Luminarias

This has become an event that our family enjoys each year: Luminarias on the Lake. Spencer's Teacher's Quorum helped set out over 2,500 bags this year along the walks surrounding the lake at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch. We love to go walk the paths and discover what entertainment lies around each bend. Sometimes it is carolers, or a bell choir, or instrumental music. And sometimes it is Santa! We also like to look at the stars through the telescope at the on-site observatory. Thanks, Spencer, for the service you do and for a fun activity!

'Tis the Season

'Tis the Season for Christmas concerts! We had three, three nights in a row, last week.

Monday night we had FHE at the Franklin Firebird Band Winter Concert. I love this picture of Noah! Selections they played included "Ancient Voices" (my favorite!), "Warriors of Beijing," a beautiful "Over the Rainbow," and "Patapan."

Tuesday night was the Junior High Band Concert. Spencer played with the percussion ensemble "Gotta' Move," above.

Then he played three pieces with the Symphonic Band: "Celebration for Winds and Percussion," "Flights of Fancy," and "Christmas Finale."

Wednesday brought the Franklin Elementary Winter Sing. Jacob's group sang "Too Fat for the Chimney," "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and a cute "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

This was Noah's last Winter Sing at Franklin. The choir he was in sang "One Candle Lights the Way," "Rockin' Down the Chimney Tonight," a gorgeous Mexican folk carol "Arruru," and "Christmas...In About Three Minutes." I'm so grateful for the top-notch music education my children are receiving and for the fabulous teachers who give so much to the children they teach.

M is for...

Last week was our turn to host Joy School again. We focused on the letter "M" and the Joy Of Obedience. I just love having fun with the kids! We read "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" and everyone helped make muffins for our snack. We played marbles and played music (and watched a Classical Baby video because it was raining outside!). We did some experiments with milk: we made powdered milk, tried milk with different fat contents to see what we liked best, added lemon juice to milk (it didn't make lemonade..it curdled and was gross!), and turned milk into ice cream (Yum!). We played Mother May I?, too! The kids are adorable.

Ward Christmas Breakfast

This year at our ward Christmas breakfast we had awesome entertainment! The Primary did the best Nativity I have ever seen, and all the other auxiliaries had great performances, too. Noah had the role of Samuel the Lamanite and Jacob relished his role as one of the Nephites throwing "stones" at Samuel (he actually hit him in the head when he was supposed to miss!). Noah was a star performer! Isaac has been practicing his sign language so he could sing as an angel with the "big Primary" and was adorable. He was on the front row and kept waving and calling, "Hi Mom!". Then he caught sight of the leftover stones and went over and made sure the stage was clear by handing them one by one to the Primary President. He made it back to the angel choir in time for his singing part. So funny! Spencer sang with the Young Men and Young Women a silly version of the 12 Days of Christmas. The one where they sing, "Batteries not included?" and "Five months of Bills". It was fun for them and for us! Lots of other great performances and yummy food. We love our ward. I'm hoping to get a copy of the Primary Nativity from someone who recorded it. Stay tuned.

DVMTA Luncheon

The piano teachers' group I belong to has a December luncheon every year and had asked me to help secure entertainment for this year's event. Luckily, I have a friend who accompanies the Dobson High choirs and she helped me arrange for their A'Cappella choir to come sing for us. Wow. They showed up in full Renaissance costume and it was just like the Davis High Madrigals had come! I was so moved by the music and swept up in so many memories from high school. They even do a Feast like we did...that's on my wish list to go to next year! I was so happy to have been a part of this.