Christmas

Saturday we went to the Zobell's for soup and then out to Nicolletti's for dinner. Sunday was a big day and I was nervous and excited. I had to be to church pretty early to run through a quartet, then the choir pieces and then I had asked all the youth pianists to play their Christmas songs for prelude so I had to get in there to get that going. The program was the one thing I am really pleased with this Christmas season. It went really well and was quite beautiful. I knew it was going to be my last Christmas as the music coordinator so I went all out and picked my favorite songs. The choir did Sussex Carol and For Unto Us a Child is Born and then a quartet sang Still, Still, Still and a double quartet sang Gesu Bambino. They all did such a lovely job singing and it all came together so well. It was the first time all month I really felt the spirit and my heart overflowed with love for my Savior. The talks were great and it all just clicked; I was so grateful. I usually get very nervous when I play the piano but I was so calm for the two songs I accompanied, which is definitely a blessing. Someone even told me how much my piano skills have improved over the last few years and I think what has actually gotten better is my comfort level when performing. I used to shake and my heart would pound and when I was up there Sunday I was just focused on how beautiful the music was and how much I love Jesus Christ. It was great. I especially appreciated how my parents told me how wonderful it was and how proud they are of me. I expressed it at my piano recital but I really am so grateful that they gave me the chance to learn piano and paid for my lessons and drove me there each week and sat through three-hour -long recitals every June. 

  

 

Then we came home and watched the Tabernacle Choir concert, which was beautiful and then I got the turkey in the oven and mom made rolls and we had a really lovely dinner that evening. Everything turned out well and it is my favorite night of the year. After our delicious turkey dinner we gathered around the piano and everyone picked a song for us to sing, then we read some stories and Dad told his experience as a bishop helping a single mom for Christmas and then we did our nativity play. Dad was the narrator this year so I got to be an angel and a wise person. Then we ate a bunch of Christmas cookies and then we put our presents in our spots where we would sit the next morning. I always tell the kids to take a good look because who knows how different it will look the next morning once Santa has come but Lily beat me to it this year. Then everyone went to bed and Josh and I finished up a few things and finally got to bed around 1am. 

We got up about 8am on Christmas and everyone had fun opening their presents. It was really nice having my parents here and it was a nice morning. I got Josh some books and a cool pizza t-shirt and a massage, which he isn't super excited about but I think he will really appreciate. It has been a very busy and stressful year so he deserves it. Ironically, he got me a spa gift card so I'm excited to check that out. Lily got a bag/wallet she's been wanting, a new back pack, slippers to wear to dance and a full-length mirror. Curtis got a coat, hiking boots and a hatchet. Also a baseball hitting trainer that I hope he actually uses. Emma got boots and jeans and some books while Brandon got basketball hoops for inside, a Padres hat, Legos and bow ties. I got my dad some books and a new tie and my mom a new coat (with my sisters) and a big tin of caramel corn because it is her favorite. My sister also gave us gift cards to dinner out and the movie theater. I gave myself a puzzle and said it was from a Christmas Elf and nobody questioned it; it was pretty funny. It was a fun morning and then we had breakfast and spent the rest of the day playing games and eating and putting the puzzle together and talking with my sisters. 

 

Tuesday Josh, Curtis and my parents went to see Boys in the Boat and I took the kids to Migration. It was silly but not annoying. Josh and my parents loved their movie and I'm looking forward to seeing it soon. We also went out that night to Texas Roadhouse. Wednesday we drove up to my sister's house in northern MD for my niece's wedding reception. She got married in October in Utah but my sister still wanted to have a party here so we went. KayLee drove down from Rochester and we got there about the same time. It was good to see my nephews and nieces and talk with KayLee. The girls went to get their nails done (Lily was a bridesmaid) and we helped set up the tables at the venue. It was at an old mansion that is quite beautiful. The reception itself was nice with appetizers and then BBQ for dinner and then dancing. Emma, Brandon and Lily had a great time dancing; Curtis wouldn't budge from his chair.  I danced a bit and talked with my family and then we decided to get going since we were driving the 2.5 hours home that night. It was a long day but a good one and I was so happy to sleep in on Thursday and do nothing. We watched a movie and I read and we had leftovers for dinner; a very lazy day. 

 

 

Friday we went to see Wonka and then Lily volunteered at Annemarie Gardens and Josh and Curtis went to see Godzilla Minus 1 while the younger kids and I stayed home to watch Arthur's Christmas. Saturday I had really wanted to do something but my family were all kind of being bums so we stayed home and had another lazy day. We walked to the school and played some basketball and at the park for a bit but otherwise, nothing exciting. Sunday we went to church and it was good; I played the organ and the piano for primary but I got released so I'm no longer in charge of the music at church. I spent all afternoon wrapping that all up and getting things organized for Rachael and then we went over to the Rays' house for NYE fun. We played games and talked and ate and it was super fun.