December Sum-Up

Having one week less between Thanksgiving and Christmas condensed the intensity of everything. Many evenings seemed to have two or three events scheduled, meaning Justin and I had to split up duty or some things just got missed. There were concerts coming out our ears: my studio recital; a violin studio accompanying gig; ballet class performance; several orchestra performances; ward choir Christmas program and practices; Justin's company party at which Kurt Bestor performed; and our ward party where Bronwyn performed a dance routine she choreographed for herself and several of the younger girls. For me, though, music is part of what makes the season so I don't mind the plethora of music events. We discovered new Christmas music this year in our studious efforts to avoid the radio which plays the same 10 Christmas songs recorded by the same 15 musicians. Who is new on our favorite Christmas CDs list? VoiceMale, the Piano Guys, and Kristin Chenoweth. And I heard some new arrangements by Kurt Bestor that are really fun.

Once we blew through the multiple musical engagements, the month kind of settled down so we could just enjoy our family. We've been to the Sacred Gifts exhibit at BYU (amazing! Go this month and then go again in February when they swap out four paintings), Saving Mr. Banks (beautiful movie), and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (exciting, but make sure you don't drink anything before or during the movie because it is LONG). Tomorrow we're going to visit the Springville Art Museum to see two exhibitions there: a religious art exhibit timed/themed for Christmas, and a James Christensen and family exhibition titled, "Curiouser and Curiouser." I've seen them already and thought my kids would love them too.

Here are a few pictures to share what we've been doing this month...

Bald eagle at Salem Pond

Salem Pond on a Sunday walk

Amazing waddles on this goose!

Salem Pond bridge

All decorated for Christmas. Thanks Bethany, Bronwyn, and crew!

Evan making his cello sing

Owen the principal violist

Where there's a horse to be stroked you'll find Bronwyn

Our Christmas lights

Liam is all ready to play his flute

At the BYU MOA

Our Christmas Eve table. What you can't see is the paper dog ear I taped to the door crevice below the door knob. Half way through dinner Justin shouted "Bumpuses!!!" in honor of The Christmas Story hounds who who devoured the Parker's Christmas turkey. We completely startled the kids. Yay for Mom and Dad jokes.