Speaking of Christmas...

While I'm on the subject of Christmas...

This is what I really hope Santa brings my kids.

Does that make me crazy?

Jingle Bells?

I love Chiristmas--and the music! No, I'm not about to bust out my Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, or roast any chestnuts on an open fire...but my students are starting to learn their Christmas songs...and I've been wanting to post this for a while...and Halloween is over so...you know...why not now?

This year I am singing in the Anaheim Mormon Chorale (they are the group that I didn't sing the National Anthem with at the Angels game this summer). One of the songs we have been working on for Christmas is "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morten Lauridsen. He grew up in Portland where his dad was a forester (go America!), but outside of the USA, it is the most performed Christmas choral work besides the Alelluia chorus from Handel's Messiah (at least that's what I was told). The textures in this piece are ethereal and beautiful. The words are from ancient Latin chant, and I've included the translations.

I hope you take the time to listen to it, or at least let it play while you clean up your living room or make applesauce or something. Enjoy!

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum
natum, jacentum in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum. Alleluia!

O great mystery,
and wondrous sacrament,
that animals should see the new-
born Lord, lying in their manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear the
Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

*Yawn*

Right now I am up way too late. I just read my friends blog, about how she met NieNie tonight at the BYU Creamery, buying milk, and how they cried and hugged, and it made me love NieNie even more. There's a special place in heaven for that girl, I tell you.

Now I'm downloading Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words into my iTunes. I like that the songs don't have words or titles, because it leaves more up to your imagination. Anyway, I thought I'd put some Halloween pics on my blog while I waited, but it just finished downloading, so I have no more excuses to stay up. I guess the pictures will have to wait.

If you came here looking for something good to read, you should head on over to Beth's blog. You can read about what an angel NieNie is, even in real life.

NighteeNight!

Meet me on the Equinox

Yesterday I was listening to the radio and I heard the new Death Cab song from the New Moon soundtrack. It got me a bit excited for the release of the next silly teenage vampire romance movie.

Are you a bit excited, too?

She's READING!!

Thank you, Talking Letter Factory video. What we started together over two and a half years ago is starting to pay off. Yesterday I caught Katelyn READING!! simple three letter words all on her own! Today we went to the library and checked out a "my first reader", and bless her...she is trying! Does this mean she should start school in 2010? I was really hoping to put it off until 2011.