It's going to be okay!

I directed the choir at church today for the first time and it went much better than expected. I think a lot of people were just as surprised as I was. I received quite a few compliments like....

"You cut us off and brought us in at all the right spots, good job"

"You looked nervous at first but then you got the hang of it"

"You've come a long way in just 3 weeks, your musical abilities are starting to come out"

It is really nice to have that first experience done. I can honestly say that I am feeling better about this calling. I was not sure at first, in fact I really did not want to do it. But know I know that I can. This will be a learning experience.

funny pic!

Jacob emailed this pic to me the other day. It is kind of an old one, but it makes me laugh every time.

My new calling

I received a new calling in our ward. I have been called to be the ward choir director. I was asked if I would do it before Thanksgiving but I wasn't sustained until just last week. So, I have had a lot of time to think about it. We had our first practice today and now I have realized that I should have spent that time learning how to conduct a choir. I know a whole lot less than I thought. I almost got emotional a few times but I was able to keep it together. I really need to learn how to do this. Maybe that is why I have this calling, so that I can learn a new skill. I was humbled today. I am, however, very grateful for the people that are in the choir. Everyone was (at least I think) very nice and understanding. Overall, I think that for the first time, having no experience leading a choir, it went pretty well.
When I got home I had to do something to take my mind off it so I just started to cook things. I made bread, applesauce, and chicken soup, but it didn't make anything better. I'm still stressed out. Oh, well, I guess studying and time is the only thing that will make this less stressful.

Oh, the bread did work this time, and that did make me feel a little better.

Bread

Damn the stupid bread that falls in the oven!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my hair!!!

I think this is a lot of hair for only being 8 months old. He is so cute.

Our tree

We left to go be with out families on Christmas day but we didn't want to leave out tree in the house for 5 days getting dry and ready to go ablaze. So we took everything off of it and got rid of it on Christmas day.

We were the first ones to drop off our tree. I think we will carry on this tradition.

Christmas 2009

Katie had a great Christmas if you ask her. She was so excited to open her violin. I has since regretted getting it for her because now she wants me to teach her. I play the cello, it's a little different. I guess now I need to find a teacher who is willing to teach for pennies. I also made her a few things that I will have to put into another post.

Zachary was hard to shop for this year. He isn't quite old enough for legos and he has so many swords, I just didn't know what to get him. He had been talking about how Uncle Jordan plays the guitar and he thought that was cool so I found him a cheap one that is a toy but looks real. He loves it. Again I'll have to post separately the things that I made this year.

We got Marshal 2 presents this year. Smartest thing we ever did. He did really like this wooden stacker toy but he really liked the paper, but only after it was off the presents.I can't get over how blue is eyes are. WOW! Poor kid got that huge bottom lip from his mama.


Christmas was really nice this year. We were able to have Christmas eve and Christmas morning at our own house. We had never done that before so it was really nice. Although I did have a lot  more cooking that way. It's okay, I loved having it at home.

We did the Nativity story from the book of Luke on Christmas eve and the kids thought it was funny that Jake was the donkey. A fun tradition that Jake grew up with that we will continue. I made tamales and green chili that turned out just great but I don't have a picture. oops.