Remember that post a while back about how I’m a terrible gift-giver?

Well I still am.

But I’m trying to get better…really, really trying…

This year I actually sent birthday cards to my mom and my brother–albeit they were late.  Like…pretty darn late.  AND my poor, poor sister…her birthday was on April 5th and I JUST bought a card (SOORRY SIS!!!) it IS going to be mailed ASAP.

I’m just so sorry…I really am.   I’m a gift-giving mess.

But I’m trying to take steps in the right direction.

AND to prove it…

I am buying my wife a mother’s day present–like now.  Not on Saturday night at 9pm when I realize that tomorrow is Mother’s Day and I run to Vons (like I’m running on this sentence) and look for whatever pitiful excuse for a card there is left…(usually in Spanish).   I’m actually thinking ahead.

See. 

People CAN change.

What? What am I getting her for Mother’s Day, you ask?

Pure awesomeness.

EDIT ADD: (Nov 17, 2010)

 

Here is a link to a youtube video of the opening song of the musical, Back to the Manger, featuring the Ocean View Kids Choir.

 

 

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EDIT ADD: (Sept 9, 2010)

 

It turns out this page pops up pretty high on the google list when people are looking for Back to the Manger or Christy and I…

If you are visiting and have a Back to the Manger related question/comment, etc…you can peruse the comments below this entry, or find my wife and myself on facebook.

my facebook page is www.facebook.com/danielsemsen

and I also have a website www.danielsemsen.com

OR you can email Christy directly at csemsen@gmail.com

We’d love to hear from you!

Daniel

 

 

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I don’t even know what to say…it’s just crazy talk…and still feels a bit surreal…so I’ll just SAY IT.

A kids musical written by my genius wife, and arranged by me releases TODAY worldwide from choral music publisher Word Music.
We took all of my wife’s talent and all of my nerdiness and combined them to create the work BACK TO THE MANGER: A Caroling Adventure Through Time.

To check it out, click on the link above or just head on over to www.wordmusic.com and search for it–or it might even be on the front page of the website if you look around.  You can listen to samples of each of the songs and order a CD or other materials there.

We performed it this past Christmas at our church and the kids had a blast singing the songs!  We really tried to keep things fresh and fun…and I think it NO mistake that Nathaniel (my firstborn) was cast as the NERD in the show…not the bad boy…but the NERD.  And he played it quite well, if I say so myself (good role models in the home, in terms of nerdiness, that is). 
Did I mention I was a nerd?

We are really proud of this thing…and I hope that you get a chance to hear it.  We did everything with live musicians at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, and the players just KILLED it during the sessions.  They just were more awesome than I could have imagined. 

If you HAPPEN to be a kids choir director and you’re stopping by…feel free to drop us a line.  We’re more than happy to answer questions (even ones pertaining to the space-time continuum) and help out in any way that we can.

And if you’re a friend/family member…thanks for your support…you all are much loved by us

(side note: an anthem I arranged/orchestrated for Word Music ALSO releases today.  It is Brooke Fraser’s Hosanna…a great song! Check it out!)

 

It’s been a long time since I’ve written here…so long, in fact, that I feel like I need to have some sort of epic bloggity come back.

So, I use up all kinds of energy thinking about what that would be, but I can’t come up with anything because come on, we all know this is a silly little doo-hicky of a blog.  Nothing important happens here except movie reviews and SNL sketch postings…and the occasional family update.

So, why fight it?

Just do it.
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MOVIES

First off, I need to inform you that our movie-going spree came to a quick halt.  Around November, we started heading down to San Diego on other days besides Friday night…and our weekly trip to Harkins was no more.  We became engrossed in rehearsals and performances and birthday parties and anniversary trips and blah blah blah…tons and tons of stuff that kept us from Harkins.  It was sad.  We really missed it–so much that on Christmas weekend we went to 4 movies in 28 hours.  Don’t ask me how it’s possible, because I’m not quite sure I have an answer for you (and that time frame included Sunday morning church).  We were like movie zombies. 

It was awesome.

Fast-forward to EASTER (what?!? already?!!) and we’re still not back on the movie-wagon.  We’ve only seen a couple of films recently–both this past weekend–so here’s the scoop.

Date Night
It was pretty funny.  Not as ridiculous as I was expecting–but it had heart, and an element of realism that made it warm and authentic.  And it was also quite funny.  How can Tina Fey and Steve Carrell not be funny? Well, they were…it’s worth watching even though you won’t be rolling in the isles–it’s a great flick…and it has some hilarious moments.

How to Train a Dragon
This movie is the best movie I’ve seen this year.  It was simply, AMAZING.  This movie is the kind of thing that happens when you have great writers, great actors, and fantastic directors.  It was brilliant.  We took the kids and they had a blast.  We were unable to see it in 3D because the time didn’t work out for us, but I didn’t miss anything in 2D…because you didn’t need to rely on that to help the movie along–the story was simply captivating.
I give it my highest recommendation.  And go check the other critics…they all agree.
A note–the theater was still ALL the way FULL 2-3 weeks after opening weekend…that should tell you something right there…

And finally…let’s just say it–Tina Fey is really, really funny. 

If you don’t watch 30 Rock, you are missing out–and if you weren’t a fan of SNL in this past decade…I’m sorry.

And I must say–it is SOMETHING when an ex-head-writer-turned-Emmy-winning-comedy-star/movie-star comes back to host the show.  It was stinkin great.

I was going to embed a hulu video of Brownie Husband here…but alas, I will not…
If you are super dooper interested, go find it on your own…it’s fuh. nee.