Campmeeting

The boys were asked to sing offertory for Tuesday evening of camp meeting.  Practicing for these such occasions is always hilarious.  Maybe not so hilarious at the time, especially when it is the night before, but BJ and I are learning to loosen up- a little.

How can we not crack up when Judson and Josiah join in?

And especially when they are reading their words, but two out of three of them can't read!

They sang a song that we learned from our dear friends', the Voetbergs,  a Jesus Loves Me/So Deep medley. 

They did a great job, and this mama was so proud.  :)

Sally and Aunt Candy performed a piano duo concert in celebration of Lynchwood's new grand piano. They did an excellent job, of course.  And it was fun to hear my mother-in-law's commentary on the pieces performed and her childhood memories.  Sally asked Jared and Jesse to play the duet they worked up, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.  I love seeing them play together....melts my mama heart.  :)

Away in a Manger

 I was so proud of my boys last Sunday evening at our church choir cantata.  It is a joy to hear them perform musically.  They have made a lot of progress over the last year.  Jared and Jesse played an arrangement of Away in a Manger and Justin sang a verse.  So cute!

I was in the back with the twins, but I guess Judson Lee was on the front row poking at Johnny while the boys were playing.  BJ ended up signaling for him to come up front and hold his hand.  He needed a little help being a good boy. :)  The choir up on the stage got a good laugh watching the whole ordeal. 

Big boys' special music

Last Sunday my three big boys sang for the offeratory. BJ and I were so proud of them...and thrilled to hear them sing in three part harmony. 

BTW- this was during practice.  We don't just let Jud and Johnny run wild during service. :)

The Singing Christmas Tree

A dear couple at church bought us tickets for the Singing Christmas Tree at the Keller auditorium.  This was such a special night for BJ, myself, and our four oldest boys.  (The twins and Jud were left home to be loved on by some church grandmas and Connie Johnson. :) We started our evening out with dinner at Claim Jumper since BJ had won a drawing for a gift certificate at a Pastor's event.  The boys really enjoyed their meals and sharing a giant slice of their famous chocolate cake.  What a treat! Without our 3 littlest ones along BJ and I were able to really focus on our older 4. It was a weird feeling to not need a highchair or feed a baby.

The performance was wonderful and moving. I wondered if it would hold my boys' attention, but I didn't need to worry. When the show was over Justin exclaimed, "oh mommy I really liked that!"

 

It was cute to hear the boys talk about our fancy evening and ooh and aah over the city lights.  This is a night they will remember for a long time.

BJ and I feel so grateful for these blessings in our lives.  Choosing to have a large family, you can sometimes stop and think, "but wait, how will we ever afford this?" or "we will never be able to do that."  This was just another reminder of God's faithfulness in taking care of our needs and wants. Granted, it might be a while before we eat at Claim Jumper again as a family, but it makes those times all the more cherished and special when we do.  :) 

Justin's lessons

This boy is so enthusiastic about his music! We started Justin on mini lessons for piano and violin this year. I've gotta say, I am surprised at how much he wants to practice. Hearing Justin sing "Hey diddle diddle, d's in the middle, d's in the middle of the two black keys" in his little high voice while playing the piano is adorable. My other favorite is "Justin is a good boy" on the violin. :)

This is Justin's favorite exercise, the monkey climb.

Lets just hope this enthusiasm continues for years to come. Especially when practice time increases. :)

Special Music

Last month my boys were scheduled to sing during the offeratory. These pictures are during their practice so Jud was free to roam. They sang "A Child of God" and did a great job.

BJ and I love the stair step poses. It will be fun to see which boy ends up the tallest. We are really rooting for BJ's genes!

Special Music

The boys (and BJ) sang the special music at church. Thanks to BJ, my boys have developed a love for southern gospel and sang a Gaither Vocal Band song, When I Cry. The three older boys did such a great job. J.R. wouldn't sing. Instead he looked at his mic, holding it up high in the air, and licked it. He licked it like it was an icecream cone....over and over again. Maybe next time he will actually sing. :) And, in case anyone is worried, Jeremy Shrock disinfected mic #1 right after service.

Fiddle Recital

Here are pictures from Jared and Jesse's fiddle recital a week ago. The boys did a great job... and it was a lot of fun having the recital in the Voetberg's home. We also enjoyed having Aunt Linda join us for the evening. :)

Sorry about the unsteady recording. I was holding a wiggly two year old on my lap. :)

(Jesse playing Red Wing)

(Jared playing Tennessee Waltz)