Just being all grateful up in here. Catholic Christmas pageant success.

We had our Christmas Pageant at St. Peters school last night. Just imagine the magic of Disneyland, combined with christmas lights, caroling, church spirit, family and friends, along with the cutest kids on the planet. That's just like a portion of the amazingness of this pageant. It was the BEST.

Ya, I can't really put it into words. I worked a 14 hour day yesterday and even after I got home (and all packed to fly home) I was still going going from all the energy of the pageant excitement. There is nothing more fulfilling then preparing students for something then watching them succeed incredibly! The school is k-8. We worked with each grade in preparing a Christmas song (all of which had 2 part harmonies). The 8th grade was dressed for the nativity to perform and narrate the whole pageant. We also have a choir at the school that we worked with at lunch every day in preparing some other special numbers that Dave and I arranged. I played the piano for the whole concert (about 13 songs) along with a drummer and bassist. So fun!!! I walked away last night in tears after several standing ovations from a wonderful audience. The kids did SO WELL and I was so thrilled to be a part of it. I don't think I'll ever be able to leave this job?

I also had several friends come to support me last night, and that meant so much to me since none of my family was able to attend. This has been the best Christmas so far and I haven't even played the name game with my family yet...

Here are some photos and I also included some from my piano last Saturday.

Recital success and chocolate.

So I held my very first piano/voice recital this last saturday evening and it was a SMASHING success. Perhaps arriving at the church to set up 3 hours early did it? Or maybe it was putting all of my students through "recital boot camp" last week.... which they totally loved by the way. Teaching full time these last few months has taught me a lot, to say the least. I've been learning extreme patience with my little 4 year olds as well as my 14 year olds. I've also made quite the list of practice excuses and hilarious phrases my students come up with. Teaching is the BEST.

Now on to the next concert! My cute students at St. Peters k-8 school will be performing our annual Christmas pageant this thursday evening. I can hardly wait. They've been working hard for the last couple of months and the school community has been getting excited. I guess the pageant has quite the reputation to being amazing. It's such a blessing for me to be a part of the pageant and get to spend time with these cute kids everyday!

Hope everyone else is having a happy holiday!

Chocolate piano gift from student. Don't think I'll be eating it. My apartment is cold enough to keep it whole for a while. 

CJ  

Quilt extravaganza- still excepting blankets for Sandy victims!

I've been meaning to update for a while and then just slacked off.... The last few weeks have been wonderful as we have had blankets piling into my apartment out here in Boston!!! My ward decided to contribute as well so we purchased enough material for 100 fleece blankets and worked on cutting and tying them this last week. Here are a few pics. (And sorry some of them are blurry... guess I need to get the new iphone). 

We had a lot of fun getting all of this done and the help of so many wonderful people! Please keep sending your blankets in. If you're in Arizona you can drop them off at my parents house at 3917 E. Des Moines St in Mesa. If your're in Boston you can bring them over anytime to my apartment at 54 Maplewood st. in Watertown. 

Thanks!