What a good and busy month!
Last Christmas was not my best. I was late putting up decorations, we didn't do many of our traditions and I let my music obligations overwhelm me. This year I prepared for my musical Olympics season, planned better and it paid off! We decorated our house and tree early (I've given up on the whole 'after thanksgiving' thing), I got the shopping and wrapping done, we even got the family pics taken in November. Then I could focus and enjoy THE MUSIC. And there was a lot of that!
First up was MCO concert on December 1st. I felt more prepared for this concert than any other and that was kind of nice. My parents and grandma came to the 5pm concert and that was exciting as was the 3 people who fainted on stage. Also, the altos pretty much lost it in His Yoke is Easy and I panicked that we'd never be able to come in again.
One of the highlights was taking this 'after' pic to go with our 'before' pic from the spring concert. We look a little different, right? 150 pounds gone. It's pretty awesome.
And here's my favorite memes of the season:
Then first presidency broadcast. My parents came over and we ate brownies as per tradition and Wyatt got some selfies in.
Love the new (to us, free) Christmas tree. And don't worry, the blank sign above the fireplace didn't stay blank for too much longer.
Another highlight was the end of my music class. I made these cute treble clef candy canes for them. I love the idea of the music class. I love each of the activities and the games and music and fun, but execution was poor and the kids were nuts most the time and I am so glad it's over!
Then we had Maddie's high school choir concert which was really great. My grandma enjoyed that a lot!
Amelia got to see Santa at school. She was actually really nervous and said she didn't want to see him. That's because she saw A Christmas Story and thought it would be like that Santa scene. HO. HO. HO. She did great.
Then the Christmas Parade and tree lighting. Giselle was the angel (so ironic) on the church's float even with her cast on. It was freezing and we didn't stay long despite kid protestation.
Ward party. Tyler and Giselle abandoned me for this event (for Golden Corral of all things) but Will was a bell ringer in the entertainment portion so we had to go. And then Wyatt says he feels sick. Like he's gonna barf. So I found Will a ride home and we bolted. Just in time for Wyatt to start throwing up every 30 minutes for the next 8 hours. Good times.
Luckily, miraculously, no one else got sick. So I made myself a shirt and took in my skirt for the 'signature style' wardrobe challenge.
And then it was our Stake's Feast of Carols. Which was highly gratifying. I really enjoyed participating this year. I got to sing in a quartet, the choir, and duet on the piano for a fast and furious Fum Fum Fum. My dad was the one and only horn player and it was fun to have him there.
Everyone said the program was really great, due in large part to my BFF being the director of it all.
Cute Amelia with her guys.
Another choir concert--this time it was the accapella choir with the top high school band. It was SUPER fun and they are all so talented and I highly recommend everyone coming to this one.
More dogs being put to bed.
Giselle is killing it in her STEM class where she's one of 6 girls. She built this bridge out of spaghetti noodles and it held 9 lbs. The class record. She's pretty cool.
And here's the sign: Tyler made the frame and black part and I cut vinyl for the letters.
I hosted the annual Mandie-Emily worst gift exchange party and it was another good year. With some great and terrible gifts.
So much laughing.
Then it was Tyler's work party for his new training job team. He said not to post this pic, so we'll see if he reads my blog or not. But it's all we got. We played games and ate and watched people drink.
I went to 3 parties in less than 24 hours, so I was thrilled when Tyler's OTHER work party (that would have been the 4th party in 24 hours) was cancelled so I could attend the Orpheus Concert with my Mom, Maddie and bestie.
So worth it. So fulfilling. Ugh. Chamber choirs are my jam.
Piano lessons ended for the term and I made these ornaments for my students. I really love being a piano teacher. Sometimes it stresses me out and sometimes I wish I had my afternoons back, but I love each student and trying to fit the learning to each one. Still, glad for a little break!
Amelia wanted to make an ornament too. And she lives in this nightgown.
Pajama and last day of Pre-k:
More Amelia and Rhett.
And guess who got sick the 2nd to last day of school? While I was across town. Seriously. I barely even leave the house.
So he missed all his school parties. He had a fever for 4 days and that was about it. But super needy. Then Tyler got it Christmas day. And then Amelia. Also all needy.
We did manage to look at lights and spill hot cocoa in the car. Also per tradition.
Maddie sporting the curly hair.
Christmas Sunday: I was in every musical number. I played organ for prelude, hymns and postlude, I accompanied the primary, the choir and 2 special musical numbers. I wanted to stand up and cheer I DID IT afterward (one song took a month's worth of practice) but that didn't happen.
And here's our updated family pic--who are all these old people?!
Tuba Christmas with my parents and Amelia and my brother's family on Christmas Eve day. It was surprisingly cold but the tubas are fun. And mellow. I liked it.
Mandie painted this for me for Christmas and I'm IN LOVE. It's the best thing. I just got her a dumb keto cookbook, lol.
Dress I sewed for Amelia. It was so nice to sew again. I've missed it.
Christmas dinner at my parents. Once again, I took no pics.
And the big night.
Then the day:
Everyone was pleased with their gifts. Including me:
Will is done with primary which is crazy, but good. I'll miss all these kids.
I taught the kids how to play dominoes on new year's eve.
And then put them to bed.
That's a wrap on December 2018!! I feel very grateful for my family, circumstances, blessings, opportunities, talents, friends and more. It's a wonderful life.
