Sounds of the Season

I've gotten to go to some great Christmas concerts this season!

Bells on Temple Square
A great show, as usual. The bell ringers get better every year, with new technique and new songs. This concert was before Thanksgiving, and was a good one to get you in the mood for the Holidays. It was in the Tabernacle, and I got to enjoy it with Holly, Mom, and JoAnne.

Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band
This was only the second time that I've ever paid to see Ryan Shupe, which is saying something, since I've seen him at so many different events! It was well worth paying to see them for this show! They performed most of the songs on their Christmas album, and altered a few of their regulars to fit in - "Ho! Ho! Ho!", "Eggnog, Eggnog, it is so good to me...", and "The Grinch went down to Georgia." The band gave one another presents, and had cute videos to go along with each. They also played Rock Band. You'd think they'd be better than they were - they didn't play so hot! They always put on a great show! I went with Mom and JoAnne to the McKay Events Center in Orem.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra on Temple Square Christmas Concert
My friend Melani had an extra ticket for Friday's show and invited me to come - Thanks, Mel! On the way home from the show, I was texting my mom who told me Holly's friend had given her tickets for Sunday, and was it worth going again? Yes! So I got to go twice! It was amazing! The guest soloist, Brian Stokes Mitchell, was wonderful. Such a versatile and mellow voice. The narration was given by Edward Hermann. He told the story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Christmas Bells" poem, and with the story and the music, was quite moving. I also especially loved the organist's (I can't remember which one it was) version of "Go Tell it on the Mountain" - done nearly entirely with the foot pedals. (I had a difficult time playing one or two notes with a hymn, let alone playing a whole song when I was playing organ!) This will definitely be a show worth getting next year.

Happy Birthday, Holly!

Today's Holly's 20th birthday! Here's a list of 20
things I know about her, memories I have of her, and things I like about her!

1. Hill Cumorah Pageant - twice! It was great to get to be in the Pageant with someone you know (like your sister!). I don't know that I would have been brave enough to go by myself (especially the first time), but together we can do great things!
2. I like how people tell us how much we look like sisters... and while that is totally true that we are sisters, we really shouldn't look like it.
3. She lets me boss her around! During our trips back to the Pageant, I called a lot of the shots. I often decided where to stay, where to eat, what route to take, and what to see when we got there. Lots of these decisions were based on our budget. With very few exceptions, she accepted these decisions and didn't whine... too much anyway...
4. She plays for the UVU pep band - go Wolverines!
5. Movie and song lines... Christmas Vacation, While You were Sleeping, Miley Cyrus, and more... she knows her lines!
   
6. She can be terribly silly and punny!
7. She loves listening to music - she's burned through several iPods and earbuds... time to get a warranty on these things!
8. She's a great texter - even when you're sitting right beside her!
9. She actually likes working in the nursery at church - she's great with the kids!
10. She also actually likes going to work. I'm so glad - not everyone can say they're happy to go to work! She is good with her customers, and is good at helping people figure out how much fabric they need. Her only mistakes in cutting are when she's cutting for me, and she knows I'll buy her mistake cut and what I need, too!
11. Facebook is her friend!
12. She's a pretty good and creative cook.
13. She's not scared to talk to people or to go to new places. We went to the Deaf expo last fall, and she totally embraced signing and talking to people. We went to Galudet U in DC this summer, and wasn't intimidated at all. She talked to tons of people at the Pageant - both cast members and audience members.
14. We went to see the movie Charly when it first came out. There were only about 6 other people in the theater (and senior citizens at that). We bawled and bawled, and those 6 looked at us like we were crazy...
15. No tocas!
16. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!
17. She's totally in love with the Jo Bros!
18. Have a HOLLY jolly Christmas! Happy HOLLYdays! Pine cones and HOLLY berries!
    
19. She feeds the 'backyardigan' - if only she weren't so stingy with the cans!
20. Who's got what it takes to make meatloaf?!