"Messiah" Performances

So, like everybody else, the holidays got really busy for me, and that's why it's taken me forever to get caught up.  Part of the busy-ness of my holidays were two performances of Handel's Messiah.  

I was involved in the Albuquerque Stake's 2008 production of the Messiah in preparing the choir and also singing one of the solos.  It was such a great experience to sing that wonderful music with other dedicated members of our Stake.  I can't think of a better way to start the Christmas season than with singing praises to our Savior.  It really helped me focus on the reason for this special time of year.

The weekend after the Albuquerque "Messiah" performance, I flew out to California to sing the Soprano solos in the Turlock Stake's "Messiah" Concert.  I was fighting off some kind of cough and was so blessed that it stayed mild through the performance.  Monday morning after the performance it really hit, so I was very grateful that I was able to sing my best on Sunday night.  

Here I am with my Dad in all my diva glory.  

I was walking down the halls of the stake center when a little girl who'd come to hear the performance stopped when she saw me and looked at me with her eyes wide and her mouth open, like I might be a fairy princess.  It totally made my night.  I don't think I've ever worn a dress that poofy before so it was kind of pain every time I stood up to sing.  I got glitter all over the stake patriarch who was narrating.  (That was kind of embarrassing.  But still really fun to wear a fairy princess skirt.)

From Left to Right, Aunt Kathy, Dad, Mom, and me.

Aunt Kathy sang the alto solos, Dad directed it,  and Mom and two of my siblings were in the choir, so it was really cool to have so much family participating.  One of my favorite things was singing a duet with Aunt Kathy on "Come Unto Him."  I wish I had a recording of it!

Look Who's Walking

Hayden took this walk on his birthday.  

Hayden's 1st Birthday

Demolition of cake:

Here comes the sugar rush.

I can't believe our little Hayden is one already. This boy is such a funny kid. He crawls around with his tongue hangin' out of his mouth, is quick to smile and wave, and loves to be held and cuddle. We can't imagine life without him!

Christmas Tree!

This is the third year we've gone to the mountains to cut our Christmas Tree the day after Thanksgiving.  This year was much more relaxed than last year's close call.  We got an earlier start, had food & water with us, a new set of chains, and even an extra chain,  (the sole survivor of last year's trip.)  It had snowed the night before and was so beautiful!  I think this was the highlight of Mike & Amber's visit -- for me anyway.  (Dallin's favorite was playing basketball with Uncle Mikey.)  We had so much fun in this winter wonderland.  All the trees looks so beautiful frosted in the freshly fallen snow.  Mikey gets credit for finding the one we ended up taking home.  

Hiking up a little canyon to find the perfect tree.

Hayden is bundled and ready for the ride.

"Cutest Couple"

Goofy brothers

Snowballs of death--Mikey really packs his snowballs so they have a little sting when they getchya.

Awww . . .

The chosen tree

Dallin & Dad displaying our little beauty.

Catching snow flakes

Family picture courtesy of Amber

And she's tied on and ready to go home with us. 

Such a fun day!

Thanksgiving with Uncle "Monkey" & Aunt Amber

We were so happy to have Uncle Mikey (affectionately called Uncle "Monkey" by Sean) & Aunt Amber come visit us for Thanksgiving. We had so much fun with them, playing games, getting our Christmas tree, shopping, eating, and just being together.  We love & miss you guys!

Dallin & Mikey playin' a little b-ball.

Dallin told me, "Mom, that's a good picture of me." ;)

Hayden's ride is pimped.

Thanksgiving Feast.  

I think the best part of Thanksgiving is smelling that turkey cook all day.  Oh, it is nice!

Daphne taught me this cute Thanksgiving song she learned at school:

"I'm glad I'm not a turkey, a turkey, a turkey,

I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving day.

They cook you and baste you and then they will taste you,

I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!"

What a steal!

Look at what I got for free!   I am so excited about this door.  I went to this vacant land with my friend Natalie,  to get some old barn wood from a man who listed it on Craig's list as free barn wood to burn.  Lo and behold, there were a few old doors there, and he said we could take them.  As we were loading them in the car, he asks us, "What are you gonna do with them?"  

Oh the possibilities!  

My sister Jenny made the cutest shelf out of hers that is the end result I'm leaning toward now.  

(Here is a link to her door post--so darling.

Jen's Door Project)

But it must be a girl thing, because when I came home with this beauty, (and a few other choice pieces of old wood with rusty hinges and peeling paint on them,) Arthur's reaction was, "That guy listed it as burning wood for a reason!"  

Come on, honey!  No vision.

Okay, here's a  project that's actually finished.  Hobby Lobby had their fall stuff on sale for 80% off, and I went a little crazy getting pilgrims, pumpkins, turkeys, and indians, and scarecrows.  I filled a huge bag (almost as big as me with all my fall goodies) and paid $30 for it all.  Yeehaw!  

So I made a little topiary out of these styrofoam pumpkins.

(I got extra pumpkins for my sisters so they can make one too. Sadly, I never got them in the mail, --big surprise there--so I'll bring the stuff out at Christmas, and you can make them for next fall.)

I stacked the pumpkins and skewered them with floral picks and hot glue, added some fall leaves, gold ribbon, and gold and glitter spray paint to make it extra festive.  It came together in less than an hour.  

very fun.