Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a little different for us this year, but so sweet. 

Sylvia was asked by our friend Jamie to play her horn with the church choir he directs at the Presbyterian church in Fairbury.

We dropped her off for rehearsal, then went to Family Dollar to pick up scotch tape and some last minute Christmas supplies--you know, like a 2 pound bag of SourPatch Kids.

When we arrived back at the church, we went in a little early, and the choir was still rehearsing.  A man from the congregation greeted us and pointed at me and Annah. He told us we should sing with the choir.  I don't know how he knew we were singers, but when he said something to Jamie, Jamie said he would love for us to join them. So we did!

The piece the choir sang was All Is Well--one of my favorites.  

 Sylvia did a beautiful job playing her horn!

The service was really nice.
In his message, the pastor included this recording of of a TV broadcast watched by over 500 million people: 50 years ago today, the US astronauts of Apollo 8 reading the first 10 verses of Genesis as they watched the lunar sunrise of the earth! So awesome!

Receiving candles for the singing of Silent Night

On our way home, we drove around Colfax and enjoyed all the great Christmas lights.  My pictures snapped through the car window are no good, but there were some really cute displays!  We enjoyed it so much and were impressed the little village of Colfax had so many great lights!

I had a little wrapping to finish, but not much.

Had to keep the tradition of watching Polar Express on Christmas Eve!

And even the tradition of Dad reading Moosletoe!

It's fun playing Santa, because I'm the first one to see this pretty sight.

The angel said to them, 

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

- Luke 2:10-14

 We had lunch at Steak 'n' Shake today.  Caeden's favorite is the StrawNilla shake.

 Jacob came over this afternoon and he and Sylvia baked and decorated sugar cookies.

At some point this evening, a neighbor knocked on the door and neither Jeremy nor I heard it. Caeden answered the door, and a lady said they'd had a party and had extra cupcakes.  She left this box of gourmet cupcakes from Smallcakes! 

Annah and Ryan went on their first "official" date just the two of them after church today.  They had lunch at Noodles with Ryan's sisters then went to see the new Spiderman movie.  Then they came back to our house and everyone watched Mama Mia together, since it was announced that it will be their spring musical. They do make a pretty cute couple.

 

While they were watching the movie, Addie texted and said she was in town just for the night. We were all so happy she stopped over for a little bit!!!

PoC Christmas

 The kids all had parts in the Christmas program at church this morning, and I played in the band.  It was quite a "different" program, and would probably even have been considered irreverent and maybe even offensive to the wrong crowd. But, our congregation loved it.  One of our Overarching Principles is "Fun Is Relevant," and we really do push that to the limit sometimes!  

 We rehearsed Thursday evening, and again at 8:00 this morning.  Sylvia got to snuggle with Baby Jace (who we called baby Jace-us today, because he was playing baby Jesus in the program) and give him a bottle. He is a very calm baby!

Sylvia played The First Noel to start the service.

VIDEO:

All seriousness was lost when the Angel Gabriel appeared to "Zach."

VIDEO: Hello


Later, the angel appeared to Mary...


VIDEO:

 Eventually, Mary and Joe didn't have much money, so they took a Greyhound bus to Bethlehem.

Soon, it was time for baby Jesus to be born.

VIDEO: Push It and Away In A Manger

Gabriel told the camping college students to spread the good news about the Savior's birth...

The 3 Wise People heard the news and took an Uber to bring gifts of a Tesla, Premier Essential Oils, and the most stylish baby clothes to baby Jesus.

VIDEO:
At first, I have to admit, it was pretty uncomfortable playing some of these songs for Christmas morning service, but in the end it was really fun.

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

Jesus is born!

Evergreen Program

Our family and my students joined the Benton family again for their annual Christmas program at Evergreen Place.  It's really one of my favorite traditions of the holiday season, and I'm so grateful Joyce invites us back to participate each year!

I played some songs from the Reader's Digest Christmas Album as folks gathered in to listen, then Sylvia played some carols just before we started.

One of my newest students, Carly, was the first on the program, and it was her first time performing on piano!  She did a great job!!!

Alex performed Jingle  Bells even better than he played it for me at his lesson this morning!  

It was such a treat to have Ridgeview Midnight Blues sing for everyone!

I am kicking myself for not asking Caeden to record the acts, since I played piano for a lot of them and couldn't get pictures or video.  

My very favorite part of the day was when Jeremy and Sylvia played a trumpet/horn duet of Away In A Manger! It was so lovely, and so neat that the two of them played together!!!

Everyone did a nice job, and all of the residents enjoyed our program.

Caeden and Miles playing some Xbox after their successful wrestling tournament at Prairie Central on Saturday.  Miles hung out with us at home the rest of the evening.

Annah and her ThriveX friend Meme before the service started at church this morning...

Annah loves serving with the preteens!

I finally decided to put a few ornaments on the tree.

Caeden is in Mrs. Jones' Advisory class, and they built The White House for the Winter WonderCan competition at school.  Looks like they collected a lot of cans too!

I made a few jar covers for some of my friends for Christmas.

ISO

We had a fun girls night out tonight!  

Supper at the bar at Lucca Grille!  

Señora Lovitt met us at Lucca, then we walked around downtown Bloomington a little before Sylvia needed to be back at the CPA.

We dropped her off at the stage door where only the performers and crew get to enter/exit.

The BNYS had their own dressing room, which Sylvia said was marked off by velvet ropes.

We waited in the lovely lobby and looked online for prom dresses while Sylvia rehearsed.

Before the concert, the BNYS students filled in balcony seats in the audience, so they could watch the part of the concert they weren't playing in. 

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is fabulous!  And the young dancers are incredible!

The ISO performed The Snowman along with the animated movie again this year, including a wonderful boy soprano soloist.

Annah was sad when the snowman melted at the end of the movie.

Bloomington Normal Youth Symphony joins the Illinois Symphony Orchestra

Mrs. Bryant conducted the Troika.

VIDEO: just a little snippet

Sylvia very much enjoyed getting to work with ISO Director, Ken Lam!  He was very upbeat and positive toward the students, and also told the ISO professionals that this was the most important concert they would perform in all year because they were encouraging musicians of the future!

VIDEO:

Such a wonderful collaboration!

Mrs. Lovitt is such an encouraging light in our lives.  We love spending time with her.  She said she learned a lot about the symphony tonight!

This is the professional assistant principal cellist of the ISO that Sylvia sat with. She was so sweet and complimentary to Sylvia!  Also, Sylvia said that after the BNYS portion of the concert, the principal cellist turned around and came to shake her hand and tell her what a wonderful job she did!