Christmas Recital

Rachel played "Toyland" and "Sing Noel" - beautiful!
Bret played, "The First Noel" and "Joy to the World". What a performer!

The recital followed Mrs. V's annual Pizza Pepsi Party! The boys ended the evening with a good game of chase around the church foyer - great!

Once home, we made popcorn, and hot cocoa then settled down to watch Episode One of the "Horatio Hornblower" A & E Series. Loved it, and highly recommend it. It's fiction through and through, but fun for us to watch. Bret is extremely informative throughout the movie, filling us in on definitions, etc. Tonight I learned what "grappling" is! Very Cool!

Piano Recitals

Two piano students, two piano teachers, two piano recitals this weekend! I forgot to take the camera to Rachel's recital (very sorry). She did a beautiful job playing Sarabande d'Amour by Catherine Rollin. Afterward we enjoyed punch and cookies to celebrate the end of the year and a job well done.
Sunday was Bret's recital, I remembered the camera this time! Bret played a duet with his partner and two solos. He received awards for Certificate of Merit and Guild. His teacher gave him a gift for faithfully practicing 5 times a week.
More punch and cookies afterward! Piano recitals are fattening!

Bret playing Amazing Grace

Ladies Night Out, Seasons

Yesterday morning my sister-in-law surprised me with a call. She had an extra ticket to the symphony. Did I want to go? I hesitated, and Wade answered for me - "Of course you want to go!" Yeah! I really did want to go, I love the symphony! I love to see the elegantly dressed people, I love to sit in those seats, I love to study the orchestra, and most of all - I love the sound! Especially last night's - entitled "Bravo Beethoven". Before the symphony I had the privilege of dining with my sister-in-law and two of her special friends. Encouraging conversation, good food, and wonderful memories. Thanks Cindy!
This morning my sweet little girl all dressed for church left to pick flowers. We were going to learn about seasons. Gen. 1:14 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years. She brought her special flowers to Sunday School to show her friends what God gives us in spring. Papa was helping today because Grandma is sick, he brought blossoms and immature peaches, plums and apples. We tried to guess what the fruit was - of course the kids thought they were grapes. That is what they looked like! So we explained that God would make this fruit ready in the summer time! As it grew, the heat from summer would ripen and sweeten it - yum! Thank you God for seasons! And for a little girl to share your creation with!

What kind of bird is this? Maybe Mary can tell me. This is the best picture I could get from the girls bedroom window.

All the Way to Galway!

Lilly playing her cakebox violin.

Garret waiting for the show to begin!

Garret is on the right next to his wonderful teacher Mrs. Whitney.

Garret and Lilly performed "All the Way to Galway" with Garret's Suzuki class today. Why Lilly? The teacher felt she needed another body in the circle. Lilly took her role very seriously, with her cakebox violin and homemade bow she marched around the circle in perfect step! Garret played extremely well. It was a great performance.

In other news we will be moving next weekend. I can't believe this is really happening! Our house is full of boxes! I just planned my last week of meals. Keep checking back for pictures of the new house, almond trees and all the new pets that Lilly plans to have!