April started with a snowstorm on April Fools' Day! Crazy weather this year. Spring soccer started for Jack in mid April. All three of the Crossley children participated in the Spring piano studio recital; we got to play on one of the nicest pianos in the Lafayette area (at least that's the reputation). The ballet school had their end-of-the-year recital, and Kate and Anna both had a great time and danced really well. After a loss and a few draws to start the soccer season, Jack's team went on a run of good form to end the season; they blew through the tournament to the final game, where they faced the one team that beat them at the start of the season. That game ended in a draw, ended extra time in a draw and the first five penalty kicks in a draw; in the sudden death penalty kicks, Jack's team came up one short. Exciting end to the season. After lots of discussion and some creative arguing from Kate, we welcomed Oliver - a black Mini Rex rabbit - to our house. Mom took the kids to Chicago to make full use of our membership at the Art Institute, and we had fun visiting the museum and then walking around Millennium Park. Anna danced in the Ballet Company recital in May. Jack started a volunteer project with NICHES land trust to cage newly planted trees in a farmland reclamation project. Anna and Jack volunteered at the library for this year's summer reading program. During most of June, Anna and Kate went to the ballet summer intensive program; the last Friday in June, they both danced in the recital to end the program.
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| April Fools' Day snow! |
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| Spring soccer action - Jack in green shirt with long pants near center |
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| Soccer practice |
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| By late April, our plum tree shows signs of Spring |
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| Anna before the Spring piano recital |
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| Kate preparing for the recital |
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| Jack warming up at the piano |
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| Team photo day |
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| Anna on pointe at dress rehearsal for the ballet school recital |
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| Kate with her friend Hope (just ahead of Kate in the line) at the dress rehearsal |
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| Kate and Anna after the Spring ballet school recital |
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| Anna, Kate and Jack at Meyer-Gould Woods nature preserve |
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| on a nature hike at Meyer-Gould Woods |
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| Soccer action - Dad noticed that you can't see Jack's face here, but you can definitely see his orange socks as he sweeps the ball away |
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| Anna was promoted from "apprentice" to "company member" in May; she has a great new jacket to go along with the promotion |
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| Jack gets his runner-up trophy from Coach Markus after the championship game |
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| the soccer team after the championship game |
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| Hello, Oliver! |
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| Mom and Jack use "the bean" for a selfie |
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| Jack, Kate and Anna at Millennium Park |
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| Anna on the smart phone after the Spring company recital |
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| an example of tree caging at Frog's Glory nature preserve |
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| Kate playing at the mall for the music teachers' association event |
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| Teen volunteers at the library |
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| Kate in the Mazurka costume from the ballet Summer Intensive recital (At one funny moment, Kate couldn't exactly remember the name of the dance and she said that she and Hope were going to be "berserkers"; Mom and Dad expected crazed warriors of some sort. Clearly, Mom and Dad were wrong.) |
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| Hope with Kate after the Summer Intensive recital. (Maybe they were berserkers after all...) |
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| Anna after the Summer Intensive recital |
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| Jack, as always, the supportive brother |
