Ring Out the Bells

Ring out the bells! Second season of ringing the bells at the City and County Building in Denver. 10 keys total (when they are all working). C D E F G A B B-flat C and D. LOTS of Christmas tunes you can play with just those keys! (when they are all working)

Bigtime improvement when it came to WHERE I played the tiny keyboard. Last year's room was downright frightening!

The computer system was moved to the 4th floor, and even though I still stare at a blank wall, at least I didn't fear for my safety!

The candy canes make all the different, don't they?

Star light, star bright.

See the tiny green tower? That's where the bells hang!

Pay no attention to the lady hiding in a tree to get this picture.

Peace on earth!

If you look the OTHER way,
you can see the Capitol across the park.

Until next year!

Americans All

Booya! Another choir, another time to enjoy singing little people. "Americans All" was our theme, with songs from Germany, South Africa, Korea, Ireland, and Israel. My former student, Emil, stopped by (check out his website here) and sang an original Christmas tune with the group. Close to 90 kiddos this semester!

Sweet peas! Emil's sister and cousin, after
the show the other night (Monday, Dec. 6)

Colorful bunch!

And there's Emil. Awesome 16 year old.

Pretty sure every kid in choir left with either a rubber bracelet, poster, t-shirt, or signed CD. Such groupies. Oh, wait...I have all these things, too... :) A great role model for all my young singers and so exciting for this 10th year teacher!

My colleague captured this pics during our
assembly today (Friday, Dec. 10). So many kids!
(keep in mind the gym lights makes everyone look jaundiced)

Singing away!

A-M-E-R-I-C-A!
All the letters in order - both concerts!


These brothers are awesome!
(and those headbands rock)

They are moving so fast, their legs are a blur!

Added a few xylophones to the mix.

"Put your hands in the air!"

Lots of people, lots of movement, lots of joy!

Camels and Cameras

Driving away and had to go back for this pic.
Rather thankful the neighbors didn't call to report a
strange woman lurking in the darkness with a camera.

Chancel Choir practicing for their holiday concert.
I'm just a symmetrical kind of gal.
And I'm still outdoors with my camera.

Seriously. A camel in the Sanctuary. Darling.
Strange, but darling.
"Camel Lot" - Sunday School musical.
Sunday, Dec. 12. 10:30 am. Join us!

Nothing says "I love my new Bundt Cake Pan" like a
massively frosted bundt cake. I love my students
(and their cooking mothers!)

Sarah found this huge JOY light display on a fence in our church neighborhood. I won't tell you how many wrong turns I took trying to find a giant JOY display on a random fence in the darkness, but let's just say I was prepared with my story, had I been stopped by the police.

Again with the camera. In the dark.

SWEET.


I don't know what YOU received for
your first night of Hanukkah, but this little one
was over the moon with her tie-dyed Slinky.
You know you want one.

Advent-ures in Waiting

Well, there you have it.
November 28: the first day of Advent.
It's so nice to re-minded to re-center. Re-focus.

Peace. Quiet. Candles. Home.

"Hope" - an angel by Delia.
RTG used this photo in a recent devo: Hope and Lazarus

Ah, color. That's more like it!

I could write an entire blog post on this one photo.
Reflection. Light. Balance.


Now, I know the wreath is all LIGHTING the candles,
but something about the just-extinguished
source of light adds to the mystery of it all.

We also know I'm not not allowed
to have real flames at home,
so this wreath/tree-topper will just have to do!

December 5: Week 2 of Advent

A rose for baby Zachary, born this week.


Reminders everywhere.

Pinky and the Pine Cone

The life of an elementary music teacher.

Always amusing.
Always entertaining.

Part 1: The Pinky Finger

9:20 am: My pinky finger becomes stuck inside the xylophone.
Yes, stuck. In the mallet hole.
Don't ask.

I'm not sure what's more amusing: the fact that at age 31,
I'm still doing stupid things with my fingers...

...or that a kid actually grabbed the camera off of my
desk and captured the look of semi-panic on my face.
I was trapped and getting a little bit anxious.

Honestly. Never a dull moment with Ms. G.

(I'm typing this post with both bands. A little soap
got the little guy free from the instrument.)

Part 2: The Pine Cone

About a month ago, a kiddo brought in an awesome Jingle Pine Cone. (Click here to view the delightful dangling ditty.) I noted how cool this instrument was and how fun it must have been to make it. My kids agreed, and wanted to make one, too, but I mentioned it would be tough to get that many pine cones.

Silly, Brenda.
Never mention random classroom needs in front of the children.

Yesterday, a child comes to my room with 48 pine cones, and announces to his class that we now have the supplies to make these lovely instruments, and we'll be making them in class tomorrow. Well, then.

SO.....I ran to the store to get the REST of the supplies we would need: 270 jingle bells, 200 pipe cleaners, 1 can of tacky spray, and 3 bottles of red, green and silver glitter. Bring it on.

Gathered the goods and tried to make a sample.

Not a very happy camper when the
red glitter bottle spilled at 11:30 pm...

This just might work!

The little people had a BLAST!
We talked all about handmade instruments...

... how a bells actually jingles...

"It's working, Ms. G! My pine cone is ringing!"

We love color at Flagstone.
LOTS of color.

Spray glue + glitter = awesome. NOT.

Looking good!

Honestly, this is never going to come off of my fingers...
Yes, I'm wearing an apron.
You try crafting with kids without getting covered in whatnot.

Happy pine cones, happy children.