Here is the run-down on all the musical happenings of the weekend so far. Tis the Christmas season- and the girls have become something like professional musicians- in high demand right now. It has been a whirlwind of fun for them.
Eva and Naomi are in our church's Children's Christmas Choir. They have been practicing for months, and have learned songs for the Christmas Cantata and also a Christmas musical. Last night was the first cantata performance, and the girls got all dressed up and looked lovely, so I had to take their pictures in front of the tree before we went out into the freezing rain.
Below, Eva and Naomi at Eva's piano recital today. The girls love to play duets and Eva really wanted to play on what she called the "white chocolate" piano.
Eva and her piano teacher, Miss Heather. Eva was thrilled to see that Miss Heather was wearing the scarf she had knit her as a Christmas gift! It was lovely to see Eva's face light up when she walked in and saw her teacher...
Jason decided to surprise the kids and take them out to Red Robin for lunch, as a celebration of Eva's hard work and their musical endeavors. (This is what he said, but I have a sad suspicion he was doing anything to delay eating the left overs of the wonderful quinoa/sweet potato/ red pepper/ spinach soup I made last night. To me, it was one of my best inventions ever. The only displeasure in eating it was looking up over my bowl at four pairs of mournful eyes... If anyone is hungry for something delicious and nutritious, come on over and do my fam a favor!) So we didn't tell the kids where we were going, just that we weren't going home. We hammed it up and said we were going somewhere where they would be bored. Actually, bored, hungry, itchy, tired... very uncomfortable. We pretended to be deciding between Home Depot, Costco... Naomi was sighing and glaring from her seat, when Eva chimed in, "Hey, I've know you guys for almost nine years now. Don't ya think I know how you work? You're not doin' anything like that! Don't worry about it kids." She's so got our number.
Mom and Dad came to watch too, which made Josiah very excited; you can see him snuggling Grammy below. Sarena you will be pleased and surprised to see him wearing the dashing cap and jacket you got him for Christmas in 2006. Remember how when he opened it he threw it on the ground, said "yuck" and burst into tears? What, you've repressed that memory of my son's horrid ungratefulness? Oh, thank you. Well, two years later, he's had some time to reconsider, (and to grow) and he actually, unbelievably, likes it. He got so many compliments on his looks tonight- mostly from senior ladies. I think he's feeling a bit smug.
After the musical we stopped by a house near ours that has millions of lights timed to Christmas music on 98.5 FM. It was actually incredible- like a Christmas laser show! The kids loved it. Josiah said, "This isn't even cool. This is AWESOME."
Eva and Naomi are in our church's Children's Christmas Choir. They have been practicing for months, and have learned songs for the Christmas Cantata and also a Christmas musical. Last night was the first cantata performance, and the girls got all dressed up and looked lovely, so I had to take their pictures in front of the tree before we went out into the freezing rain.
Below, Eva and Naomi at Eva's piano recital today. The girls love to play duets and Eva really wanted to play on what she called the "white chocolate" piano.
Eva and her piano teacher, Miss Heather. Eva was thrilled to see that Miss Heather was wearing the scarf she had knit her as a Christmas gift! It was lovely to see Eva's face light up when she walked in and saw her teacher...The piano behind them, which the students played for the recital, is a Steinway Concert D- the same piano used in almost all concert halls around the world. It is nine feet long, and sells for $250,000- can you imagine?
Eva practices constantly, and did very well with her two pieces. They sounded sure and heartfelt. During one piece I heard the lady behind me say to her son, "See how she looks at the notes and not her hands?" She also tapped me on the shoulder afterwards and said, "We'll look for her at Carnegie Hall!" So later I told Eva what the lady said about looking at the notes, and she said, "Oh, no I don't look at the notes- I read the words! And then I watch the inside of the piano work."
I will have to admit, though it's a testament to my less than perfect character, that watching about twenty kids whom I don't know play beginning piano pieces is basically painful, no matter how comfy the chairs. I watched in horror as a mom in front of me recorded the entire recital- not just her own kid! She must either be the nicest person alive or she is a secret agent taking the tapes to Guantanamo to torture foreign prisoners into giving up their deepest secrets. No offense to any one sweet child in particular, it just got very long!! I'm going to lobby for breaking the recitals down to groups of say, three students each. That would be perfect.
I will have to admit, though it's a testament to my less than perfect character, that watching about twenty kids whom I don't know play beginning piano pieces is basically painful, no matter how comfy the chairs. I watched in horror as a mom in front of me recorded the entire recital- not just her own kid! She must either be the nicest person alive or she is a secret agent taking the tapes to Guantanamo to torture foreign prisoners into giving up their deepest secrets. No offense to any one sweet child in particular, it just got very long!! I'm going to lobby for breaking the recitals down to groups of say, three students each. That would be perfect.
Jason decided to surprise the kids and take them out to Red Robin for lunch, as a celebration of Eva's hard work and their musical endeavors. (This is what he said, but I have a sad suspicion he was doing anything to delay eating the left overs of the wonderful quinoa/sweet potato/ red pepper/ spinach soup I made last night. To me, it was one of my best inventions ever. The only displeasure in eating it was looking up over my bowl at four pairs of mournful eyes... If anyone is hungry for something delicious and nutritious, come on over and do my fam a favor!) So we didn't tell the kids where we were going, just that we weren't going home. We hammed it up and said we were going somewhere where they would be bored. Actually, bored, hungry, itchy, tired... very uncomfortable. We pretended to be deciding between Home Depot, Costco... Naomi was sighing and glaring from her seat, when Eva chimed in, "Hey, I've know you guys for almost nine years now. Don't ya think I know how you work? You're not doin' anything like that! Don't worry about it kids." She's so got our number.
Below, some poor photos of the girls singing in tonight's performance of "There is Peace in the World Tonight." They sounded great- the whole choir was impressive.
Mom and Dad came to watch too, which made Josiah very excited; you can see him snuggling Grammy below. Sarena you will be pleased and surprised to see him wearing the dashing cap and jacket you got him for Christmas in 2006. Remember how when he opened it he threw it on the ground, said "yuck" and burst into tears? What, you've repressed that memory of my son's horrid ungratefulness? Oh, thank you. Well, two years later, he's had some time to reconsider, (and to grow) and he actually, unbelievably, likes it. He got so many compliments on his looks tonight- mostly from senior ladies. I think he's feeling a bit smug.
After the musical we stopped by a house near ours that has millions of lights timed to Christmas music on 98.5 FM. It was actually incredible- like a Christmas laser show! The kids loved it. Josiah said, "This isn't even cool. This is AWESOME."
When we got home, there was quite a bit of snow sticking. The kids started eating it like crazy when they got on the deck. Don't know what they're thinking! I reminded them of all we've learned about weather lately, and evaporation to precipitation, etc. Naomi concluded that they must of just eaten goose poop from Shadow Lake, in a new form. She didn't seem too worried though. I'm sure they'll do it all again tomorrow.
