Cameron and I accompanied the choir in church on the First Noel/ Pachelbel's Cannon piece.  One of Mike's friends from work played the other violin part with us.

Christmas was good.  We acted out the Nativity with the kids a couple of days before Christmas... that is always fun (and crazy) with kids.  Kevin came and stayed with us for several days; it was good to visit with him.  We also took the kids to the dollar store and let them buy presents for their brothers and sisters, Kevin, and Mike and I.  They were SO excited to watch each other open their gifts to each other.  Later we went to Carols and saw Carol, George, Grandma, Jim, Kathy, Brian & his girlfriend Jennifer, and Janet's family.  We all had a good time eating, opening presents, and just visiting with each other.  We almost went caroling to a Nursing Home on Christmas day, but I was in the middle of a bad cold, so we decided not to go... although we did go last year and enjoyed it.

And today... is our 15 year Anniversary!!

Yes, we celebrated a couple of months ago, but we still went to dinner and a movie last night (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty... we'd already seen everything else good).  It was surprisingly clean and a descent movie, although I was expecting to not enjoy it at all.  I've had some friends look back on their big anniversaries and say they don't feel like they have a good marriage and they are disappointed.  I have to say, I have a good marriage.  I have a wonderful husband, who although has different hobbies than me, is still so similar to me in action, thought, belief, and general likes and dislikes.  He puts up with my weaknesses and compliments my strengths.  I love him so, so much and am so excited to spend the rest of my life and beyond with him!

Today, Mike and I sat on the couch with all of the kids and had them ask us questions about how we met, some of our dates, when we knew we loved each other or wanted to marry the other one, etc.  I think the kids enjoyed finding out some more details, although they wanted no part in finding out about our first kiss, lol.

Today was Emma's last day in Nursery.  She'll be in Primary next week, but Logan is moving up to Senior Primary so she'll be alone.  It's weird to think Logan and Emma are far enough apart in age to be in different Primaries. 

Errolyn is reading Divergent and for the first time ever has been non-stop reading and can't put down the book.  I'm glad she finally found a book that she likes that much.  Cameron and I want to read it when she's done, and we also want to read Mortal Instruments since we enjoyed the movie.  Yesterday, I went through Mom & Dad's records and had a blast playing my favorites for the kids all day.  I have many, many memories with those records and am excited to listen to more of them!  I'm sure there has been a lot more happen that I've missed, but such is life.

Update: I have a cold sore healing on my mouth.  Emma looked at it and said, "Did you hurt your mouth?"  I said, "Yes."  She asked, "Did a Zombie hit your mouth?"  Lol... I have NO idea how she even knows what a Zombie is.

After only 6 weeks on our "Eat to Live" way of eating, Mike's cholesterol has gone down 65 points!  This is the first time he has not had high cholesterol since we've been married!  So happy for him!

Cameron is having his friend Christmas Party right now.  They are all having a blast playing laser tag.  So glad he has a good group of friends!

Update: Mike actually said his most recent test before the diet was much higher, I was quoting a test before that, so his cholesterol actually went down almost 90 points!

So, every year in Relief Society we have a lesson on simplifying our lives during the Christmas season to focus on what's most important.  I've done that... we don't do our adult Christmas party anymore, we only make one type of cookies when caroling and we go to less houses, I buy the majority of my presents online in October and November... and yet I still feel bombarded with everything.

Maybe it's the four choir concert's Errolyn has had this week, or the three orchestra concerts Cameron has had this week, or the 2 dozen cookies required for Activity Days, or the side dish for the ward party, or the dozen cookies and book for Cameron's GT party, and the doughnuts for Errolyn's party, and the fruit tray for Logan's party, the Christmas Pageant at Emma's school, the side dish for the High Council Christmas Party, the teacher and friend gifts for four different classes, and the practicing for the church Christmas program... on top of the last minute presents, Christmas cards, and regular grocery shopping and teaching violin.  It's just too much.  Honestly, everything would have been fine if we didn't have to waste 4 nights for the SAME choir concert just at different venues, 3 for orchestra concerts, and 3 for church parties... that's a lot of wasted evenings where I could be getting things done.  We can't back out of the orchestra one's because they are a grade, but I think next time we will tell the choir teacher that Errolyn can sing in one concert and he has to choose which one... it's just too much.  Next year we'll have to simplify more.

Thankfully all of the school parties, church parties, concerts, etc. are over after tomorrow and then I can relax, get some sleep, and spend some time with my family.  So excited for Christmas break... seriously!

Not much time, yet I'll probably still write a lot...

We have two churches on board with the multi-faith choir I'm spearheading, a local Baptist church and a Presbyterian church.  Hopefully we can get a few more on board.

Cameron's orchestra played in the lobby of the "nice" seats as people were getting seated for a pro basketball game.  After they played they were able to sit and enjoy the game.  Cameron had a good time with his friends.  We also dropped off our van to be repaired on Wednesday and surprisingly got it back less than a week later.  Last Friday we saw "Catching Fire."  I really enjoyed it although I could have done without the elevator scene.  Errolyn had her last volleyball game on Saturday, but Logan's soccer game was cancelled because of the weather.  Logan had a soccer party later that night and I had a good conversation with his coach about the Messiah and United Voices for Christ since he sings.

Thanksgiving week went well.  On Monday and Tuesday we saw Carol, Grandma, and Heidi and the kids.  Tuesday night we had the missionaries over for dinner and Cameron and Errolyn babysat David & Heidi's kids.  Afterwards, I took them to see "Catching Fire."  Wednesday, I packed, cleaned, went visiting teaching and then left to go to Houston.  We had a good time visiting with everyone in Houston.  There were a lot of people so there wasn't much one-on-one time, but it was just nice to be with everyone.  Mike and I ate our special diet for most of the break, but did cheat a couple of times.  We thought for sure we'd gain some weight, but we both lost two more pounds when we got home- yea!  I am finally the lowest I've been since having Emma, but I still have a long way to go.

While in Houston, we mostly just ate, talked, and refereed kids, but most of us were able to sneak away to watch "Frozen," which I loved, and then we ate out at Los Tres Ranchitos.  One day, Dad, Janet, and I took the kids on a walk around the lake and it was nice.  Mom and Dad's new house is super nice.  I'm so glad they are able to enjoy something nice after sacrificing to raise all of us kids.  I bribed my kids and Janet's kids to do a Harry Potter re-enactment of a puppet show my kid's love watching on Youtube.  It was fun to watch.  :)

Saturday, I helped Mom do a little sorting and packing.  Once I got over there and saw how much there was to do, I wished that I had taken some time earlier in the week to help more than I did.  On the way home we stopped at Janet's and talked for a little bit.

In church yesterday, I subbed for the choir in the morning.  Mike stayed home with Emma who was so sick and crying that we didn't dare take her to church.  Logan bore a sweet testimony, although my ears did perk up a bit when he said, "I know that Joseph Smith restored the Kirtland Temple."  Lol...  I also bore my testimony. 

Errolyn bore a funny, but good testimony and she got compliments all day about it and two mentions in other people's testimonies.  She started by saying that she started off the day not fasting, but now she was.  She explained that she had put top ramen in the microwave and just before it was done her mom (me) had reminded her that it was fast Sunday.  She described how good top ramen was and how difficult of a choice it was and said, "I mean, who wouldn't want top ramen?"  Lol, it was cute.  But then she went on to say that I told her it was between her and the Lord if she fasted or not and that I would support her in her decision if she prayed about it.  She prayed about it and still felt it was her decision.  So, she decided to eat the top ramen.  And then she described how every bite she took of the top ramen made her feel worse and worse about the decision she'd made.  So, then she decided to stop eating and start her fast.  It was a great story on repentance and agency and she told it in a humorous yet still spiritual way.

The Messiah dress rehearsal was kind of crazy... it always is.  The choir and orchestra were great, but the solo rehearsals were just ok.  I'm hoping that everyone was just tired from being there so long and that everything will smooth out by Friday.  I think this year's orchestra is the best we've ever had!  The choir is also great.  I think they get more volume than last year's choir even though they're a little smaller (120 vs 135).  We aren't doing the Trumpet piece which is everyone's favorite because the trumpet player has two Air Force concerts earlier in the day and won't have the air for a long solo like that.  Next year.  The choir numbers are great as usual and I'm excited to conduct again!  The children's and youth choir pieces are awesome!  I think it's the best youth choir we've had and I like the song selections this year.  Cameron and Errolyn are playing in the Youth Sting Orchestra which is playing one of the prelude pieces.  Logan and Errolyn are singing in the Children's Choir and Cameron is singing in the Youth Choir.  Mike is working the soundboard and I'm conducting, so we'll just have to find someone to watch Emma.  Excited for this weekend!

So, I've lost 12 pounds in just under three weeks.  I'm finding some better recipes for our new "Eat to Live" lifestyle and am slowly adding them into the kids' dinner rotation too.  Mike has lost 13 more pounds (in addition to the weight he lost this Summer) and hasn't been this weight since before we were married.  There are quite a few people in our ward eating this way so we had an "Eat to Live" recipe exchange and sample night which was fun. 

Cameron has been practicing really hard for All-region and he made 3rd chair!  He was SO excited.  He was 5th chair last year, so he moved up.  He was especially excited because he beat the best cellist in his school (who sometimes tells him everything he is doing wrong).  Cameron and I also played a violin/ cello duet of "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" during Sacrament Meeting today.  Cameron did a great job even though he was worried he didn't have enough practice time because of Region. 

I've gone over to see Heidi a couple of times and then they came over last weekend to watch the BYU game.  It will be fun to see them more often!

Messiah rehearsals are going well.  The United Voices for Christ, multi-faith choir concert, I'm planning is going slow, but will be good in the end.  We have a nearby Baptist church on board and are talking to two nearby Methodist churches.  Hopefully we can get enough churches on board with the idea to make the concert great and memorable. 

I saw a movie trailer for "Divergent" and now I really want to read the book.  Monday, I went to Cameron's mini-concert for Veteran's Day and then ran over to the elementary school to hear Errolyn's choir sing.  She is doing well in 5th grade Strings but I don't think she's really learning anything in class; just showing off what I've taught her. 

Errolyn is doing well in volleyball and Logan scored another goal in soccer.  I looked forward to the Fall season being over so we can have our Saturdays back.  We have a different Conductor for my Symphony this concert, and I am learning so much listening to him rehearse us and watching him conduct us.  It will be a fun concert to play!  We are performing the Nutcracker pieces and Vivaldi's Gloria.  I know I've played the Gloria before, but I don't think I truly appreciated it before.  It is wonderful!  Such a moving piece of music!

I probably won't update Emma's blog very often until she's older, but I wanted to preserve some of her answers to my questions and her memories.

http://princessemmagirl.blogspot.com/

"Eat to Live" is going well.  I have my Green Smoothie for breakfast, a large salad for lunch, and then a healthy dinner, usually involving beans and lots of veggies.  I feel like my mood, sleep, and energy has been better, but only time will tell if it is a true change as I've only been doing this for five days.

Mike and I watched Ender's Game last night and enjoyed it.  We haven't watched a lot of movies this year, but there were previews for Thor 2, The Hobbit, and Catching Fire... all movies we want to see... so I guess we've been saving up.  I also helped set up the dressing rooms for the Gladys Knight concert and choir.

Today was interesting.  Logan had his soccer game and did well.  Then on the way to Errolyn's volleyball game, Errolyn said "Beep, beep."  When she said that I realized that the car was beeping since my seatbelt wasn't on, so I put on my seatbelt.  Later Errolyn told me she was saying "Beep, beep" because the car in front of us was going too slowly.  Either way, I'm glad that I put on my seatbelt because at the next light we were stopped and a large truck wasn't paying attention and slammed right into the back of our van.  I felt the seatbelt stop me from lunging forward and I immediately was grateful for Errolyn's "beeping."  Errolyn and I were both pretty shaken.  I was on the verge of tears, but I was too shaken to let them out.  Mike's back hurts a little, but he thinks he'll be fine.  The bumper is dented and scratched in several places and it popped out the lift gate, whatever that is, and a tail light.  The other driver was very apologetic and says he'll pay for everything because he doesn't have insurance.  Luckily, our accident happened right in front of a police station, so a policeman came and took down the information so we could file a claim with our insurance company and exchange information with the driver.

I called Kathy to see if she could take Errolyn to her volleyball game, but the policeman finished with us just before Kathy came so I called her and she went back home.  Errolyn played really well in her game.  I wish I had volunteered to coach her team as I think they wouldn't lose most games if they had a little more direction.  Next time, hopefully!

We cleaned a little and went shopping, dropped off Logan and Emma at the babysitters, and then went to the Gladys Knight performance at the Stake Center.  Grandma and Kathy were able to sit in the soft seats with Errolyn, but Carol, George, Mike, and Cameron, and I sat in the middle on hard chairs.  It was a fun performance and some good testimonies and words were shared.  Some of the testimonies were a little direct and I was worried they were too preachy, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  Cameron didn't feel the music was appropriate for the chapel.  It definitely was different to be clapping to upbeat music in the chapel so I understand why he felt that way.  Even though I had a great time and enjoyed the music, I have to agree that I feel the Spirit more sometimes with a simple, reverent hymn... but that doesn't discredit the performance because it still was very enjoyable.

Gladys walked down our aisle and I got to slap her hand as she walked by.  Also, years ago I wrote a piece for a Youth Fireside, but as I was writing it I could picture Gladys Knight and her choir singing it.  So, I printed off a copy of the piece and gave it to her manager to give to her.  I know nothing will probably come of it, but I'm still glad I gave it to her.

Oh, and I also bought tickets to see Rascal Flatts at the Rodeo next year!  We're taking the whole family (since we haven't been to a Rodeo Concert since Houston three years ago) and we're going with David & Heidi's family, Carol and George, and Kathy and a friend.  It will be fun!