Creations, Concerts, CV & PPP

 Christmas shopping for Quinn will be a piece of cake this year. 

Cardboard boxes.  Tape. Ream of paper.  Any office product will do.

 His daily creations have a tendency to take over around here.  And his latest one is no exception.  He didn't like my answer when he asked about painting "it" red (we're out of paint) so he made his own.  He used a red marker to color the contraption then sprinkled water all over it.  Yeah, and he just happened to attempt this one in our office.  He successfully stained the carpet.  Not cool.

 Elsie is gearing up for Thanksgiving this week and has one feast under her belt already.

The cutest pilgrim girl around!

 Thursday evening Tanner performed in an orchestra concert.  Now that he is at the high school, he is required to wear a rented tuxedo (which = another "school fee") for concerts.  Hope to snap a picture before the Christmas concert:).  It seems the older my kids get, the harder it is to catch pictures of them.  Friday evening Jantzen performed Kuhlau's Sonatina in C Major - 2nd movement and Anna played "The Flaming Tambourine" by Noona.  I almost didn't catch a picture of them!  

They were not interested in posing for me Saturday morning before or after performing at Festival.  In addition to the pieces already mentioned, Jantzen played "Train Robbery" - 4th movement of Kevin Olson's Sonatina of the Old West.  Anna played Bach's Minuet in G Minor.  They were up bright and early to play for the judges so we could cruise to CV to attend cousin Korinne's baptism.  We stopped at the Pepperidge Farm store on the way and took care of teacher/neighbor/HCP employee gifts. 

Ahh, that feels so good!

All the cousins at Korinne's baptism.

Although we spent more time traveling than we actually spent in CV, we enjoyed the family gathering and were happy it worked out for us to attend.  It would have been fun to stick around a little longer...

 ...but today the kids participated in the primary program presentation (PPP) at church.  And did a fabulous job!  In fact, it was about the best program I can remember (hmm, not that I orchestrated much of it or anything).  Many of the children had their parts memorized (always a bonus) and we finished exactly on time.  I seriously had to pinch myself when I looked at the clock (since you never really know how it'll run).

 Here were the kids parts: 

Quinn - We came to earth to get bodies.  My body likes to run and jump and climb.

Elsie - The Prophets teach me to pay tithing.  I can remember that "A dime from every dollar, a penny from a dime - One in ten is for the Lord, I pay Him first each time..."

Anna - "Hearken ye to these words.  Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world."  (D&C 43:34)  A doctor can save us when we are sick.  A fireman can save us from a fire.  A lifeguard can save us from drowning.  But Jesus Christ is the only one who has the power to save us from death and sin and help us return to our Father in Heaven.

Jantzen - (concluding speaker) There are children who live all over the world.  They may wear different clothes, eat different food, speak other languages and live in homes different from ours, but we are all children of God and He loves us very much.  In the 2003 General Conference President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Never forget, my dear young friends, that you really are a child of God who has inherited something of His divine nature, one whom He loves and desires to help and bless."  We, the primary children of the H 2nd Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, are willing to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all tihngs and in all places.  May each of us learn that we are important and loved - and that each of us is indeed, a child of God.  We say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thanks to Jenna - the girls are matchy-matchy now.

Seriously, adorable.