Caroling with the Allen's

One of my most favorite Christmas activities is caroling with my family.  Every year it's difficult to find a day we can all go.  Unfortunately, this year Scott was in Salt Lake with the youth at the same time.  We managed to survive without him but only just.

We sing the same songs every year (although several years I tried to introduce new ones).  We run through the songs once and head out the door.  This year we just went to family.  I love to sing.  I love music.  I love Christmas music.  I think when we forget to sing and create music we are missing a piece of our soul.  I love my family.

 Uncle Don, Aunt Deenie and Dad  (we make them cry every time we sing - it's their inheritance from their mother, Grandma Helen Allen)

 

Tender Heart

My family is such a miracle to me.  This song by Katherine Nelson touches my heart in many ways, the mother, the birthmother, a loving Heavenly Father.  I am so very, very blessed.
http://youtu.be/dhMfQVBpoSY

Christmas Eve (2012) Performances

We were asked to prepare a musical number for the program.  Ryan and Isabelle both wanted to play the piano and I figured since Izzy's was very short it would be fine for both to go ahead.  What I didn't anticipate was Ashley's desire to be in the spotlight as well singing a song of her own creation.  These are the videos (the girls songs were after the fact - therefore, Ashley's was a new song again).

Ryan  http://youtu.be/VRIAi2P0LEw

Isabelle  http://youtu.be/rFNOybK18l0

Ashley http://youtu.be/tJqLTOYr8hY

Christmas Eve Nativity

Isabelle looked great as an old shepherd.  She said the beard was funny but it made her all sweaty.  :)

 Ashley was a beautiful pink angel.

Ryan as a wiseman 

 The whole crew

After the nativity each family shared a musical number.  Ryan and Isabelle both played the piano and after they played Ashley decided she wanted to sing for everyone and she made up her own song for the event.  I was unprepared with my camera and missed it but I asked her to sing it again later so she made up a new one.  Funny girl.  She does that every week in FHE and expects us to sing along.

Ryan's Black Belt Bash!! May 2012

To celebrate Ryan's Black Belt achievement we had a big party and invited family and friends.  A lot of people came to show their support.  We had treats, karaoke and some karate demos by the man of the hour.  We all had a grand time!!

Singing Wicked

For our ward music night this past Saturday my friend Chelsea Frandsen and I put together a medley of Wicked songs.  I sang as Glinda and she sang as Elpheba (?).  We had been working on it for a while and we had such are marvelous time.

My Ryan also played "Axel F" on the piano.  He wasn't very pleased with his performance and is hoping to redeem himself at his recital next week.  He worked really hard to prepare himself for this performance and he loves playing this song.  He is quite the talented pianist.

Isabelle did a short clogging number with Hannah Fairbanks and her teacher, my friend, Bethany Hulse.  She did beautifully.  I love to watch her dance and she is really enjoying it.

Scott and I sang the song "Lucky" (sung by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat).  We have been working on that song for several months.  However, I still forget the words so fortunately our friends the Betham's brought their fancy karaoke setup so I was able to carefully cheat using her screen off to the side.  Scott knew it perfectly and sang really well.  I enjoy singing with him and in truth, I'm lucky to be in love with my best friend.

Unfortunately, our camera ran out of memory halfway through our song, sigh.  I'll just say that it was beautiful. (I'm sure)