I have finally been able to get back on track with a Christmas tradition Rinar and I started many years ago. We shared a Christmas program at my grandmother's retirement home tonight. We haven't done one the past three years because I have had two pregnancies in three years. It just wasn't going to happen. But it did tonight and it was wonderful.
My grandmother lives in a nice little retirement home in St. George, Utah. Rinar, Raef, Zach, and Linda (Rinar's mom) all participated. Linda was awesome. She just jumped right in a played the piano for pretty much all the numbers. Rinar usually plays all the accompaniments, but she did it this time instead. She also played a beautiful piano solo by Sally Deford that incorporates Still, Still, Still and Silent Night.
But the best part was watching my little boys do many different musical numbers so confidently and with pizazz. It was neat. They played 5 different songs on their violin/viola. They sang two duets, Little Drummer Boy and Away In a Manger in perfect harmony. Raef recited the Christina Rossetti poem "What Can I Give" and then sang a solo, The Nativity Song. Zach plopped himself down on the piano and played some jazzy number he likes to play at home with a lot of his own Zach improvisations. It was neat to see how they would just keep going or adjust if they messed up a little bit. It didn't phase them at all. They love an audience and they have no fear. I don't think many people can say that about 8 year-old boys, but I definitely can about mine.
I had to drop the babies off at the babysitter's house, so I got there 10 minutes before we were supposed to start and the kids were already standing up there playing pieces they have been working on for the past few months. They took turns and they played and if they messed up a little they just kept going.
Oh yeah, I also sang several songs and then we did a quick sing-along of Christmas hymns at the end. It was funny but I sang Silent Night with an arrangement by Sally Deford and I got all choked up and almost couldn't finish. It just touched my heart so much. I have no idea why, nevertheless I was grateful for the feeling.
Both of grandmothers came to our little concert and many residents were there as well. It was a lot of fun. Oh, and I forgot to mention that Rinar played a really great version of Jingle Bell Rock on a saxophone he rented for the month from the music store. He is such a ham. It was a lot of fun seeing him play and work the crowd. I begrudgingly admit that it stole the show.
It was a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas. I look forward to doing it again next year.
1 comment:
That is so awesome! I'm so impressed with everyone's musical abilities. My Hubs has all the talent that way in this house- though our twins show some promise.
When I was a child, my Mom called a nursing home to ask if any resident would not have a Christmas visitor. She was SHOCKED that nearly half the people there would have no one to visit them on Christmas. And so we 'adopted' a few Grandparents for the season. My kids and I are going to do this next week for the first time! I'm so excited!
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