Orchestra Concert

Nathan played in his first orchestra concert last night. I was as pleased with this performance as I was the first time he sang with the Preparatory Choir in Wharton Center. I think it must be that I will be pleased to see my child on stage no matter what! I forgot my camera again, which I think is a part of my personality somehow. It's the norm, rather than remembering!

The orchestra teachers at both of the schools (Glencairn and White Hills) are amazing. They have done such excellent work with these students. I was impressed. This was great exposure for May and Elijah, who accompanied me to the concert. They got to see the string instruments that they might play once they reach fifth grade. Elijah wants to attend the band concert next year also to see those instruments!

Here's Nathan and his friend Nicholas, who also plays cello, waiting for their turn on stage

December 11, 1972

1972 must have been an important year because my favorite jeans have this label:


I wouldn't normally call attention to my own birthday (my parents and siblings could tell you otherwise!), but my family made me feel so special that I just had to write about it.

First off, I have to own to being 35 years old. It doesn't seem too old, really. Now that fact is out I can tell you the rest.

We went out to dinner the night before my birthday this year. We are making a tradition of going to Frankenmuth, MI for my birthday. Once there, we go to Zehnder's which is a restaurant famous for their chicken. Considering the chicken I've eaten there for the last two years, I can see why. The decorations inside are spectacular. It really brings on the Christmas season! After Zehnder's we go to Bronner's which is the largest Christmas store in the world. We don't have too much time there because it closes at 9 pm, but the kids each get to choose one ornament from thousands! I like to look at the nativities. Inside, Bronner's is decorated to the hilt as I suppose it is every day of every year. There are such wonderful scenes to behold. Outside, they have decorated with thousands of lights, the trees have giant Christmas bulbs and there are large lighted nativities.

Then, yesterday, Nathan got his cello out first thing and played his newly acquired tune "Happy Birthday" after organizing the other kids to sing while he played. The kids stayed home from school yesterday because the van was making a funny noise and Joseph couldn't easily arrange his schedule to take the kids. They played while I baked carrot cake and pumpkin pie. Elijah made me this card:
May shared treats with me from her Achievement Days activity. My friend, Megan, dropped by with a Christmas cactus. It is supposed to flower on Christmas. I have never heard of such a plant and I'm excited about it. She told me it can be planted outdoors in the summer. I got a number of lovely phone calls including a very unexpected one from my Aunt Glenda. It was nice to take some time and chat with family members.

I received such lovely gifts. I got a new jewelry box, a snow globe with Mary, baby Jesus, and Joseph that plays "O Holy Night," chocolates, The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book, and this figurine below called "The Journey that Changed the World." (There's my jewelry box in the background.)
I had just been looking at this very thing in the Deseret Book mailer, but hadn't mentioned it. It was a very pleasant surprise and even though I hadn't planned on adding a nativity to my collection this year, I welcome this addition.

Once the kids were in bed, Joseph and I watched a movie called "The Christmas Card." It was ok, but it was real nice to spend the time with Joseph and my birthday was complete!

The Cello

Nathan loves to play the cello. Somewhere he got the idea that he only has to practice for about two minutes per day, but even at that he sounds pretty darn good to me. (Even though you can't see his whole t-shirt, that picture is his own computer drawing. I've continued doing my own drawings for t-shirts, in fact, I did a really cool Harry Potter one for Nathan's birthday, but I'm branching out to transfers too!)