Piano Recital

Robbie and Lydia had their Christmas piano recital last night.  Here are videos of the pieces they played.

Robbie- "Gute Nacht"

 

Lydia- "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

Robbie- "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

Lydia- "O Come All Ye Faithful"

Lydia- "Silent Night" 

All piano students with Mrs. Cindy

Robbie and his friend from school (We came to Mrs. Cindy because of a recommendation from him).

two asleep before it was over

We invited Sis. Guthrie- Robbie's old piano teacher to come with us.  She had health issues and had to stop teaching last year.  She was delighted to hear Robbie play "Gute Nacht", which she started working with him on.

More Christmas Festivities

With the Young Men, Robbie made this wooden Christmas Tree for our yard.  I think they did a good job cutting sanding and nailing!

We decided to return to the Fullerton Arboretum's Luminaria event this year for the second time. It's peaceful to walk along the lit path and enjoy nature and lights.

 At the end of the path, they have some photo opportunities.

The kids got to make a wreath ornament.

and visit Santa!

The next morning on Saturday, we attended our ward Christmas breakfast.  The Primary sang Silent Night.

and the kids decorated sugar cookies.

photo booth

That evening, Brian had his work party in Irvine.  It's always fun for us to get away on a date!

On Sunday, Lydia, Thomas and Mom sang in the Stake Christmas Concert.  It's a great musical fireside with three choirs and combined numbers.  We ended with the Hallelujah Chorus again this year.  The Primary choir numbers were especially beautiful.  It seemed like angels were singing with them.  I'm so glad we get to be apart of it every year. 

Court of Honor

Robbie had his last Court of Honor this week for Boy Scouts.  He earned his Life rank and we are so proud of him.  He was also one of the emcee's that evening.

 He's worked really hard and has been diligent in order to earn this rank before the youth program changes.

Christmas Festivities

Robbie has a new friend at school this year. His mom and I connected at Back to School Night and we have seen each other at a few church and school gatherings since then.  She also chaperoned the field trip with me and invited our family and another friend's family to come over last Friday.   The kids made graham cracker houses.  I'm bummed that I didn't get a picture of the boys.  It was fun and we love having new friends.

Robbie and Lydia have been practicing for their Christmas piano recital next week.  Lydia has a 4-5 religious Christmas songs that she loves to play.  She was telling me she wanted to play them for Primary.  I asked the president if she could play the prelude music and she thought that was a great idea.  Lydia jumped up as soon as Sacrament Meeting was over to get there early and play her pieces.  I loved that she wanted to share her talent.

We also decorated our own gingerbread houses yesterday.  Dad and Cat had a nap while the rest of us made our creations.

Field Trip and Daddy Date

Robbie had a field trip to the LA Modern Museum of Art, and I got to chaperone.

Tar Pits

This was an interesting piece.  It's a tiger skin rug made of cigarettes.  The placement and colors were fascinating and it also smelled!  Our docent was really good at explaining the significance to the pieces, which was needed since modern art generally has deeper symbolic meaning.

Brian stayed home with Catherine while I was gone.  When asked what she wanted for lunch she said, "Pizza!"  Brian was excited to take her on a lunch date to Shakey's.

Thanksgiving Week

The kids had the whole week off for Thanksgiving.  We went to the park with friends from church on Monday.  That afternoon Catherine got sick, which started a domino effect through the family. On Tuesday, we all stayed home to recover.  Wednesday morning we were all feeling better and cleaned the house to prep for Thanksgiving.  By Wednesday afternoon, Catherine got sick again, but luckily it stopped with her.

We had to cancel Thanksgiving dinner plans with Bobby's family so we didn't share our germs.  Catherine was still sick that morning. So our dinner was just our little family.

On Saturday, we started decorating for Christmas.

Brian got to go to the BYU vs. SDSU football game that night.  They had fun together, even though BYU lost.

November Activities

The Primary hosted a drive in movie at the church building one Saturday.  It was such a cute idea, but Thomas got car sick part way through and they both had to come home early.

Lydia earned her AR bronze medal for the first quarter.  She's really been into reading chapter books lately.  It's fun to see her grow. 

Brian had a birthday!  He wanted ribs, cheesy potatoes, and pumpkin bars. We love having him as a husband and father!

We went to the LA car show.  The kids thought this car looks like Goofy's car in the Mickey Mouse show.

Kids thought it was fun to get inside so many cars and try them out.

 

They also had this climbing rope tunnel for kids.

and a climbing wall.