A Celebration of Christmas

Today with many of the DeMartinis and extended family members, we attended A Celebration of Christmas. The music, as always was wonderful. It was fun to see several cousins I don't see very often. The concert is always the perfect way to start off the Christmas season.

Christmas Concert

We had another last today. It was the Rock Canyon Christmas concerts, and Blythe participated for the very last time (sob, sob). For several weeks she has been singing the sixth grade songs, which this year were a speedy fast version of Jingle Bells and Hot Chocolate. She was ready to sing and did a fantastic job. It was obvious she was having a good time. I tried to embarrass her a bit when I was taking her picture, but she didn't let me ruffle her at all.

I would say that I'll miss the Christmas concert, but I'll likely keep going to see Mikayla's kids, so it's not the last I'll ever attend.   But it will be different without one of our own singing festively at the front of the gym.

Blythe's Christmas Concert

What's more Christmasy than Christmas music?  Not much.  Today was the Rock Canyon Christmas Concert, and we looked foward to attending.  Blythe has been singing the fifth grade songs for several weeks now, listening on Youtube to make sure she knows all the words, and demanding we not put up the mistletoe because, "Yuck!" (a lyric from one of her songs).  Fortunately, morning kindergarten--Brick's class--was singing at the same time as the upper grades, so I only had to attend one concert to see and hear both Blythe and Brick. 

The concert was great.  I love the kindergarteners.  They are so little, and seem a bit nervous, but are soooooo cute!!  They sang their old stand-by "Elmer Elf," complete with elf hats and bell shaking, and this year added "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," complete with red noses.  Brick did a great job, knew the words, and was the cutest one in the bunch. 

The fifth graders sang two perennial favorites, "That's Christmas to Me," and "I Don't Want Any Part of Mistletoe."  They sang the first beautifully, did a great job of making the second very funny, and I thought they stole the show.  Blythe wasn't thrilled about performing in front of everyone.  In fact, as she was walking out the door to school, she said, "Here I go for another public humiliation."  She has such a dramatic streak.  She gets that from Kent.  I didn't think she humiliated herself and I am sad we only have one more year with a child singing in the elementary school Christmas concert.

 

 

 No! No! No! No! No! No! I don't want any part of mistletoe!

Well . . . . maybe.

Where My Treasure Is

Today is #LightTheWorld day 14.  I've done another post all about my Light the World efforts, but I wanted to write a bit more extensively about today as the theme is Matthew 6:21  "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." 

I spent the day with those I treasure. Brandt and Blythe had their Christmas concert, today, Brandt's last of elementary school (sob sob!). They both sang very well, funny songs.  Brandt sang The Twelve Days After Christmas and a hot chocolate song, and Blythe sang Hot Cup of Cocoa and Somewhere in My Memory from Home Alone.  Both did actions and were engaging to watch, though Brandt seemed a bit subdued.  Although we had great seats, I didn't film them because my phone was dying and holding the big camera aloft gets heavy and then jiggles.  So I just sat and watched and listened.  As I watched them, my heart swelled with love for them, my eyes filled with tears, and I thought, "I'm going to cry while the kids sing about hot chocolate. How embarrassing. I must really be in the Christmas spirit."  Sitting next to Kent as we listened, I realized my most treasured people were right there with me. And 500 other people there to see their treasures.  I don't think I was particularly moved by the songs they sang, but more by seeing how they've grown, how confident Blythe is and how unassuming Brandt is, how calm they both were, and how much I like them.  It was a sweet moment.  

 

As soon as the concert was over, I dashed over to the church for our annual Relief Society Christmas lunch and dinner.  Over the course of the afternoon, I got to be with 60 of my Relief Society sisters.  The theme was "Come Let Us Adore Him," and the Primary room was beautifully decorated with nativity sets sisters brought to share, sweet images of the birth of Christ.  The weekday activity committee had made a little baby Jesus in a manger for each sister to take.  I know the whole activity was a tremendous amount of work, but we all agreed it was totally worth it.  I was able to visit with the wonderful women of the ward and enjoy their friendship and spirit. I'm so blessed to be able to serve them and with them and be uplifted by our association.  I was touched as I watched sisters arriving together, talking animatedly, and enjoying being together.  It was obvious everyone was having a marvelous time.  Food was delicious, too.  Getting to be with my family treasures and then with my ward treasures made the day extra special.

Maureen Ogles, Stacie Mason, McKenzie Drake, Peggy Worthen, Stephanie Magleby, 

Charleen Doman, Angela Richards 

Rosemary Wilson, DeNeece Tueller, Carol Skeeles, Middie Magleby, Norma Bridge,

JaNeal Bradford, Diane Seckler

 Kimberly Roy's mom, Kimberly, Kathryn Seamons, Charlene Strong, Margaret Bench, 

Clarice Jensen, Karen Jensen

Rose Mary Lindberg, Analyn Smith holding Hannah Drake, Jennifer McClurg, Deborah Sheets

I really wanted a picture of the committee, me and my counselors, and the evening groups,

but I forgot to take anymore pictures after these few I took.

Christmas Concerts

Today was the children's Christmas concerts.  They have been practicing at school and singing snippets of their songs over the past several weeks.  I like seeing the children sing; the concerts are fun, both Brandt and Blythe sing with confidence, and it feels very festive to be there.  We have to go to two separate concerts as they divide the grades up so as not to have too many parents in the gym, but listening to them sing is worth it.  The fifth graders sang "I Don't Want Any Part of Mistletoe," and "That's Christmas to Me", while the third graders sang "Let It Be Christmas" and the ever popular "Noel" with the many verses featuring words that sound like Noel like "no well," "white whale," "learn to spell," and others.  So fun! 

In the doorway of my kitchen you might get an awful itchin'

To give somebody a big holiday smooch!

For if you would look above your head, you'd see the green and white and red,

and put that little plant (gulp) to use.

It's a fearsome old tradition in the doorway of my kitchen,

and there's hardly anyone who can escape! (“Let me out of here!”)

If you stand inside the doorway, someone's bound to make it your way,

and unless you duck real fast... (Smack....”Oh too late!”)

I want no part of this holiday kissing! I know just what I'm missing and it's fine!

When my uncle kissed his fiancee I thought they would be there all day!

I don't know who invented mistletoe! No! No! No! No! No! No!

I don't want any part of mistletoe!

Well Aunt Bertha nearly drowned me when she put her arms around

And said: “Fancy that! Why, there's the mistletoe!”

It was most unpleasant, but I knew she had my present,

so I let her kiss me while I held my nose!

I want no part of this holiday kissing! I know just what I'm missing and it's fine!

I don't want a smooch or kiss or peck, not on my cheek or face or neck!

I don't want any part of mistletoe No! No! No! No! No! No!

I don't want any part of mistletoe! (“Get this”)

Once, the kid across the street came to our house for a treat,

hoping for a cookie or some pie.

In the doorway he was standing, when old Rover made a landing,

and licked that kid until I'd thought he'd die!

I want no part of this holiday kissing! I know just what I'm missing and it's F-I-N-E fine!

From Aunt Bertha to Rover, when will kissing time be over?

I don't see any use for mistletoe! No! No! No! No! No! No!

I don't.... “Well, maybe... Nah.”

I don't want any part of mistletoe! (Smooch, Yuk!)