We've had our fill of Ward Choir Programs!

We first went to West Haven to hear Sharon and her girls sing on the program with the ward choir. The 3 older ones sing with the choir. Reagan joined her sisters in singing "Star Bright." Very nice!

We saw an old friend who moved into the ward 3 years ago - Mary Jean Brown Leatham. She is the ward chorister. It was great to see her again! We also saw Butch and Rachel Campbell (former members of our ward) and Dad's cousin and his wife - Jack and Joan Patterson.

Next we traveled to Plain City where Mike performed with his ward choir. It was a great program too - although I missed hearing Mike sing a solo!

Back to North Ogden 25th (Singles) Ward to hear Lisa and her friend, Amber Taylor, sing a duet of "Oh Holy Night." They sang a Capella and did a nice job! I enjoyed the music and talks of the singles ward members (in spite of myself!)

December 19th - Allison's Pre-school Program and a long wait...

Friday was a snow day. We left early for Bountiful so we could watch Allison, Marianne and Joann sing in "Miss Jeri's Pre-school Program." They started off the show, singing "When Christmas Comes to Town." Both girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Alli loves the microphone and isn't the least bit shy about grabbing it and singing her guts out! Marianne is a little more precision - and knows every word and every pitch. When Joann started singing the wrong words on one of her verses - Marianne let her know about it - and NOT very subtly either! One of the fathers recorded their song - I'll post it when I get a copy! Check back!

After the program, we went to dinner with the Barbers, then planned to head to the airport to pick up Danny and Dalena. Their plane was due to land at 8:30 PM. Ha! We got a call, saying that it had been delayed - at least until 9:45 PM. We decided to drive to Elaine and Russell's to hang out while we waited. We hung out - visited with Elaine, Russell, Micaela and (bonus) Katie and Aaron (and Kadence). We hung out long after they had all gone to bed. Danny finally called at 1:40 AM to say their plane had finally landed! We got home at 3:00 AM!

December 17th - Jack's 66th birthday and Orion Junior High's Concert

Jack woke up this morning another year older. We went shopping in the afternoon, then to Nate and Tyler's choir concert in the evening. Happy Birthday Jack! I love you!

Nathan and Tyler both sing in Orion's choirs. Nate is a 7th grader, so he's in the beginning choir. He told his mom and dad not to tell us about the concert - he didn't want anyone to come. Nathan! Tyler is in the concert choir. They sang a couple of numbers with Weber High's Chamber Quire - then some of their own at the end of the program. Both boys have very nice voices - but are a little lacking in enthusiasm. Hopefully, that will change! I'd love to see them both sing for Scott Wood when they get to Weber High! We took Dad with us to this concert and he very much enjoyed it! No pics! :(

December 15th - Plain City Elementary Choir Program

Amberly sings in the Plain City Choir. She invited us to hear her sing. It was a very nice program! Amberly had a little solo and she did a great job! Amy took some pictures. I hope to get at least one to post!

Music and the Spoken Word & mini-concert

We braved the snow storm and drove to Music and the Spoken Word this morning. We didn't get tickets for the Christmas Concert, but Elaine said she could get us tickets for either Thursday or Sunday morning - so we chose Sunday. We sat two rows behind President Monson and President Uchtdorf and their wives and family members. We loved every minute of the broadcast and the mini-concert, even though we were instructed NOT to applaud or laugh during the broadcast. Keith McCord told us that we could smile, but to do it quietly.

Brian Stokes Mitchell was superb as was Edward Herrmann. We couldn't have been more pleased with the performance! It was magnificent! Although the broadcast was very restrictive, the mini-concert was very informal and relaxed. The performers and the audience had a great time!

After many standing ovations at the end of the concert, President Monson went on stage to present some gifts to the guest artists - and while he was up there, Brother Mitchell presented him (and us) with a wonderful performance of The Impossible Dream.

RECIBID AL REY

I have several students who are LDS. Three of them have been talking about their choir rehearsals for several months. They sang in the Tabernacle last Saturday night (their Friday night performance was canceled because of Elder Wirthlin's funeral). Last night, they sang at the Ogden Tabernacle. Mike and Kathie Linsley (missionaries to a Spanish Branch in Ogden) got us tickets and went with us. What an experience! The program was scheduled to begin at 7 PM and finally started at 7:20, confirming the Linsley's tales of the habitual tardiness of the Latinos. Once the concert began, however, it was well worth the wait!

The Latinos are totally into their music! Many of the numbers were done with guitars, drum, maracas and a small harp. In one number, the director turned around and asked the audience to clap. Everyone joined in, enthusiastically! Later, in the song, some of the people had stopped clapping. The director noticed, turned around and got them going again! One of my favorite parts was Las posadas - it's a little "parade" wherein Joseph and Mary journeyed into Bethlehem (starting at the back of the tabernacle) and made their way to the stage - getting turned away by several "innkeepers" along the way. Young children took those parts, and they had beautiful, clear voices!

A lot of the music was unfamiliar - but very beautiful! We loved hearing the Spanish version of Mary's Lullaby, Still, Still, Still and Oh Come All Ye Faithful. By the time we had heard 3 choruses of that last song, we could sing along during the 4th verse with the rest of the audience. We totally enjoyed the experience!

Ward Christmas Party

I'm hoping someone took pictures at the ward Christmas breakfast! We've done the same thing the past few years. We meet in the chapel for a small pageant, staged by the Primary and narrated by the YM/YW. Every child in Primary has a part, whether Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wisemen or angels. The kids act out the Christmas story while the youth read a dialog and the story from the bible. The costumes are wonderful and the kids really do a great job with the acting, narration and singing. One of the young men - the one who was chosen to read the story from the Book of Luke has the most wonderful voice! He has to be put on earth to be the follow-up for Lloyd Newell when he retires! His name is Mitchell Weaver - so remember I predicted that!

After the Nativity, we had breakfast and then a visit from Santa (aka Jeff Livingston). Jeff borrowed Jack's Santa Suit, hair and beard for the gig. We had the hair and beard "done" at the wig shop - dropped it off, not even asking the cost. SIXTY-FIVE bucks! I think I'll try to do it myself next time around!

When Jeff dropped off the gear after the party, I asked him if he had fun. I thought maybe he'd want Nancy to make him a suit so he could be a regular! Ha! He said, "I hated it! I hate that stuff! Bah! Humbug!" He was serious - but I sure heard a lot of people say that he was one of the best Santas we'd had!

Plaid Tidings

We have season tickets to Rodgers Memorial Theater in Centerville. We had seen Forever Plaid several times already, and with our tight schedule, we actually thought about giving our tickets away - but we didn't. We were so glad! We both loved the show. It was the same premise as the other Plaids, but this one was all about Christmas. The four guys who made up the quartet were so good! Cameron Nichols is/was in Choralaires with Lisa, and we've seen him in a couple of other shows. Great voice! My favorite was Ian Fife - a Kyle Korver look-alike. So cute!

Lomond View's Choir and Orchestra Concert

Last Friday's concert at Lomond View was a two-fer. Baylee played the violin in the orchestra and Haley sang with the choir. Haley had a solo part and did very well. Both girls are so beautiful and talented! I'll post pictures of them when I get them.

Baylee's Reflections Award

Baylee won an award for a water color painting she did for the Reflections Contest. The theme was WOW! Baylee is in 6th grade, so she was competing with junior high and high school students! I'll post a picture of Baylee with her painting when Jeff and Angie send me one. :)

Rocky Mountain's Christmas Choral Concert

Another great concert by Rocky's Choral Department! Lex and London are in the Concert Choir and Alexis is in the Chamber Choir. This was a two-fer! One concert - two grandchildren! I'll see if Shron will send me a picture.

Dean Turns Eight!

Tonight we celebrated Dean's 8th birthday. He got a new set of scriptures and a rip-stick from Mike and Amy, a CTR ring and cash from us and a Nerf gun from Grandma Koford. She'll give him the traditional home-made blanket on his baptism day - January 3, 2009!

Grace's Baptism

Grace was so excited about her baptism for so long - but she was a little nervous. After she was baptized, she kept telling everyone, "I did it! I got baptized!" I'll post a picture of Grace and Jeff when I get one.

Sunday Night

Bo and Grandpa Jack played trains.

One Last Show?

We thought Lisa was through with Choralaires, but she went back two days a week - so...she was in the Christmas show again this year. She sang in a double quartet - I'll Be Home For Christmas. She didn't have much of a voice for the Friday night show, but Saturday was better.

Senior Center Dinner and Show

Dad and Jack and I had a nice dinner at the North View Senior Center before the Sounds of Christmas Time performance. The show was great! All the old folks loved it! So did we! Jack had a meeting right after the performance, but Dad and I headed over to Pleasant View to hear Haley sing at the Creche Display.

Pleasant View Stake Creche Display

This is the 4th year the Pleasant View Stake has hosted a creche display. It was my first time there. I'm going back and taking Dad in his wheelchair! It is amazing! Thousands of nativities from every continent in the world - every country you can imagine - and they are made from every medium imaginable! It's open until December 6th. You really shouldn't miss it!

Watching Haley sing...

Haley loves to sing and she has a beautiful voice! She sang with a group of girls from her ward as part of the entertainment during the creche display. Dad and I got to hear her sing too. When I dropped Dad off at home, I called Byran - there was still time to get in to the Ogden Amphitheater for the 7:30 Sounds of Christmas Time performance! Yippee!

Same show - way better venue!

The girls had pink noses, but they loved performing at the Amphitheater in Christmas Village! What a fun performance!

RS Christmas Dinner

A couple of months ago, I was asked to be chair for the RS Christmas Dinner. I hesitated, but said yes. I went straight to Ann for ideas, since she and her mom have both been RS presidents. She suggested a menu. I pulled together some of the most reliable women in the ward (and some of the best cooks) and we pulled it off. We had close to 70 women there. Weber High's Chamber Quire performed before the meal (they had another engagement afterward). The food held quite well during the performance. Everyone enjoyed it a lot! Thanks, Ann! (pics when I get them)