I have been working on our Christmas letter for 2011. Each year I write a Hess family update/Christmas greeting for our Christmas cards and send it out. I finished it up this morning and have added a new twist to it...a YouTube accompaniment. If you go to this link, "Carol of the Bells--ukulele instrumental by Kui Lima" on YouTube, then you can have some backup music for the song (start singing at the first twang of the ukulele).
There are many arrangments of "Carol of the Bells" out there on YouTube, and I watched many, many videos looking for the perfect accompaniment for our song. You should thank me for not using a heavy metal version. Anyway, thank you, Kui Lima, for your excellent performance of "Carol of the Bells," and we hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas!!
Hess Christmas Song 2011
Christmas is here! Let’s give a cheer!
Time to update--lots on my plate,
Our fam is well; stories to tell,
I’ll try to share, pull up a chair.
Ding, dong, ding, dong…disrupts my song.
That was my phone--kids need ride home.
Clark’s at swim meet; learned to cross street.
Cam’s at football, freshman this fall.
Clayton’s all done, scholarship won,
ROTC, U’versity
Of Washington, Air Force is fun,
College is hard, caught him offguard,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!
Caleb’s 13, mastered hygiene,
Finished baseball, growing so tall,
Kelli turned 10, Katie’s best friend,
Plays basketball, gives it her all.
Ding, dong, ding, dong, hear fiddle song.
Now Katie plays, Suzuki ways.
Kindergarten she has begun,
Learned to ride bike; Princess she’s like.
Now let’s talk Ben; he’s my best friend.
He worked real hard in our backyard,
Built a new shed and riverbed.
Took me on hike, bears I don’t like!
I caught a trout, and learned about,
Camping Ben’s way; needs more bug spray.
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Ding dong, ding dong,
I better end, cards I must send
Check our website, that’s where I write.
Ding dong, ding dong,
Song is all done, hope it was fun!
Done!
Sally,
I loved the Hess Christmas Song 2011! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Mr. and Mrs. C
Posted by: Nancy Countryman | 12/20/2011 at 05:43 PM
Hi Mrs. C!!! Great to hear from you and glad you liked the song! I hoped it worked with the ukulele accompaniment. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you guys too!!
Posted by: Sally Hess | 12/21/2011 at 08:17 AM
I almost forgot...did you see the part about Kelli?? Yup, finally a basketball player! All the boys played baseball and not basketball. But Kelli chose basketball for her sport, and she is loving it! She is pretty tall and getting more aggressive with each game. It is fun to watch her play and remember. :)
Posted by: Sally Hess | 12/21/2011 at 08:21 AM
Yes, we did notice Kelli plays basketball. Wonderful! Mr. C says he probably has some videos of your playing days - would you like us to send them out? :)
Posted by: Nancy Countryman | 12/21/2011 at 12:48 PM
Did we have video cameras back then?? Ha! Sure, if you find something that would be great!
Posted by: Sally Hess | 12/22/2011 at 10:40 PM
Hi Sal,
I LOVED the Christmas song- you are so creative! Kelli is going to play basket ball like you did I bet and be the best there is. With four brothers I can see where she has learned to be aggressive! I wonder what sport Katie will do? Tell everyone we love them and miss them.
Posted by: Janine Campbell | 12/27/2011 at 03:34 PM
Oh my goodness!!! I am belly laughing and there is band practice going on here. The fam doesn't know what's wrong w/me, but I loved your letter. Especially the part about Ben's camping. I totally agree!!!! Are you coming to Wintergrass? I can't wait to see you!!!
Posted by: Wendy Top | 01/21/2012 at 07:38 PM
Hi Wendy!!
Glad my life makes you laugh! Ha! It does me too...
Yup, we will be at Wintergrass--looking forward to it. We will see you there...it's our turn to treat you and John for dinner! See you then!
Sally
Posted by: Sally Hess | 02/03/2012 at 03:09 PM