnight Moon and Sherlock Holmes. Wishing you all the best in the new year!

 

Here are two short clips, one of Nina's solo at a recent concert and one from Pip's gymnastics meet.

    

Finishing Fall

October ended with a bang and November has been flying by given the general busyness.  Nina has been babysitting more, involved in HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America), band, and doing well in her studies.  Pip made the JV gymnastics team and has had practice for 3 hours every day after school while still doing her band and Chinese.  Both seem to be doing well, but it's definitely been a lot of driving - good thing Nina can take a few shifts!

Nina's favorite K-pop band dropped a new album

Halloween Fun

Old fav Asian snacks and stores at the MOA

October started in a fun way with Kara's birthday and the TC marathon.  We then hit a bit of a slog until MEA break when we got to have some fun and saw two big concerts.  The four of us got to see Noga Erez on her American tour and had an amazing time.  The next day, Ben & Kara got to see Sir Paul McCartney again and he still puts on a heck of a show.  So much fun!  Throw in Halloween, visiting with college friends, Chinese class, and the school musical and it feels like we haven't sat down much.

Kara has also been busy as she switched jobs and took a position with an organization that provides support for people with cancer.  It's been a steep learning curve and there's a lot going on, but she's making progress every day.  She was also involved with St. Thomas alumni for a while, so it seemed like there was always something to be doing. 

High schooler doing high school things

Nina has started high school and seems to be enjoying life beyond middle school.  Harder classes, busier schedules, learning to drive, Homecoming activities, she's doing it all so far.  We're proud of how she's handling her responsibilities and hope that she can continue to learn, grow, and blossom.  One of her biggest challenges might be that instead of sharing a school with her sister, she now shares with her dad who has more classes with her friends than she does.

Vivian is doing well at middle school and also trying some new things.  She's joining jazz band which will make for an early morning after a late night at gymnastics, but so it goes.  She's sleeping in a lot more these days, which is still funny given how much she hated sleep as a baby.

Other highlights of the month include seeing Papa, another visit from Cassie, Valley Fair with family, going to sporting events, and also seeing Jeremy Messersmith in concert again.  After the show, Nina showed him that they once saw him as little kids; he was flabbergasted and asked for us to recreate the photo.