“If I have a boyfriend, he will have to be…
Funny…
Gross.. At least sometimes (as you just slurped up your spaghetti into your mouth)…
Oh – and he has to like to play outdoors.
(melt)

Oh my goodness! I am so proud of you. Coolest thing? You are MORE proud of yourself!!

A few weeks back, at a relatively stressful time, I took you to piano lessons. It was Nov 14. The week before your piano teacher, Jenn, had told Daddy Jim that we needed to help you pick out a Christmas song for your holiday recital. I wasn’t there on Nov 7 with Daddy Jim, and I really didn’t know how this all worked. So I stressed out a bit trying to help you find a song you liked at your level that “wasn’t taken” by someone else whom Jenn teaches. We got to piano Nov 14 with a piece you liked and had practiced a bit and it was “taken.” Sigh.

So, Jenn (somewhat frustrated) played some pieces out of the book I got you to help you make a new selection.

You chose “Deck the Halls.” But then, when she asked you to try it, you said No. Jenn encouraged you, and you kept saying no. You were nervous – and rightly so, as it was much harder than anything you had done before. Deep sigh. Finally, you tried it. (And on the way home, when I asked you to tell me what you thought the “good things” and “the things you would change” were from you lesson, you said that you would change that you didn’t try Deck the Halls when Jenn asked you to.

Fast forward to tonight.

First Piano Recital.
Rock Star.
You.

Here is a video of you – click here

Today is Friday – our

Thanksgiving day – you were with your Daddy and his family at Kate’s house yesterday on the official day. You came to see Daddy Jim and me this morning at 9:30a. We started our day with a trip to Wegmans to pick up a few things and a meal for my graduate student Swagata and her family. They are from India, so they don’t know too much about Thanksgiving. On top of being far from home, Swagata and Baby Sharanya have been really sick forever! They needed a little love…

To help them celebrate, you and I created Holiday Craft #1: Place settings

This is the email they sent to us at the end of the day:

Dear Maya, Madeline, Daniel, Jim and April,
It was a real treat for us. We were all so touched. We invited quite a few of our friends and had a gala time. We even showed our parents the spread over skype. They were so excited and happy. Please tell Maya that her handiwork for the oranges was adored by all our friends.
The food was sumptuous. Sharanya also loved it.
We couldn’t have hoped for a better Thanksgiving. Thank you for everything.
Thank you for making us feel a part of this culture.
Attaching a couple of snaps.
Best!
Sharanya, Wreeto and Swagata

This picture is for my Dad, your Opa – I love him so much, and I miss him…

Who’s the turkey now?
Hey Baby Girl –

Slightly disturbing:
leraz.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/distrubing.jpg”>

Hey Baby Girl –

Highlights from Thanksgiving 2013 –

You and Siobhan prepared and gave me “Spa Day”

This is a funny email I wrote to my Aunt Marilyn, copying all of my cousins and extended family, just before falling asleep with you last night at our Mama-Maya hotel night and my Cousin Bruce’s reply – 🙂 He makes me smile…

From: Luehmann, April [mailto:ALuehmann@Warner.Rochester.edu]
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 11:25 PM
To: Marilyn Friedrich; Alka Chandna; Amie & Jeremiah Stark; Amy Strande; Luehmann, April; Beth & Darren Pierce; Betty Turock; Bianca Luehmann; Bruce Friedrich; Carol Klongland; Cassandra Pierce; Diane Kuchenbecker; Eunice Low; Gus Friedrich; Jenessa Stark; Jessica & Dave Anderson; Jolene Stark; Jonna Stark; Julie & John Falkers; Kelly & Todd Johnson; LaRae & Clay Fromm; Lowell Fromm; Madalyn Petersen; Mark Luehmann; Mary & Chuck Rohe; Miriam & Lloyd Luehmann; Muriel & Gene Stark; RachonPamela; Ranae & Dan Johnson; Ranae Rohe Rohe; Ruth & Bill Kratzke; Shelly Rohe; Wally Fromm
Subject: Re: Still not enough emails……

Hi Auntie Marilyn

Let’s see – what can I tell you about that might add cheer to your day?
* Painted Maya’s nails tonight bright pink and orange and bright pink, then orange,…. You get the idea
* We have FOUR – count them FOUR – watermelons growing in our front yard right now!! Too exciting!
* I learned today that the deadline that I got yelled at for missing yesterday by almost 6 months was actually August 31, 2013… So I’ve missed it be about 6. Go me.
* The flowers in the park where we had a picnic BLEW your mind – so rich in color they saturated your eyes!!!
* Kelly Clarkson is both incredibly talented and incredibly real. That is so good.
* Teenagers (say mine and 2 of their friends) are HILARIOUS to watch at a Maroon 5 convert. I know we were like that, but really?
* Today I deleted my reply to an email that really made me ANGRY – 3 or 4 times – and finally just wrote the word “Ugh.” and hit “Send.” Believe it or not, that was all that was needed.

Tomorrow’s Friday, and Nemo is a great movie, and sleep awaits us, and we are loved, and that is all very very good.

Happy Dreams Marilyn and family- Love you all
April & Family

From: Bruce Friedrich
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 23:30:50 +0000
To: April Luehmann
Subject: RE: Still not enough emails……

I abs. love this email. LOVE. THIS. EMAIL.

And miss you. Bring that family of yours to D.C.!

LOVE your smile Baby Girl!! And when did you grow another pair of feet?

Tomorrow is the big day!!!!

We are ever so close to the big day of Shenanigans! We are setting the course up as we speak!

There have been last minute questions that we wanted to answer to everyone.

First, we will have some day of registrations that will be open, as of right now we have a few time slots open in the later morning.

Second, there will be parking right next the dogwood shelter which is also where registration and packet pickup will take place starting at 7AM and running through until the 12PM wave takes off.

Third, wear comfortable clothing that you can run around in and do not mind getting dirty, as it was raining today and we are running rain and or shine. And make sure to wear running shoes or something that you will be comfortable running around in for about 2 hours or so.

Fourth, the course itself is going to be around 2.5 miles when all is said and done, but again you will not even notice while you are shooting rubber chickens and riding around on trikes!

Lastly, We will be taking pictures of the event that will possibly be available after the event for purchase so you can relive the event over and over again, and continue to laugh at yourself long after the event!
All-Star Shenanigans

Picking blueberries with your Bestie!!

may 2

You finished your beautiful new bag at sewing today…

I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how wonderful your sewing teacher is! Ms Christina is an “educator” in the truest sense of the term – gently assessing where her learners are, making safe places to take risks, nurturing next steps so gradually that you hardly even know you’re developing expertise, managing the “stuff” so that you can focus on your work, introducing you slowly and naturally to the formal language of sewing… you look forward to every class, and you have been doing this for about 2 years now.

I was so impressed with Ms. Christina’s teaching that I invited her to teach in my class at UR. Rock star. That’s all I have to say.

She sent this picture tonight after your class: