A Little Bit of Holiday Madness

Years ago, it seemed the whole month of December, right up until Christmas was a flurry of activity. I think in the last few years, we all decided that it was best to schedule the concerts and gatherings in the first couple of weeks of December, since the Holidays are so packed. The result has become a marathon of great goodness and lots of fun, but boy. . .am I tired!
Here is an update on a bit of our fun since Thanksgiving:

Santa at the Ward Christmas Party. Spencer was not entirely sure he wanted to see Santa after we arrived, but was okay once Justin took his turn.

Abbie and Ty participated in the lip sync of Inside Out's "Once There Was a Snowman" (version #1). There were many comments later on how good Abbie is at shaking her hips. We're in trouble.

Ty totally got signed up to help by Dave. He wasn't happy about it, but participated anyway. He made a great rapper.

We began reading Christmas stories under the Christmas Tree any night we can. It's a fun new tradition.

Abbie was the featured flutist at the Middle School's 6th Grade band concert. Really, she was the only flute to volunteer and it was 8 bars of improv, but she rocked it!

This whole experience was so nostalgic for me. The black dress (which, by the way they get off totally easy with nowadays), the setting up in the band room, the stage, the audience. Okay, my experience was with strings-but it was all very similar. I can officially say, I AM A BAND PARENT. Crazy.

And Justin's first grade winter concert. Justin LOVES music time at school. Loves, loves, loves it. He knows every word to every song they learn, and sings them all the way home. The other day the rest of us sat quietly and listened to him entertaining himself with different ways to sing "Rudolph". He is so enjoyable :)

See him? That kid in the middle all dressed up in a tie? Yep, that's him. Mr. James (music teacher) asked the kids to dress up in their very best, so of course, for Justin, this means white shirt and tie. I told him he probably didn't need to wear the tie, but he insisted. I told him Mr. James would really appreciate it (and he even told Justin he did). Total difference between Ty and Justin. Ty would have done what was asked and dressed up and then been totally mortified that no one else did. It didn't even phase Justin. He was doing what was asked of him and he was completely confident in that. It didn't matter that no one else dressed up.

We've also been busy with the Stake Music Festival (Abbie and Mom sang), having new found friends over, making Cafe Rio for the YW Christmas Party, Ty and the Deacons are in charge of the combined caroling activity on Wednesday, a birthday party (we didn't have to throw-thank goodness!), accompanying at a talent show, a couple more piano lessons, a couple more gatherings, and then the Christmas Sacrament Meeting program on Sunday (Mom conducting youth and Ty singing, Primary aged kids singing with Abbie on the flute). Phew! We are very blessed.

Then the week long wait with nothing going on and no school to keep the kids busy. Whatever will we do with them?