Clark has been practicing hard and this week was able to perform a marimba duet, play in a marimba quartet and play jazz piano with 3 professional musicians. Of course it all sounds better in real life, but we did record a couple of the pieces for your listening pleasure, should you be interested.
Fugace by Claude Bolling
Alborada del Gracioso by Maurice Ravel
Happy Birthday to Clark, who is now old enough to drive, date, and become a Priest. Ha ha…sounds kinda funny for a Priest to start dating!
The day did finally arrive and I can say that while I congratulate Clark on receiving his driver’s license, I congratulate Alan and myself on surviving 6 student drivers and all that entails…driver’s ed fees, endless gallons of gas, driving 240 hours, 12 visits to the DMV, higher insurance rates and endless “exciting” moments in the passenger seat trying to make calm suggestions regarding braking, stopping, looking, looking again….
And so, after driving kids to and from everything for nearly 28 years, I am officially finished being the family chauffeur!
Also as a result of turning 16 years old, Clark was ordained to the office of a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. That Sunday, he, Alan and Elliot all blessed the sacrament together in sacrament meeting. It made my mommy heart happy!
Last night with the family gathered around and Kelsey close by, Elliot opened his mission call to learn that he will be serving in the Peru Cusco Mission, entering the Lima Peru MTC on Wednesday June 5th. He’s super excited about Peru and being able to continue learning Spanish which he studied for 6 years at Waterford.
After the big news at our house, he and Kelsey left for her house so that she could open her mission call with her family. She has been called to serve in the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission. Also Spanish speaking and also entering the MTC on June 5th – she goes to Provo though!
Watch the video of Elliot opening his call!
Great family time this year with all of our children including Anne’s parents Gerry and Carol Bogue along with Alan’s parents and his sister Diane. A houseful of family to celebrate Christ’s birth together. We had dinner and then enjoyed watching the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Broadcast with Alfie Boe, that amazing Tenor you all know I love.
After sleeping together in the basement, all the kids head up for Christmas Morning. We check out our stockings, eat a yummy breakfast and then open presents. Fun.
Of course any Christmas morning is more fun with little kids. Kenyon wasn’t quite old enough to enjoy it too much, but we enjoyed having fun with him…from Christmas clothes, to toys, to stroller rides.
We have so much to be grateful for…I love Thanksgiving time. We spent Thanksgiving Day at my brother Matt’s house with my side of the family – oh so so many Morgans. I think there were 35 of us in all…very fun…but no pictures.
Loren and family were in Idaho with Anne’s parents and Tess was in Arizona for her best friend’s wedding. So the following Sunday, we had a 2nd Thanksgiving dinner with just our family – safely returned from out of state. We invited Alan’s parents, but only Grandpa was able to come as Grandma had become ill and was still in the hospital – we missed her, but did send her a plate of leftovers!
I live in Thanksgiving daily that Alan and I have come from such wonderful families and that together, we have been blessed with our own wonderful family.
What’s up with 70 degrees on Wednesday and 36 degrees on Friday along with 18″ of snow?
Halloween is always more fun with little kids and of course with Kenyon being the cutest giraffe ever, this year was great! The weather was so nice and a beautiful full moon made it complete. Clark worked some of his carving magic and of course, all the trick or treating kids liked his iPumpkin (took a few minutes) and didn’t notice his Les Mis Cosette masterpiece. Oh, well….
Tess and I spent a fun weekend in Arizona! We are both big Alfie Boe fans and when we found out that he was giving a concert in Phoenix, we decided to use our frequent flier miles to fly down to the concert and spend a few days with my sister Melinda and her family. If you don’t know who Alfie is, he was Jean Valjean in the 25th Anniversary cast of Les Misérables. Check it out here. Just before we left for Arizona, the Church announced that he would be the guest artist singing with the Tabernacle Choir in their Christmas concert this year. We are crossing our fingers that we can get tickets!
A few fun pics of Kenyon…what a cutie patootie!
