December

I can't believe that Christmas is only 3 days away!
December has FLOWN by!
We have been quite busy, so I am sorry I haven't posted in awhile.
I've been collecting pictures though!

Over the past couple of weeks we have had some snow,
as well as freezing temperatures!
With the wind chill it has been in the -15 degrees. Brrrrr!

Our first snow! A light dusting...


Then a few days later we got 4-5 inches!


Beautiful snow covered evergreens!


Caroline and I were in a mulit-piano concert


A gorgeous sunset



We have been working for about 6 weeks on a Christmas Program.
We went to Inman, KS last Monday (15th), where our great-grandpa lives,
to do the program for him and the rest of the nursing home.

On Thursday (18th) we did another program at a retirement home
in Hutchinson, KS. We got there, set everything up, then had a
nice dinner! Mom was just saying that day she hadn't gone out
for a good dinner in a long time!

This is the picture of our table setting!


I didn't get a picture of our dinner; ham, mashed potatoes,
corn, rolls, and cranberry salad before it got eaten.
Trust me, it was amazing! I did get a picture of our dessert though!


Here are some pictures of us performing




The Beckman Children


Mom and Susanna

The Beckman Family with Grandparents Jim and Joanne
and Great-Grandpa Gilbert

The Beckman Family




Last Friday night we had the pleasure of spending an evening
with the Anson and Kroeker Families. T
hank you for having us Anson Family!
We began the evening with supper. Yummy!


Scott and Eric playing guitars as we sing

The couch singers~

Kelsey and Elizabeth


Lydia, Paul and Marcus enthusiastically doing the actions to
"Away in the Manger"


Kelsey, Elizabeth, Kyle and Eric


Scott and Kyle playing guitars


Mr. Kroeker with Miles and Kaleb


Eric, Miles and Kyle


Miles and Kaleb-Buddies!


Our church had the children's Sunday School Christmas Program.
Caroline, Miles and I were all in it!
Caroline was the angel


I got to accompany all the children's program songs!
It was great!


Miles was a townsperson!


Caroline and Miles



Well, hope you enjoyed the update! Sorry for our absence~
Have a blessed Christmas!

Thanksgiving-Peppernut Making

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope everyone had a wonderful day
giving thanks to the Lord for His bountiful blessings.
We remember Psalm 100 today;it is certainly a thankful psalm!

PSALM 100
A Psalm for giving thanks.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Susanna dressed up as a Pilgrim first



Then she dressed up as an Indian!


Pretty cute Indian!


Paradise Pumpkin Pie


Harvest Pie


This evening our Grandparents, affectionately called Memaw and Papa,
came over to enjoy a meal and then make an annual holiday treat.
Peppernuts!

What are peppernuts??
Peppernuts may taste like cookies, but they are smaller-much smaller-
about the size of a hazelnut or dime. Ladies used to take pride in how
small they could make them. Grandmothers rivaled the size of large peas.
Others painstakingly cut theirs in perfect little circle using a sewing
thimble for a cutter.
-Peppernuts, Plain and Fancy
A Christmas Tradition from Grandmother's Oven
by Norma Jost Voth

First we make the dough.....A total of 20 c. of flour,
as well as various spices such as cinnamon, allspice, ginger,
and real pepper! Our recipe also includes anise oil.
Other variations include gumdrops, nuts, coconut, dried fruit, etc.


Then we roll the dough out in to long ropes, "snakes!"




Susanna and Caroline helping


Our "snakes"



Dad enthusiastically cutting the peppernuts!


Papa is our best cutter!


Good thing we have a double oven...
We can get 6 pans in there at one time!


Precisely cut and uniform!


The finished product! Almost 3 gallons...Stop by and try one! (or two)


We also got to sing some hymns!

Random Shots

Here are a few random shots from around the house.....We have all been busy with school and Thanksgiving preparation (Mom is doing our church Thanksgiving meal on Sunday) plus a few coughs and runny noses. The weather has been pretty chilly, although, we did have a beautiful 60+ degree day this week!!


Susanna trying on some BIG shoes!

Loving those warm fires

Caroline ready for her violin concert

Girl Fun

Last weekend Caroline and I had a super time having our good friends, Kelsey and Katy, over to hang out, dress up, and have fun together.

Shoes!


Makeup!


Susanna trying on my shades!


Elizabeth


Kelsey dressin'up


On Friday night, we all got to go to the play "OKLAHOMA", which our high school was putting on. After the first scene we thought it was time for intermission already! Talk about a long play!

The four girls-2 sets of sisters!

State Piano Competition-Lawerence, KS

This past Saturday, November 8, we got to go to Lawerence, KS to participate in KMEA State Piano Auditions at the University of Kansas. Caroline and Elizabeth both played and received I ratings (basically 4th place).
We also enjoyed a lovely time of food and fellowship when we met a dear friend for lunch at Panera Bread. Yum!!

It was a fun day overall and we were so glad to have attended it!

The University of Kansas! (sorry it is so blurry)


The children with our friend Morris Talbert


KANSAS!


Eric and Miles in front of Allen Field House


Caroline with her result sign (her name is towards the bottom)


Caroline's Certificate


Elizabeth's Certificate

Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago, we decided to go take some pictures for Christmas, school, and all of the children together. Here are a few of the 50+ that we took! Let us know which one(s) you like!

Holy, Holy, Holy

As the seasons are changing, we praise God for all He has made.
What a Holy and Creative GOD we serve!!!!!



Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
EARLY IN THE MORNING our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!





Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the GLASSY SEA;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.




Holy, holy, holy! Though the DARKNESS hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.




Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and SKY and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

District Piano Competition

This past Saturday Caroline and I had the great experience of participating in Kansas Music Educators Association's (KMEA) District Piano Competition! It was held in Sterling, KS at Sterling College. Caroline and I were both in group B, where you play 3 songs instead of the usual 2.(Very elite group!!!)
You must play each of your songs from different time periods of music.
Caroline played
"Aria" by Domenico Scarlatti
"Sonatina in C" by Muzio Clementi
"The Merry Farmer" by Robert Schumann

I played
"Invention No. 1 in C Major" by Johann Sebastian Bach
"Cavalry Gallop" by Dmitri Kabalevsky
"Important Event" by Robert Schumann
(If you want to watch/listen to these you can find them all on Youtube or come on over and we can play them for you!!!)

After playing our songs before an adjudicator, you have to wait until they post your results. If you get a "II" rating (2) you are finished, but if you get a "I" rating (1) you get to go to State Piano Competitions.
Well.......(drumroll, please!!)
Caroline and I both got "I" ratings, so we get to go to STATE!!!!!
It is held @ the University of Kansas on November 8. We will continue practicing our songs until then!



On our way to State Competitions!!!!