Happy Valentines Day - Lovely Valentine Song

Happy Valentines Day Friends! I am glad to share this cute video of my grandchildren wishing a Happy V A L E N T I N E S Day! 

I don't share about my grandchildren much on my channel trying to keep them safe, but their mom sent this video and said I could share it with you all! I feel so blessed to have such cute grandchildren! I am so lucky to have such cute Valentines in my world!

I was able to send each of my girls and grand-children a Valentine treat which they all got safely in the mail. Last year, I sent them at least a week ahead and they got them in one day. I wanted to be sure that they got them by today, so I sent them Thursday I think. 

I was surprised when Princess Four got hers in a different state by the next night! Princess One also said she got hers the next day! I called all my girls today to wish them a Happy Valentines day and they all verified that they received them. I was able to let a few know that they needed to check their mailboxes and Princess Five found hers this evening! 

I had a sweet friend drop off a card and some cute heart earrings and several people text me wishing me a Happy Valentines Day. But, by far, getting to video chat my grand-kids was the highlight of my day! Being a grandma is the best! 

I hope you had a beautiful and Happy Valentines Day!

Christmas Has Begun - Hallelujah

Each year our town and surrounding towns all get together and have a joint orchestra and choir to sing the Messiah. It has been going on for at least 17 years until Covid shut it down last year.   

My sister started in singing a few years back, and it was really lovely singing next to her this time. I sang with her last time as well, but her ability and voice has matured and reminded me of my mothers voice. It was nice to be reminded of my mother who was a singer her entire life. 

This year, my good friend started to sing in the Messiah. I also was able to sit next to my best friend in town. I sang with her at the county fair 25 years ago, and she is the reason I live in the house I currently live in. It was fun getting to sing with her again as we sing different parts, so I was doubly blessed to be able to sit with my sister and my best friend and another friend. 

It was a lovely night and I have been singing songs from the Messiah every since. It really got me into the best Christmas spirit ever! 

Handel was amazing and every year when I sing in the Messiah, I am amazed at his talent and ability to put it together. 

Have a blessed day and Christmas!

A White Christmas Jewel - Princess Four Is a Hidden Gem

We took a road trip this weekend for a specific event. Princess Four had her on stage debut other than one high school play. 

She moved out to a different state, took a new job, moved away from her sister, moved from her friends, church congregation, and for some reason, she decided to try out for a play. She wanted something to help her make friend, and something to give her a break from the stress of opening a new store. 

The only play she had really had a speaking part in during her life was as a clown in an obscure weird play in high school linked here. I figured she may be overdoing it by trying out with all the things she has going on, but when she went to try out, the people had her sing her song three times. The first time, she did actions. The second time he told her to just stand there and sing it. The third time, he told her to just move her hand more naturally than trying to tell a story with her hands. 

She was used to doing show choir where they danced when they sang, so that was more of what she was giving them, and they wanted more musical theater. She said she told them she was just trying out for the ensemble.

She was stunned when she got a speaking minor roll. Everyone thought she had been involved in musical theater as she was a natural on stage. 

We drove the long trek praying for good weather as we really wanted to be there to support her. Knowing she wouldn't have friends around to support her, I was SO grateful the bosses of her company and a few workers from her old store made the long drive to see her on opening night! I was very impressed with them supporting her.

We got to spend the day with her seeing her new store, eating lunch at a fabulous Thai place, did a bit of shopping, and then the highlight of the day, Princess Four in the play "White Christmas!"

I was SO excited to see her in the play! I wasn't sure what to expect with her as I have never seen her in anything other than the clown play, so my expectations weren't really high. I was BLOWN away by her presence on stage!

I didn't have one suggestion of what she could have done better. I am a detailed oriented person, and I usually have some suggestions as to what would make the performance better, but I only had good things to say! She was amazing! I LOVED seeing her using her talents singing and dancing! 

She just came alive on stage and it made me wish that maybe she had done more theater in high school, but she was so busy with student body positions, drill team, choirs, and leadership roles, that she really didn't have time for much more. 

I hope that this is a beginning of a new way for her to express herself and bring joy to others at the same time! 

The show is sold out and is a dinner theater, so it is keeping her busy through the last performance on December 23rd. I am not sure what she will do to keep her self busy in the new year, but I am looking forward to finding out! 

I have some talented girls! Have a blessed day! 

Count Your Many Blessings - Girls Singing and Playing Ukulele

I shared yesterday about the girls singing and how much I enjoy it. I wanted to share with you today the other song the girls played and sang for me. 

They told me that because I always want to record it when they sing, that it isn't fun for them to sing. 

I shared with them how many times I listen to their recordings when I am working on my blog. I will go to YouTube and play their songs while working. 

I think when they realized how much I love hearing them sing, they were a little bit more open to allowing me to record them. 

I love how they jazzed up this hymn and I also love that out of hundreds of hymns, they chose one about recognizing their blessings! They are SO my daughters! 

Have a blessed day and I hope you can take the spirit of this hymn, and count a few blessings!

You Are My Sunshine - Girls Singing and Playing the Ukulele

Having my girls home for the last weekend was such a joy. If you read my blog, you will know that I LOVE it when my girls sing. 

I rarely get to be together with many of my girls, and getting to hear them sing is even more rare. I have such talented girls and because we are so busy when we do get together, time for singing is all that rarer. 

The last time I heard my girls sing together, was a year ago last Christmas when Princess Five wrote me a song before she left and had her sister record it and hide it from me until Christmas when they played it for me. Here is a link to the post about that. 

I am really excited about them letting me record a few songs with them playing the ukulele and singing. I only had time to upload one today but hope I will be able to post another tomorrow. 

When I was young, my mother used to sing this song to us and she would call us "sunshine" all the time. Several family members have shared stories about my mother and this song, even my cousins remember her doing this. 

I hope that at some point my girls will spend a bit more time and actually practice a few songs and let me record them! 

Enjoy! Have a blessed day! 

Oh What a Man That Gaston - My Nephew The Giant Actor

I have some amazingly talented family members. My brother sings in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir which is now known as The Choir at Temple Square. He has five sons who are all tall and amazing singers like their father. They've sung some songs together 
a 'Capella and it is amazing.   

One of his boys, who happens to be the tallest, tried out for the role of Gaston in a production near his  home of Beauty and the Beast. He was cast as Gaston. Due to copyright issues, I couldn't record him singing or acting in the play but he was SO amazing. His voice was naturally so loud they had to turn down his microphone. He is also SUPER tall! Not only is he tall, he is large in stature. 

His other four brothers are mostly very tall and thin. This nephew is not thin, but he is not fat. He is just  a large man. I have posted about him before. He is the tallest of the brothers, but not by much. Here is a post where I show how big his hand print is.

I didn't think I would be near his home to see him in the play as I don't live near them, but I ended up visiting the area and my sweet step-sister bought me a ticket and 12 of us ended up going to see him opening night and he stole the show! His booming tenor voice was just beautiful. He  was so good I wanted to hear more songs from him! 

He got a huge burst of applause at the end of the show. He was perfect for the part! I really wish I could have recorded him singing it but the whole copyright thing makes it hard. 

He wants to move to Hollywood and become an actor. He is just tall enough that that might work. If they could hear him sing, I am sure it would increase his chances. I for one think he would be an amazing pro wrestler. He could be "Gaston - The Singing Wrestler!" 

I don't know how he would feel wearing a singlet but I saw "Andre the Giant" wrestle in person back in the 80's and my nephew towers over me and I think he could rival the best in size. Now when it comes to bulk or muscles, he would have to put the work in, but I think he could ham it up!

Many family members went to the play over the run and we were all just thrilled at his performance. It was well worth attending. Bravo Nephew, you are AMAZING! 

Have a Blessed day!

Best Christmas Present of my LIFE!!! "Grateful Eyes" Original Song from Princess Five

We are doing our Christmas Eve Early since we have to leave to go to an extended family party in another city the day after Christmas, we don't enjoy having to pull all the decorations down and clean up all the food in one day so we are extending our holiday by doing it early. 

This year, we did our Christmas Eve Sunday Evening so we could enjoy an extra day with the kids and play with the gifts and eat leftovers for a day or two so I don't end up with a fridge full of food I won't be able to eat. 

We are going to be able to have a video call from Princess Five from her mission on Christmas day so the girls wanted to give me her gift before that call so I could tell her about it. 

Princess Five wrote a song when she was 12 and it was good for her first song. She sang it at a school talent show and all the kids cheered and were singing the chorus for days. One friend was a bit jealous and was a bit mean and since then, Princess Five wouldn't write songs anymore. Here is a link to a post about her writing the song.  

For years, I have begged her to write me a song. Most birthdays and holiday, I tell her all I want is for her to write me a song.

When my girls told me I needed my computer to view the gift, I thought they maybe sang me another Christmas song as they did a few years back. See that post here. 

IT WAS SO MUCH BETTER! I cried through the entire thing! Princess Five wrote me a song before leaving for her mission and when her sisters came down for her farewell, they had about a five minute gap when I went shopping for something and so three sang the song she wrote while Princess Two video taped it. Princess One hadn't come down yet and it was such a busy time they didn't want me to walk in on them singing it so they only sang three times together before making this video but were afraid I would come home so it is a bit rough with them needing their phones for lyrics and a bit of hesitation but for an original song and only having gone through it a few times, It is BEAUTIFUL to me. 

When growing up, my mother sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for nearly 10 years and she didn't want to ruin her voice or strain it so she would call us 8 children by singing this little "ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, in a falsetto voice and attach our name at the end so when we were playing at friends or around the neighborhood, we would hear that high, low, high, low "ooh" call and then listen for which kid she was calling and that kid would run home. 

Over the years, we all picked up the practice of using "the call" at sporting events or concerts, or just large gatherings to get one another's attention and our heads whip around when we hear the call even to this day and we each have used that "call" to call our own children so now that "Ooh call" is the family joke but boy if it still doesn't work in a crowded stadium! 

So, this song was so full of things that are important in our life and have meaning to our family. I think it will touch others as well as I think there are many moms that have been amazing and it would touch them as well or remind people of their mothers. 

I cried before I even hear the words because I knew this was the first song she has written since she was 12 years old. Boy, it was worth the wait! It is so beautiful and I know it was written from the heart and to get her sisters to sing it with her, it seriously is the best gift I have ever gotten! I LOVE IT! 

The girls took a video of me watching it but we had some problems trying to transfer it off the phones so hopefully we can figure that out and you can watch my reaction to it. My sweet grandchildren were so concerned for me as they could see me crying. It was touching, but I tried to talk happily to them so they wouldn't think I was upset. 

I am so excited to get to talk to Princess Five on Christmas and thank her for her beautiful gift and for sharing her many talents in the making of this song..  

I hope you have a Blessed and song filled day!

We Had a Wicked Good Time - Kristin Chenoweth Christmas Concert

I have seen many concerts in my life. I have seen the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sing Many Times in my life as well. We LOVED this Concert tonight!!!!!

I have a brother that sings in the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square also known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. My mother sang with that choir for about ten years when I was in jr high, high school and after for many years. We always enjoyed watching her sing on television.

I have a brother who followed in her footsteps and has also joined that choir for the past few years. There are some perks to having someone in the family in the choir. 

We have never been able to acquire tickets for the annual Christmas concert through the normal lottery process. The concerts are always VERY amazing and the tickets are gone within an hour or two and we were never lucky enough to get some. Even though the concerts are always free, the tickets are in high demand.

This year they decided to do something different by just letting everyone get online and try for them first come first serve. I have issues with that as my internet is super slow and being in a small rural town, the lines are slow and when many people are online trying to get tickets, I have never been able to get tickets to anything from home and have always had to call someone in a major city to order for me. 

This year, we heard that the special guest for the show was Kristin Chenoweth. My girls are musical theater focused so when they heard about her coming of course we wanted ticket. 

Princess Two and I tried for hours to get tickets until we heard they were gone. Come to find out, in order to be able to actually order the tickets, you needed to set up a special account PRIOR to that day! I had a problem as I had set up an account before with my married name and since I have gone back to my maiden name, it wouldn't allow me to combine the accounts etc. 

We didn't get any tickets for the event. I was super sad we wouldn't be able to go see her as we think she is amazing! I contacted my brother and his wife to see if they would get any tickets for the concert and asked them if they could get any, we would love some. We initially asked for Saturday night tickets but he called saying he had some for Thursday night and so I called all the girls to find out if they could make it on a school / work night. 

Funny enough, they couldn't make it on Saturday but all could go on Thursday. We had a few hiccups with driving and had to pay for three cars to park as we all had long drives to attend and didn't know where to park for free. I figured the parking fees were well worth the enjoyment of the night and we were all parked next to each other. 

Princess Two commented that if I hadn't asked to go, my sister-in-law and her son wouldn't have gone to see their dad / husband singing as she didn't want to drive in the city and walk far as it is stressful. I was able to drop them off at the corner of the event before parking. I got many of my girls to go and Princess Four brought two friends as she didn't want to drive the long distance alone. We had one extra ticket for one and we were able to get an extra ticket there and they allowed him to sit with us even thought his ticket wasn't for our area. 

I LOVED that they kept seating people until EVERY chair was full. They had people move over to allow every seat option open that wasn't taken and even several songs into the concert, they were seating people who were standing in the cold for standby tickets. 

Kristin was ADORABLE!!!! We couldn't take pictures of any of it as they make it into a PBS special every year. This concert was right up there with the "Muppets" we went to a few years ago, David Archuleta, and the King Singers which are some of my favorite all time Christmas Concerts. 

The girls were so cute all giddy that they were able to see a real Broadway star in concert. They LOVE "Wicked" and have followed Kristin's Career for many years as she is the most adorable and talented woman. She was so personable and funny. She had the conductor blushing within the first few minutes and walked through the audience visiting on her way onto the stage. She was FABULOUS! 

Kristin is famous for playing the original Glinda of "Wicked" on Broadway. If you haven't heard of her, I highly recommend watching these few videos of her singing some really cute and humorously creative songs. She is amazing and talented and has a real gift for interjecting humor into everything. 

She had us all laughing throughout. You could tell that it was her humor and not writers as it was all adlib type things. I am grateful we were able to be there on the first night as she was laughing and crying on stage at times. She said it was a dream of hers to do this and said she loved when Sandi Patty was the special guest many years ago and wanted to sing her rendition of "O Holy Night" which she did quite well.

As we were leaving, I tried to video Princess Four singing with a few members of the choir she sings in but it is fairly jumpy as we were walking to the car but you can see the joy they had coming out of the concert and I was glad to capture that even if the video is short and jumbled. 

I hope you all have a blessed and enjoyable weekend and if you get a chance to watch the concert on PBS, I highly suggest you take the opportunity!

Musical Weekend - Princess Five Has a New Ukulele

I mentioned in yesterdays post that we were visiting Princess One's family for the weekend. 

Princess Five is leaving in a week for 18 months to serve as a missionary. She love the guitar and music but knows she can't take her guitar with her on her mission but was hoping maybe she could take a ukulele as the mission rules said they could take "Flutes, violins, and other small instruments." 

So, she hoped that maybe she could get a ukulele at some point as Princess Four bought one on her mission and played it in a few videos we posted while she was still in Japan on her missions. See a post here about that.

While we were visiting Princess One's family, we all took a walk to a second hand store near their home and while there, I found a beautiful, working 1/4 size violin for $35 in a cute blue soft sided case. I have been shopping second hand stores for years and have never seen one in such good condition and for so cheap! 

I showed it to Princess One and she and her husband bought it. I didn't take any pictures as who would have known how the rest of the trip would end. 

I was driving home with Princess Five in the car as we have still been looking for some black supportive dress shoes and we passed a second hand store on our way home and decided to pop in and see if there were any jewelry for sale in bulk bags or jars. We went in and they had no bulk jewelry but I noticed a ukulele behind the counter and asked the worker if it were for sale. 

He told me it was and it had a $49.99 tag on it but he told me he could give it to me for $39.99. I called Princess Three who has a nice ukulele and asked her if she wanted it and could look up the brand for me. She told me they were used from about $39 to $50 and new from $50 - $100. I talked the guy down to $36.99. It had a soft furry case to keep it safe as well for the price and I know the case would cost at least $10 - $20 anyway so I figured it was a good deal. 

I showed it to Princess Five who was looking at other things and she was super excited about it. She started playing it on the way home for a few minutes and then tried out a few songs after we arrived home after our long drive. 

She said she would play me a song I could post so I video taped a song and was super impressed that she has never played a ukulele before but could whip that up after a long day and not knowing any ukulele cords before this week, she did really well. She kept wanting to play the guitar cords but I thought the fact that she would sing for me at all having picked up her first real ukulele today! 

It is a Lanikai soprano ukulele and isn't a professional one, but it is in good condition. If she is allowed to take it with her, it wouldn't be the end of the world if something happened to it. 

She is hoping she will be able to take it with her on her mission, but we are asking to make sure it is a possibility. 

I also found a 1/4 size violin in the case with a $19.99 price tag at the same store and he told me he would sell it for $9.99 as it needs a new bridge but the case and violin are in good condition so hopefully the new repair piece won't be much and then Princess One can get both of her kids violin lessons for a great deal on both violins!  

It was a great weekend for music in our world! Have a blessed and music filled day! 

Helping A Cousin Learn The National Anthem Parts

The last full weekend before school starts, there are tryouts for a community choir in our town made up of teens from five different communities. 

Four of my five girls were in the choir during high school. My niece is in high school now and has not used her beautiful voice before but she is thinking of trying out for the choir. I worked with her a little the other night but having never sung before, she was quite nervous so I had the girls sing both the soprano and alto parts and then as a duet for her so she could practice for the next few weeks before the tryout. 

In the tryouts, she needs to sing her part for the national anthem. Because it is a comitative choir, especially for the girls parts, I told her that if she could sing both the alto and soprano parts, she would have a better chance at making it in the choir. They have lots of people trying out for the soprano / melody part but not as many can sing the harmony parts or alto part. Princess Five made it onto the choir the first year as an alto and then was moved into the soprano her senior year as that is more her voice range. However, she probably wouldn't have been on the choir the first year if she hadn't been willing to sing alto and it really helped her learn to sing harmonies so it was a good experience for her. 

My girls have both sung for years and have both done both parts of the national anthem and have performed it at sports events etc. Click here to see Princess Four sing with her sister, Princess Three at a drill competition. Click here to see Princess Five singing at a sports event with a friend, she did the alto part. 

Hopefully, these two videos of the different parts, and then a duet at the end, will help her be able to practice and gain confidence for her tryout. I was SO proud of her when I worked with her as it was her first time ever singing alone or in a duet. She then did a mini concert for my girls and her sisters! I was so proud of her~ She has a beautiful voice which reminds me of my mothers voice and my mother sang her entire life! 

I hope she will continue to sing and use that talent as she hasn't felt confident enough to in the past. She has a natural gift and I think her voice will bless others for many years to come! Enjoy~! 

Have a Musical Blessed Day!  

Camping Fun - Reunion At The Lake Karaoke Style

My video take so long to upload and my computer got unplugged so you are getting one video of this. I hopefully will be able to upload the other fun videos but I would need to start early in the morning as many take ten hours to upload. I need to figure out a better way to upload videos..... 

We had my family reunion at the lake this past week for a few days and for the first time in many years, all my family was there and I didn't have to move anyone anywhere, drop anyone off somewhere, and got to spend the entire time there with my kids! 

The grandchildren were wonderful and I hopefully will get to post a bit about that. I have so much more to share about that but once again, I am exhausted.... I did well during camping but think it took it out of me and I took a nap after church today and am falling asleep now. I hope I can get enough sleep to wake up refreshed tomorrow. I have LOTS to get done. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this fun video of the girls singing.... I have missed having Princess Four around and am going to miss Princess Five when she leaves for her mission in a few months. 

Have a musical and Blessed Day! 

Cutest Magicians Ever - LOVE Being a Grandma

When I stayed with Princess One when she had her new baby, I took lots of fun new activities to keep the kids occupied while mom and baby rested or were gone at the hospital.

Each day I would take something new out of the boxes of stuff I brought so that they would have something new to play with and I could keep them entertained especially when I was trying to cook meals or get something done.

I shared a few weeks back that I taught my grand-daughter how to do regular puzzles. Here is a link to that blog post. 

One day, I pulled out a box of magic tricks. I keep my eye open at second hand stores for things I think the kids would like to do. Each time I go visit them, I take games and toys I think they would like. 

When I pulled out the magic tricks, I think some of the items were a bit old for them but they LOVED the trick hat and magic wand. 

Both kids played with them and enjoyed playing with them. My grand-daughter wanted to do a magic trick for her parents but we didn't practice ahead of time so she was a bit confused as to how to pull off the trick. 

I love how at the end of the trick she tells them how she did the trick. It was super cute! 

Prince One was so adorable with the hat I just had to put all these pictures on.... 

Have a Blessed Day!

Last Improv Show For Princess Five and Getting Ready to Graduate

I had a fun activity this past week. I still feel like I am behind on what I need to do but I told Princess Five that if she was going to be in any more improve nights, I wanted to go so she had better tell me. 

I missed one performance as she jumped in last minute and I ran into a friend that said she saw a cute performance with her son and my daughter from the improve the night before....

I had no idea what she was talking about as Princess Five hadn't told me she was going to be in a show. 
I texted her and she told me she filled in for someone that was sick and didn't think I would want to come. I let her know that I wanted to see her whenever and wherever I can! I asked her to please let me know when she was going to be in her next show. 

I didn't let her know that I contacted Princess Two and asked her to come down and help me with a project and also so she could go and support Princess Five at her last show. It was hard to keep it from her as Princess Two was at my house for the entire weekend but we were able to surprise her at the show.

I LOVED the look on her face when she came out and saw her sister with me in the audience. It was super fun to surprise her! 

We really enjoyed her in the show and it was such fun to see the smile on her face as she always lights up when she gets on stage. She really just belongs on stage..... It seems to be the one place where she is truly happy! 

As has become tradition after a performance, I picked up some sushi and peeled a few fresh mangos and we enjoyed a wonderful meal after the show..... 

The reason it is her last show,

is that she is graduating early in a year verses the two year as she had so many college credits upon high school so she is graduating this year.

I am going to miss her on stage at the college but I am sure that it isn't the last time I will see her perform!