Now that I've had my long winter's nap and am finally somewhat recovered from the month which was December, I'm beginning to look back with more fondness on each musical event we were able to participate in. By the numbers, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I played 7 events with 10+ rehearsals. Our kids combined for 5 performances. Students whom Tom or I teach came through with 3 additional concerts which we attended and/or helped herd large crowds of middle schoolers carrying fragile wooden instruments through dark backstage caverns. Braden turned five somewhere in the middle of it all and we somehow managed to prepare for Christmas gift giving and send out Christmas cards.
The craziness of December always makes me wish we could spread the Christmas music joy throughout the year a bit more. In that spirit, here are some Christmas memories:
Anna was an Arabian tumbler in her school's traditional third grade performance. Who knew that the Nutcracker Suite had lyrics? And will I ever be able to play it again without hearing third grade voices in my head?
Last year, Jonathan was responsible for slaying the mouse king. He looks so young in this picture!
This may be the very moment when Anna's good friend is saying, "You look so pretty. Your leotard makes you look like a mummy with the head of a person." Raised by brothers, she appreciated this as the true compliment that it was.
Five years ago, I drug myself out of the house and held my one-week old baby in my arms as I watched Jonathan as Joseph in his preschool presentation of the Nativity. This year it was Braden's turn. His rendition of Joseph included many more wiggles than I recall from past performers. In this picture, he's leaning on the podium behind him which caused him to be momentarily still.
My most unique performance of the past two Decembers has involved accompanying my Favorite Opera Star at a local brew pub.
Jonathan and Anna put together some piano duets that they played in a church service and at a Christmas party.
Finally, the big kids were able to participate in the newly created kids' bell choir at church on Christmas Day. I already put it on You Tube for the grandparents, so I'll let you click on the link if you'd like to view it. It's good to see that all of those dollars spent on piano lessons are turning them into productive members of society.
If I were a resolution-making person, I would resolve that beginning in about October 2012, I would begin every conversation with a loud and obnoxious, "NO!" However, the truth is that deep down I would have a hard time parting with any of it and feel incredibly blessed to be able to do each one as well as to see my kids beginning to use their musical gifts.
So although I haven't been able to say this with proper feeling until now, let me be the last to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
If I were a resolution-making person, I would resolve that beginning in about October 2012, I would begin every conversation with a loud and obnoxious, "NO!" However, the truth is that deep down I would have a hard time parting with any of it and feel incredibly blessed to be able to do each one as well as to see my kids beginning to use their musical gifts.
So although I haven't been able to say this with proper feeling until now, let me be the last to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
