December 2011

December was filled with holly and jolly – here’s a look at what we did:

Autumn performed in her first orchestra concert, playing the violin. The beginning orchestra played “Grandma got run over by a Reindeer” and “The Chipmunk Song”, both well-known classical violin pieces. :)  She is still having fun playing the violin and begging to quit piano lessons, but we’re not quite ready for that yet.

Megan was incredibly busy with Chamber Singers! She performed as a beggar in this year’s Madrigal feast for 7 nights, which was a 4-6 hour commitment each day, depending on whether or not she had to help set up and take down the castle.  It was so much fun to attend this year, though.  My sisters Jenni and Kristi and their families were able to attend as well and it was a great way to welcome in the Christmas season.  Plus it was fun throwing spare change to Megan and the other beggars to perform tricks for us.  On top of Madrigal feast, she also had many “gigs” (where they are hired to sing at holiday parties to earn money for tour) over the Christmas season as well as their normal Christmas concert.  We didn’t see her much this month before Christmas break.

Devin also had his Christmas choir concert, and Megan and Devin both performed in their piano recital.  Megan took a year off of piano lessons last year because of time constraints, but she missed it so much that she took an independent music study as one of her class periods so she would have time to go to one of the school’s practice rooms and practice piano. It’s good to hear her play again. Both she and Devin did a great job at their recital.

Seth got his first round of braces off and now has perfect chicklet front teeth.  Honestly, I kind of miss his crazy Goofy teeth, but he’s looking more handsome than ever.

Autumn called the month of December her “Danceapalooza” and it certainly was.  She had lots of regular rehearsals at The Pointe as well as increased rehearsals at the beginning of the month to get ready for her 4 performances as a party girl in “The Nutcracker”.  She LOVED being a party girl and it was a great combination of dancing and acting for her – she did a great job!  We don’t have a picture of her in her costume yet (those costumes are highly guarded!), so we’ll post one next month.  Here she is with her party girl hair done and by the Nutcracker stage.

After 3 1/2 years, I was released as YW president right before Christmas.  It’s been a little sad for me to say goodbye to my 40 YW, but I am excited that my new calling has me teaching 20 17-18 year olds in Sunday School, including Megan.  I’m not sure what it means that this particular group has never had a Sunday School teacher last more than a few months, but here we go…

Since Grandma and Grandpa Ririe couldn’t come for a visit this Christmas, I finally gave up and made our own gingerbread houses from scratch.  I don’t enjoy baking much (okay, at all, really), so I was proud of the 3 big houses I got put together before we went to Megan and Devin’s piano recital, planning to come home and decorate them after the recital.  We got home to discover that Sasha had somehow pulled one off the counter and eaten it, but here are the 2 we did get to decorate.

Speaking of Sasha, we had quite the scare when she was hit by a car on the busy road near our house this month.  She was pretty banged up and not walking much, so the day after it happened, I took her to the vet, who feared that she had broken a hip.  We were all relieved to find out that nothing was broken and that she would recover fine on her own.  She did  a lot of lying around for a couple of days, but has been recovering very nicely – yay!

We had a great Christmas with celebrations with my family on Christmas Eve-eve and with Jeff and family on Christmas day.  It was a wonderful time and the only thing we wished for that didn’t come was snow.

We celebrated New Year’s Eve with Jeff and family coming over for chalupa during the day and then having a confetti filled celebration later that night to ring in the New year.  Here’s hoping 2012 is a great year for all of you!!