This year was another great Christmas. All the traditions - cookie decorating, gingerbread houses, band concerts, Detroit symphony concert, light show drives, nativity play, etc. We also went roller skating a few times, played a TON of monopoly, got sick (Peter), sang/played piano in church, and played at other churches. It was a full, busy, fun month.
Benjamin's Christmas band concert was wonderful. He never told me he was doing a song with just the percussion section. It was so fun to hear him. As he gets older, it becomes more and more real that every concert is his last of that thing - the last Christmas concert.
He also played at another church nearby. They did a wonderful concert as part of the church's Christmas program. I loved all the groups performing that night, especially an all men's barbershop choir. They were so fun!
Bella being a saxophonist means I can never see her during the concert. She's always so buried in among the other instruments that she disappears. So these walking -in shots are all I get.
Bella has been called to be ward assistant pianist. As such, she plays prelude music on Sundays. It's so fun to see her up there using her talents....talents for which I've spent so much money finally coming to use. :)
Peter was finally willing to go up and sing with the primary for the first time! I was so excited. Up until now he's always refused, but this time he went up and sang "Picture a Christmas." I wish I'd had a better view of him, rather than him getting lost behind the podium and the scriptures.
My favorite Christmas concert is the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's "Home for the Holidays" which they do every year. This year Benjamin and Bella came along. It was so wonderful to share that with my two band kids. I am always in awe of the hard work these musicians put into their craft.
There was a lego version of parts of Detroit in the lobby that Bella and I visited before the concert began.
Bella with the legos and the water that cost me $4.
Sugar Christmas traditions - houses and cookies. Bella, Peter, and I were the only ones interested in making gingerbread houses. We had a blast. The others missed out, the party poopers. Everything this year was a little different as the kids get older. They are less and less willing to participate in traditions. Thank goodness for Peter and Bella who are always willing and up for anything I suggest.
We also decorated cookies on another day and I sadly didn't get a single picture. So, Bella sent me these from when she invited friends over to decorate cookies at our house. The scene was similar. I love that she is always inviting people over and hosting things like this. I gladly made all the cookies, frosting, and royal icing. It was fun to the the girls so excited.
Kelly loves to roller skate and the rest of us like skating and love Kelly, so we go and usually have a pretty good time. This week was peak skating because it was nearly empty. We had the whole practice floor to ourselves at times! Peter skated phenomenally well. He lasted the whole 2.5 hours and was doing it on his own. What a champ.
Skate dancing and spinning is always fun.
The lights on the skating floor make for some whacky pictures!
The stake also organized a skating day for the youth. All the kids had a great time with friends.
Heinz Drive light show and Perrin Family Light show. Again, just Bella and Peter. Luckily Kelly was able to come too. In fairness, though, Christian would have come to these if he hadn't had robotics.
Christmas Eve always means the nativity play. I love that my kids are still good sports about doing this. The older they get, the more lax we get about the costumes, though. Benjamin's wise man costume was on-point with my Alma the Younger robe slung over his shoulders and Christian was sporting the "Which Joseph am I" with the Joseph Smith vest and his scrap of Christmas fabric while playing Joseph. :)
Peter was a very reluctant baby Jesus, as usual, and refused a costume but I was able to get him to cuddle with me anyway and it worked.
My mom and our friend Thea also joined us, as usual. It always makes for a fun evening.
Peter even serenaded us on the piano.
Christmas Day - lots of presents, very few pictures. Don't blame me - it was 7am after a very late night. Benjamin decided for the first time to make it more like Hanukkah and only opened two presents a day all week. Each morning and each evening we've gathered in the living as he opened another until they were gone. It was very unconventional, but also a lot of fun.
Bella has made a video to the tune of We Need A Little Christmas. I think its fantastic and so I'm posting it here. She amazes me how quickly she can video edit such a fun project. (If you're viewing this on a phone, the video likely won't appear. It usually takes a laptop to see it.)
We put up our Christmas tree, outside lights, and indoor decorations last weekend. Bella and I did it alone this year because Benjamin was unwilling to leave his video games and Christian was at a robotics tournament. She loved it because it meant she could do it exactly as she pleased with no argument from anyone. I had a great time peacefully putting up the tree without being a referee. And, of course, Bella got to be the one to put on the finishing touch - the star on the tree. It was such a fun afternoon. No one loves Christmas more than Bella and I loved sharing it with her.
Peter's favorite part is when we get out the nutcrackers. I keep a bag of unshelled peanuts and another bag of mixed nuts for him to crack and he throws himself at the task with gusto. As Bella and I were discussing what roles we'd fill in the Christmas set up, I said, "I'll start by setting up the tree." Bella responded, "Then, I'll be over here putting up the lights." Immediately Peter called from the kitchen, " And I'll be in the kitchen cracking the nuts!"
Peter also wanted to continue the tradition we started when Bella was very little - of painting a tree on the window, complete with presents and ornaments. He's not quite the devoted artist that Bella is, and he grew tired of the project a few times throughout. He always rallied, however, and was very pleased with his finished product. I did the main tree and he did the ornaments, presents, tree skirt. Then I completed it with a start and a "Merry Christmas" (not pictured). He admires it happily every day.
Up next on the list of Christmas traditions - seeing light displays in the neighborhood, gingerbread houses, cookie decorating, caroling, nutcracker ballet, Christmas concert at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and all the kids' holiday band concerts. So many fun things coming up! The traditional holiday parade all the kids were supposed to walk and perform in was canceled due to bad weather. That was sad since it was going to be Benjamin's last time.
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