Summer in Stonington

Our feisty 15 month old!

Dear Family and Friends,
We hope you are having a wonderful summer so far. I find it hard to believe that August is just around the corner, but I guess time flies when you are happy and having fun.


Joey celebrated his 30th birthday on July 2nd. I don't think he was too excited about turning 30, but many people say their best years were in their 30's, so let's hope that turns out to be true. I cooked Joey a special birthday dinner...Yes, it's true... I cooked HIM a dinner! For those of you who know me well, I do not have much talent in the kitchen. Normally Joey takes care of meals. However, I persevered, and the dinner actually turned out pretty well. We finished it off with a delicious birthday cake baked for Joey by a friend from church. 

We had a fun and eventful 4th of July this year. Clara and I walked in the annual Stonington Borough parade behind bagpipers and war heroes. Actually, I walked and Clara rode in her stroller which was decorated very patriotically in red, white and blue. Clara wore her adorable patriotic dress. The parade ended at the town green with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. This year Joey decided to add something new to the borough festivities by offering a free, 30 minute program of patriotic music on the organ at Calvary Church. Joey played some Sousa marches among other things, and the church was nicely decorated. We weren't sure what the turn out would be like since the concert immediately followed the parade, but surprisingly we had a full house. There were so many people that the upstairs balcony was completely full and some people were forced to stand at the back of the church. The event turned out to be a huge success, and many people from the community attended. Joey's "Organ Fireworks" may turn out to be an annual 4th of July borough tradition!  

Clara turned 15 months old on July 20th. She is now in the 80th percentile for height, and the 60th percentile for weight for her age. She is incredibly active now. She is walking and running and absolutely loves to dance. Joey and I were recently at a mall walking past stores with Clara holding each of our hands. As we passed a store with loud rock music blaring out of the entrance, Clara dropped our hands and began to shake her little behind to the music. It was so cute and she caught the attention of several people around us. The most interesting thing about Clara's dancing, I think, is the fact that she changes her motions based on the type of music she hears. She can go from smooth, ballet type moves to stomping her feet, clapping and shaking her behind. I am so happy that she loves to dance. It's good for her body and good for her musical development. Clara also loves the beach. She can sit and play with sand for hours, and she really likes the water and waves as well. 

Shopping in the house for toys! (My way of teaching Clara to clean up! Haha!)

This past Friday Joey flew to England to accompany the Anglican Singers on their tour of the U.K. They are mostly staying in Bristol and are performing services at several churches in the area. Joey will also accompany a choir from the Hartford Cathedral at the end of the tour for several of their services. We were sorry to see him go, but he will only be gone until August 6th. It was so hard when he had to be in Europe for 5 weeks last summer for his concert tour. I'm thankful that this is a relatively short trip. Meanwhile, my parents are here visiting and helping me take care of Clara. Last week my aunt and uncle from Virginia came up to visit. Along with some close friends, we all celebrated my parents' 34th wedding anniversary. It's always great to have family here, and we appreciate their willingness to come see us.

People gathering in front of the church and our house after Joey's July 4th concert. 

We are finally settled into our new home "Calvary House". We really love the house. We are using most of our own furniture and have been able to decorate and personalize the house they way we want to. As you can see in the picture below, we are living steps away from church. People ask us sometimes if we feel a lack of privacy living right on church grounds. I have to say we really haven't had a problem with that at all. People know we are living in the house and are very respectful of our privacy. Also, the windows in the house are very well insulated. Sometimes there will be groups outside the front of the house or using the back yard, and we don't even realize they are out there because we can't hear them. And, during down times the house and its surroundings are so quiet and peaceful. We love to sit out on our back deck and look at the stars or watch sailboats go by on their way to Watch Hill. Clara loves her room. it's a darling room at the back of the house with views of the garden and the ocean. She also loves the backyard because she has her own private playground. Well, it actually belongs to the nursery school, but during the summer it feels as though it is all hers. We feel so lucky to be able to live in Calvary House and we so appreciate the people who helped to prepare and update the house for us. The amount of family time we have because Joey doesn't have to commute to work is priceless. I will have to post some interior pictures, but for now I have included some pictures of the back yard as well as a view of the front of the house seen above. 

View from the window of our eat-in kitchen

"Clara's" playground

Our tomato plants are doing well so far!

Well, that's the news for now. Have a wonderful summer and watch for another post in August! (My goal is to write one post per month. We'll see how I do.)

Be well!

Erin, Joey and Clara 

Welcome Summer!

Welcome Summer!

Dear Family and Friends,


June 20th marked both Clara's 14-month birthday and the official start of summer. I feel as though I just finished writing my last blog post yesterday, and now another month has gone by. Overall this has been a good month. We have been busy this week preparing for our big move into Calvary house. We can begin moving boxes into the attic on Saturday, but will not be able to move our furniture until this coming Tuesday, since the wood floors have just been re-done in the house and need time to dry. Moving is never fun, and is certainly more challenging now that we have a 14 month old running all over the place, but we find comfort in the fact that this move will be much more permanent than any of our previous moves. In fact, Joey and I have moved every summer since we were married in 2007. That's a lot of boxes! Fortunately we have managed to squeeze in some fun family time this month. Here are some of the things we have been up to:


Trip to Cleveland


As I mentioned in my last blog, Joey was invited by his former church, St. Paul's UCC in Parma, Ohio, to give a dedication recital for their new organ. We drove to Cleveland from Connecticut, breaking it into two days of about 5-6 hours of driving. Clara handled the drive very well and had no problem sleeping in the various hotels we stayed in. We were so excited and happy to see many of our friends at St. Pauls. It made us realize how much we have missed them since moving to CT. There was a pot-luck dinner held on Monday so that we could catch up with everyone and introduce them to Clara, and the recital occurred the following Wednesday June 6th. The turnout for the recital was wonderful, and the event was a big success.


On our way home from Cleveland we decided to stay near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, an Amish community. We had fun touring Amish shops and an Amish village. Clara was most excited about following around a cute, fluffy, chicken on an Amish farm we toured. 

Post-Recital Photo, Parma, Ohio

Enjoying an Amish buggy!

Clara's new friend!

Time for school!

Fun in the sun!


Although we are suffering with a heat and humidity wave right now, June has been full of beautiful mild summer weather. Joey and I were able to experience sailing for the first time thanks to some very generous friends who own an incredible sailboat. We couldn't have asked for better weather and getting to see Stonington Borough from the water was impressive. Our Rector was also kind enough to take us out on his Whaler, and we were able to bring little Clara aboard. I was a little concerned about how she was going to react to high speeds and bumps on the water but, as it turns out, we have a little dare devil on our hands. She LOVED the bumps and got more and more excited as the waves got bigger.


Not only did Clara experience riding on a boat for the first time, she also made her first real trip to the beach. We enjoyed a picnic lunch one afternoon at Napatree Point in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. She really liked playing in the sand and watching the big waves crashing. I have a feeling there are going to be many more days spent at the beach this summer.  

Happy Anniversary!

Joey and I celebrated 5 years of marriage on June 9th. We actually ended up going out the following week since we were busy teaching and running dress rehearsals for our Calvary Music School students who gave beautiful performances on the student recital on June 10th. We enjoyed one of the best dining experiences we have had in a long time at "Seasons" restaurant at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI. Ocean House is a stunning Inn right on the water, and we had a beautiful view of the ocean from our table. The service was great and the food was excellent. It was a wonderful evening and a good time to reflect on the last 5 years of our marriage. We are especially proud of this past year. Having a child brings such joy and so many blessings to your life, but it can also take away from the time you once had as a couple. We feel like we have done well in finding a balance between parenting and our relationship as a couple. It's something we will continue to work on. We are lucky to have each other to rely on, and we think we make an excellent team!    

Family!

My parents were here visiting for almost two weeks and returned home yesterday. It was great seeing them, and they were amazed at how much Clara had grown and changed since their last visit. I got to celebrate father's day with my dad. He cooked his famous burgers on the grill, and he enjoyed playing with Clara all morning during church since she was home sick with a cold. I've been lucky to have such a supportive, loving dad all of my life, and I love knowing that Clara will grow up feeling the same way about her dad.   

While we enjoyed many new and fun experiences this month, we also experienced heartbreak when we were forced to put down our dog Cinnamon of 17 years. Cinnamon was really Joey's dog; he got her as a puppy when he was 12 years old. She was a feisty little dog, sometimes bossy, crabby and set in her ways, but also very loving and extremely loyal to Joey. She wasn't too happy when I entered the picture, (haha), but she eventually came around. She added a lot of joy to our lives and even though it was her time to go we will miss her very much. Rest in peace little Cinni. We love you!    

We miss you and love you Cinni!



Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. 

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from you life but never absent from you heart.

The you cross Rainbow Bridge together...
   

 

We wish you all a wonderful summer. May you spend it with the ones you love and never take for granted the many blessings in your life. 

Until next post!

Joey, Erin and Clara

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Dear Family and Friends,
We hope you are enjoying this Memorial Day weekend. The "summer people" have moved into Stonington Borough now, and the area is starting to get pretty busy. Soon we won't be able to get into any of our favorite restaurants in the borough since most don't bother to take reservations because they are so busy. Oh well, it's a good excuse to eat at home a lot! It's so fun to sit and watch all the boating activity on the water as well. I have always thought that sailboats were so beautiful to watch, and I'm hoping to actually get to go out on one in the near future.


Did I say in my last blog that May was going to be a relaxed month? Somehow we managed to stay pretty busy. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that it is already going to be June in less than a week. It's been a good month though. A few weeks ago we took a day trip to Salem, MA. It's about 2 hours drive from Stonington. Joey and I had always wanted to visit Salem for various reasons. I remember reading "The Crucible" and "The Scarlet Letter" in high school, and Joey and I both share a love for Halloween. The trip was really interesting. We got to see the memorial for the victims of the witch trials, learn more about the author Nathaniel Hawthorne and visit the House of Seven Gables, on which he based his novel. We had fun exploring and visiting the historic waterfront and enjoyed some good Indian food for dinner.

"The House of Seven Gables" Salem, MA

I can't remember much about Mother's Day 2011 other than the fact that Joey and I were not getting much sleep with our little newborn. Of course it was an extremely special Mother's Day because I had just become a new mommy. This year was special too, and we were both much more awake. We enjoyed worship at Calvary in the morning, and Joey grilled hamburgers for dinner after he returned from accompanying an Evensong service with the Anglican Singers. The weather was perfect, and my parents surprised me by sending beautiful flowers from Minnesota. Clara wore her little nautical dress to church, a gift from her Grandma Ripka. Joey and I have both been blessed with wonderful mothers, and I hope one day Clara feels the same way about me.      

Thanks for the flowers mom and dad!

Happy Mother's Day 2012!

Joey's busy church year is winding down for the summer. He will continue to plan and play services every Sunday, but the ensemble rehearsals have ended until Fall. Joey started up a chorister program at Calvary last fall and has recruited 16 wonderful kids so far. He hopes the program will continue to grow and is extremely proud of the progress the kids have made this year. They are a great group, and it's very moving to hear them sing during services. Joey has added another job title as of March 2012. He is now the Artistic Director of Calvary Music School. We are both members of the teaching faculty at CMS, but in addition to teaching piano and organ he will now oversee the artistic planning and direction of the music school. He is excited about this new role. His piano studio is continuing to grow, and he is really enjoying his students.


I have been continuing my violin lessons with Katie Lansdale, Professor of violin at the Hartt School of Music. Joey and I already have at least two recital engagements scheduled this Fall, so I am enjoying learning new music and figuring out our programming. I am also serving on the Calvary Music School board. We started meeting back in January, and it's been a really interesting process. It's great to share ideas with other board members and discover what's involved in trying to have a successful, high-quality music school. My violin studio is growing slowly but steadily. In the Fall I inherited 4 students from the school, and after doing some recruiting and networking I am hopeful that the number will be up to 10 by next Fall. I have some really wonderful students, and I love teaching them. The end-of-the year recital is June 10th, and Joey and I are looking forward to having our students perform.


Clara is doing really well. She is 13 months old now and walks everywhere. She hardly ever crawls anymore, and she sometimes attempts to run which usually results in a fall. She has a great sleep schedule going. She sleeps from roughly 10pm-8am and then stays active and happy until her afternoon nap from roughly 2-5pm. She hardly ever wakes up during the night anymore. She LOVES having books read to her. We keep her books on a toy box in the living room, and she goes back and forth from the box to the couch bringing us books to read to her. We recently bought Clara a toy grand piano. She really enjoys playing on it. Every time she plays something she turns and looks at us waiting for us to applaud. It's pretty cute. Although she isn't able to say many words yet, her recognition of words is really improving. She points at things all of the time now which helps us to be able to tell what she wants. She recognizes pictures of many different animals and can point to things that we name. She's pretty independent and wants to figure things out for herself. She also loves interacting with other kids. We take her swinging at the park a lot, and that never fails to make her really happy. Life is exciting but also a little more scary now that she is so mobile. Last week we took her to the little beach by our house, and she got to walk in the sand. She better get used to sand because we plan to spend a lot of time by the ocean this summer.              

Check out all of that hair!

Clara's first trumpet lesson with Grandad Moore

June is going to be a very busy month for us. It begins with a trip to Cleveland, OH. Joey has been invited to give the dedication recital for a new organ at St. Pauls United Church of Christ in Parma, OH where he was organist/choir master for two years. We are really excited about the trip, because we will be able to see all of the wonderful people we got to know and love while Joey was employed there. It's a wonderful church, and we are so happy that they are going to have a nice new instrument for their worship services. We are going to drive to Cleveland and plan to break the drive up into two 5-hour days. This will be our first long car trip with Clara, and we are hoping she will manage ok.

After we return from Ohio my parents are coming to visit. We are finally moving into our permanent residence at the end of June, and my parents are going to help watch Clara so we can get organized and ready to move. Part of Joey's compensation package as Director of Music includes the church providing us with housing. We are moving into "Calvary House" which normally houses the Rector of this church and his family. It's located right next to the church. Our Rector and his wife were living in the house this year, but preferred to live off campus and were able to move into a new condo last week. Therefore Calvary House is now available for us as our private residence. The church is creating an apartment within Calvary House for us. We will have the downstairs 1/2 bath, eat-in kitchen and back deck, and the entire upstairs which includes a living room, two bathrooms and three bedrooms. The formal downstairs living room and dining room will be shared space, meaning the church may schedule those spaces for meeting and gatherings with our permission. A third room at the front of the house will become Joey's new office. Joey is having his piano from MN moved into the shared living room, and so it will also function as our teaching studio. Right now the house is empty, so the church is taking advantage of this time to do some updates to the house including adding our privacy doors, re-finishing and painting all of the wood trim, putting in some new windows and re-doing all of the wood floors. We were able to pick the paint colors for our private living room and bedrooms. It's going to look really beautiful when it is all finished and ready for us to move into. We are so excited and looking forward to making it our new home. I will be sure and post some pictures once we are settled.

Well, I think that's the news for now. Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend, and let's all be sure to take a moment to give thanks for the men and woman who have given their lives in order to protect our freedom and our country.

Thanks for reading!

Joey, Erin and Clara