All-District Band and all things music

This year Gabrielle was able to participate in the Northeast Missouri All-District Band. She tried out in November and made 4th chair flute (out of 12) in the honorable mention band. This was with all high school kids, so she was very happy that she beat out a lot of other kids that are older than herself. They met together to rehearse all day last Saturday at Moberly High School. She got to work with a wonderful director from Stockton-Culver College. We drove up to see the concert that evening. They played "Liberty Bell March," "Trail of Tears," "As Summer was Just Beginning," and "Vesuvius." Each piece was introduced by a student telling story behind the music. Trail of Tears was amazing- and the "Summer" piece was about the life of James Dean. We enjoyed seeing Gabrielle challenge herself in this playing experience! Now it is ensemble season and the girls are both working on solos and ensemble pieces for upcoming festivals. Madison is even taking piano lessons again- music is all around!

Happy Holidays

December came and we had plenty to keep us busy! One of the highlights before Christmas was the girls' flute studio's concert. First they had a concert where they participated in group numbers with professionals- have you ever heard of a "flute choir"?  I had never seen anything like it! 30 flutes all playing together for an incredible sound. It was held in a big beautiful church here in Columbia. After the concert, the girls participated in the all night "flute-a-thon" where they participated in duets, small ensembles and other flute related activities for 12 hours. They had gotten pledges for the hours participating to raise money for a local charity which provides scholarships for low-income families. It was a long and crazy night! All my pictures of the concert are still on my phone, but here's one we took before leaving for the concert:

 These girls have worked so hard developing their talents! They even accompanied the ward choir on "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (I forgot to include that in November!) Good Job, girls!
Love to hear you play and practice!

There was much to prepare for Christmas including my mother-in-law Linda's Christmas gift- which has become kind of a tradition. I make her tubs of ready to bake cookie dough. This year I did a dozen different kinds of cookie dough, scooped into cookies, froze them individually, and packaged them in plastic tubs with the directions for baking.

Then it all got packed up in coolers for our trip to Tulsa. It's kind of like a "cookie of the month" club, only you get it all at once. A fun gift that definitely is a labor of love! And when I was really busy packing up the dough into the containers and labeling them all - Jared was nice enough to cook, I mean order pizza! Love that! Love him! (Did I mention that he gave me an air soft gun for Christmas?)

The night before we left for our trip, the girls wanted to open their gifts from each other. We also did stockings that night. They were excited about the gifts they got each other!

They had to do rock paper scissors to decide who would go first! Hilarious!

Sydney is always interested in present opening!

Gabrielle gave Madison this cute panda stocking hat with mitten/gloves.

  Did Madison get Gabrielle a golf club? No, it's an ipod case!

We left the next day after dropping off the doggies and the kennel. Our first stop was at my mom's house. We ate at the Spaghetti Warehouse that night and looked at Rhema's Christmas lights. The next day we were able to go to the nursing home and visit Grandpa. They had a Christmas party for all the residents and their families. 

Kennedy got an iphone!

Gabrielle even played Christmas songs on flute for Grandpa and his roommate. It was really nice!
That evening we had Christmas at Jared's mother's house with Jared's brother's family and also Mitchel, Lisa, Brycen, and Adycen. The kids had fun with the cousins! We were also able to see Rhonda's kids David and Kristen and Kristen's fiancee, Zac. Wedding cake coming soon!

Adycen opening her present from Linda.

On Christmas Eve we went and did a little shopping the next day and then spent some time with just us at Linda's house playing games. We got some dinner and went and saw some Christmas lights in Muskogee- the Castle at Muskogee as well as Honor Heights Park. Those pictures are on my phone and better on video! Parts of it were choreographed to music!

Christmas Day was Sunday so it was so nice to go to sacrament meeting with Riverside and New Haven Wards. The girls got to see Kennedy pass the sacrament. A friend of ours is now the bishop in my mom's ward and we got to hear him speak and hear all the beautiful musical numbers.  Plus, I got to catch up with my great friend, Penny!

After church we went back to grandma's house and Kennedy came with us. We fixed lunch and had presents once Karl and Tiffany joined us. It was a nice relaxing afternoon! Later we went up to see Grandpa again at the nursing home. All the kids went together for his gift - a new tv for his room with wireless headphones. The girls also gave him some sugar-free candy. Tiffany made the famous graham cracker pie and he got to eat a piece of that. I think that made him very happy!

Merry Christmas Cousins!

Sarah made this cute calendar for Grandma with pictures of the grandchildren on it each month!

Kids on ipods

Dads on ipads

We packed up and left the next morning. We took the girls to Lisa's house for them to stay another day at her house. We also picked up Mitchel and he drove home with Jared and me. We made a quick trip home and picked up our freshly bathed dogs from the vet. They were happy to be home! Jared and Mitchel went to a movie that night while I attempted to get caught up on laundry. The next day the kids drove up with Adycen for Christmas at our house. 

Opening Adycen's stocking

Hurry! Open it Auntie Gabrielle!

I got this, mom!

Climbing Mount Christmas!

Jared showing Adycen a fun new book!

Adycen was definitely the center of attention this Christmas and rightfully so! It was so fun to have everyone here. We had very nice weather during their stay. The kids even went to play frisbee golf! They stayed up late, played games and had lots of good food. I made it out of the kitchen occasionally! Adycen crawled in to check on me, too! So sweet!

Brycen and his birthday cookie cake

We celebrated Brycen's birthday while they were here and also had a fun New Year's Eve- We did a three course fondue meal of cheese for the appetizer, broth for the main course and of course chocolate for dessert! I didn't make it until midnight like everyone else, but I am sure it was fun! 

We had church the next day and a started a brand new year!

Now Mia is tired and needs a nap in the sunshine! Happy 2012!

Novemeber

The rest of November was busy, too. It was fun getting ready for the holidays! Gabrielle had her band concert- early in December Madison's concert got cancelled due to snow and freezing temps (even though they still had school that day!) Gabrielle was recognized for making it into the honorable mention district band - 4th chair with all high school kids!

 Thanksgiving was nice- just us here in Columbia. To assure it's success, Gabrielle made the chocolate pie this year- her favorite.

 Everyone was in the Holiday Spirit to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade- Here's pilgrim Mia in her hat:

 Sydney didn't enjoy her hat so much- "If I wear this will I get turkey?"

 I think I am going on the naughty list!

 Oh yeah! Turkey! That's what I'm talking about! See how good I am?

Jared smoked this awesome bird for us- yum!

And then he got right on the light display in our yard! He created this tree and it was really cool!

Other November activities included hosting a dinner group from church (with Jared smoking chicken!) and seeing Jim Brickman kick off his Holiday Concert Tour in Saint Louis the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The following Sunday we had a farewell open house for our bishop and his family. Over 90 people came to eat cookies and snacks and wish them well. He got another news job in Utah, so Jared and the other counselor held down the fort until our new bishop was called. Jared was calling-less for a couple of weeks, then was called as our new bishop's executive secretary. It back to meetings for him now! Ready for December!