Naomi and the Holiday Harmonies:
Happy 42nd Birthday, Dad!
Mom, Eli, and I helped to get Dad’s special day off to a happy start and there was more birthday fun for him during the school day, but we – the tweens in the lounge where I’m writing this – didn’t have much to do with his celebrations since then while busy with the school band and the Pinehurst Christmas parade. We are helping him out with a kid-free night; and don’t want or need any details if anything more than catching up on sleep is involved!
Moving along, Ethan and Ehlana had gifts for his future father-in-law when they came to pick me up before school; we had fun with our academic adventures; and then we had time to go home and get ready for the parade and have some food before meeting up at the school again in time to help with loading the gear on a bus and then eventually heading out to Pinehurst. We had some rain off-and-on today, but it ended by mid-afternoon; so we were able to stay dry all evening – though it did cool down to around freezing for the parade. We had a blast playing our music for the crowds that included a contingent of family and friends from home. If there is one change from when Cassie and Michael were in the band, it is that the Pinehurst citizens don’t jeer us because of our football team successes over their team! Since Cassie and Michael were there tonight and helping out with some of the cousins; we can also mention that at least some of those football fans remember Michael very well – and did razz him about his past glory days while the guys doing that seemed to have a very different set of memories when it came to Cassie’s cheer squad adventures!
We were able to have some fun with our family and friends after the parade; yes, we did couples’ pictures with Santa; and I personally think that one of the junior elves ought to be on the naughty list for appreciating my boyfriend just a bit too much! ;^)
The parade route took about forty-five minutes to traverse at low-speed, but we were about mid-way in the pack of floats, bands, and other groups and vehicles; so we didn’t make it to the downtown park festivities until about two-and-a-half hours after we arrived and began setting up our gear on the trailer. We packed up our gear again before going on to play for an hour or so; and then we loaded up again and headed for home. There was more help at the school for getting everything back into the music room, but it was also getting late by the time we got home. My future parent-in-laws were up and waiting for us, so we had a visit with them before coming upstairs to get ready for bed; and now we’re enjoying some quality co-ed cuddle time and hot drinks and snacks to go along with the Christmas movies that we probably won’t stay awake for through to the end. Ethan and I have the nest on the floor tonight; we’re all happy; and this has been an amazing start to December; so there really isn’t anything else to add to this report – other than the first pick for Ethan and Ehlana’s Christmas music videos!
They are letting me do that tonight; so I pick the Bocelli family version of one of the songs we chose for our own Christmas album. Hopefully, you’ll love it as much as we do!
The Greatest Gift – Andrea, Matteo, and Virginia Bocelli
Until next time, live with love, fellow Magi of the Light!
