Recital Weekend

 This weekend was my piano and voice recital for my students.  It went wonderfully.  My friend Leigh flew in with her daughter from Colorado on Friday.  I had told a lady in my old ward that I would sing at a few old folks homes around the area during the month of December.  So I had a show just before I had to pick Leigh and Vivian up from the airport.  It was fun to sing for an hour with the people in the retirement homes, but it was also a lot of work.  Especially, when I already have a lot going on during the month of December.  

After the airport, we went to dinner and then to the river of lights.  This year, it was just Leigh, Vivian, and me who went because Craig and Blair had a show at UNM that night.  Stephen didn't feel like being a part of the girl group with out Craig, so he stayed home.  Neither of my boys wanted to see the lights.  Too bad for them because it was beautiful.  We even roasted marshmallows by a fire!

 

We woke up early on Saturday morning to head over to the church for the Christmas Recital.  The recital began at 8 AM!  It was perfectly early.  HA! Every single kid did great.  A few kids were running late so they went at the end, then all the kids had cookies and hot chocolate.  I definitely miss my boys playing in my recitals.  It is bitter sweet.  After the recital, Leigh, Vivian, and I went to have tea at the tea house again, just like last year.  It wasn't as fun as last year because we were put in a room that was themed "Nightmare before Christmas"! HA!  The food was delicious, though.  Then we went for a walk around the Bosque before I dropped them off at the airport to fly back home to Denver.   

As soon as I dropped them off at the airport, I headed straight to Nolen's jiu jitsu match.  I parked, ran in, paid, and made it just in time to see Nolen fight.  He lost, but I was so glad I got to see him.  

 

After the match, Stephen and I went for an 8 mile run around the Bosque.  My favorite loop is right in our back yard.  It was the longest day but so rewarding.  As soon as we got home, I jumped right in the bath and then to bed.  I love these beautiful busy days! 

 

Christmas Recital!

 This year, I hosted my annual Christmas recital at a different location.  It was absolutely beautiful.  It cost $200 to rent the space, but I am so glad we tried it.  The music sounded beautiful in the chapel.  I arrived at 2:30 to warm up with the singers, but the piano was no where in start.  The gentleman that was helping me didn't know how to get the piano on stage.  He came up with an idea, but it ended with the piano half hanging off the stage, so we opted to keep it off to the side.  Not exactly ideal, but it worked.  

This was the first rectial that Edward didn't play an instrument.  I was a little sad because I wanted him to take lessons until he was 18 but he was done.  Nolen played the piano and cello beautifully.  This might have been his best recital yet!

Veronica and Leigh both traveled to Albuquerque to attend the recital.  I am so glad they did.  We had a huge sleep over at my house and went to dinner.  We had so much fun. I just adore them.  I am so glad they are still a part of my life all these years later.

The Odds and Ends of May and a Piano Recital

Is it me, or is 2022 moving at light speed?  I am having a hard time keeping up with things that I would normally do when I have nothing to do.  I have been on a social media fast for the last four days.  I am so glad I have been off instagram.  I was spending FAR TOO much time in a space that didn't care about me one bit.  

Where should I be spending my time?  Here with my boys.  Writing about their lives so they can look back and see who they were and where they have been.  Maybe this little journal will serve as a great reminder of how much they are loved.  

I love these Barnes Boys. 

They are my everything.  They make my world go around.  I am so glad I am a mother.  I am so glad they are in my every day life.  I love spending my days, hours, and minutes with them.  They are kind, curious, loving, challenging, and full of heart.  They try so hard.  

 

At mutual, the boys did a fun team game that involved water guns and a wheel barrow race!

Today, the boys had a track meet and a piano recital.  It was a full day but they really did their best.  Edward really didn't want to play at the recital, but once he was there he had a fun time and went up and played his song.  Teenagers are challenging but they are worth all the effort.  Nolen played his cello while I played the piano along with him.  I am so in love with my life.  It is beautiful.  It is exactly what I wanted when I was a little girl.  I have created the life that I dreamt about.  

Christmas Recital

 December has been extremely busy already! I have been trying to get all of my students ready for their recital  and it has been a real challenge this year.  I feel that pressure every single recital.  I have made each student a Christmas ornament every year at the recital.  This year is no different.  Nolen picked his up and broke it the next moment.  HA! 

My boys did great. Edward played a fun piano song that he has been working on for months and Nolen played both piano and cello.  

Spring Recital

 Both boys played in my spring recital and did fantastic! 

Edward played piano and Nolen played cello and piano.  It has been sort of a chaotic month but I am so glad we had the opportunity to hear them play.

Recital time!

Our Spring Recital seems to have sneaked up on me this year.  I love doing a recital every 6 months so that the students have something to work towards.  My students did AMAZING!  My boys are no longer taking lessons from me; however, they play their cellos and the piano at my recital so they can learn to perform in front of others.

A Fall Piano recital

We had a wonderful piano recital tonight.  

Both boys have been taking piano from Lauren Tracey.  I finally decided they are far enough along to take piano from someone else.  They still played at my recital this fall and I also had them play their cellos.

Such a great night.  I love all my students.  I have less students than I did last spring and my studio is a bit more manageable.  All these kids did amazing! I absolutely love teaching piano and voice!