Annual Piano Recital Post

Just wanted to post a short and sweet (extra sweet 'cause it's Chey's first Recital!) post sharing the kids' piano recital videos.

So without further ado.

Introducing Chey in her first recital! (notice the feet swinging.... adorable!)





And Eli's 2013 piece. He told me afterward that his stomach made his fingers jitter....

In the home stretch

It's just over a week until Christmas and I thought I'd share my progress. I must say, I'm looking good. Shopping is done (just waiting for one last thing to arrive in the mail... I hope it shows!), presents are wrapped and the house is fully decorated (except for the lego house that Eli needs to finish.... we started a new tradition this year of collecting Christmas Lego for our Decorating). I thought I'd share a bit of what's been going on.

I decided it would be fun to make snowflakes and hang them on a garland. We used regular paper and fancy Origami paper with gold flakes and then I attached them to a length of felted i-cord with paper clips.... cute and festive.

Folding the paper	Cutting

We also decorated our tree and I've wrapped our presents and put them under it.

Hugging the partially decorated tree

I love decorating the tree. My ornaments are like bits of a story
that I've collected for the past 18 years

I am not normally that domestic. I said that and then re-read it...... and had to laugh. I am a SAHM (stay at home Mom) who knits and spins and has a blog that is almost entirely about my domestication..... In all sense of reality, how much more domestic could I be??? Perhaps I should say instead, that I am not known for my cooking and/or baking. I rarely bake, as a matter of fact, and almost never make more than a token batch of sugar cookies or some other cookie at Christmas time. Which is why today is a total anomaly in my house. I baked.... and baked.... and baked. A double batch of Hazelnut Biscotti (Biscotti must be retro now, right??) and a double batch of GingerSnaps. I've also made some easy fudge and for the first time in my life.... I made Nanaimo Bars... from scratch. We'll see how they turn out.  I used the recipe off the City of Nanaimo Website so I'm hoping for good things.

Today's accomplishments	Bags of Cookies ready to give to friends

I have still been knitting...... a bit. I started a new sweater two weeks ago and have only managed to knit about 6 inches of ONE arm.

Christmas knitting is done (I barely did any this year which was very nice) except for a last minute shrug for Chey. I've also managed to knit Eli a new pair of socks when we discovered the socks I knit him two or three years ago are too small (what?! Kids grow??? Even Eli grows eventually it seems).

Basic sock knit in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted (colour Ravenswood)

Eli had his grade 5 band recital last night... It was adorable and not even torturous (the grade 5s have only been in band for 2 months, my expectations were not high). I wanted to have a short video clip for you, but I haven't had time to edit the super long video we took of the concert.... maybe next week??

And finally, a gratuitous skating shot taken last weekend as the sun set over our little leisure rink at the lake..... I'm not sure if I'll be posting again before Christmas, and if I don't... Have a Very Merry Christmas and I'll see you in the New Year!

Recital 2011

Today was Eli's third piano recital. He was much less nervous than he has been in the previous two and played quite well.... I might be biased, but I'd have to say he was in the top 5 of the 30 students that played in his portion of the recital (there were 4 shows today... each 2 hours long)

And here he is... playing Bach's Minuet.... (well, a portion of it anyway)...





It was also Chey's Kindergarten "Graduation" yesterday.... I can't believe I'll be free next year... uhm, I mean... I'm quite sad that my baby girl is going into grade one.... very, very sad... ;)

Introducing... the next Beiber?

Eli has been working on his own song. He wrote the music and lyrics a couple of weeks ago and his piano teacher filmed it yesterday. It's about our dogs (although you can't really hear him singing, you get the idea)....

Maybe not the next Beiber though.... it sounds a bit more like a jingle....


Introducing, an original composition by Eli: "Kikx and Jade"

The Pianist

Today was Eli's annual Piano recital.

He was SOOOO nervous he was nearly green (and apparently, not super impressed with me, eh?).

After a few false starts.... and a quick smack to settle his brains..... he rocked on....


Introducing.... Little Indian Lance




We went for Sushi afterwards to celebrate (his choice... my kids LOVE sushi!) and all was forgiven (he blamed me for making him so nervous, it appears as though my pep talks aren't very, uh... inspiring... unless I'm attempting to inspire vomit and rebellion... then I'm all good).