Pre-Christmas Catch-up

Before I get to our fabulous weekend, I realized that I never got around to posting anything about last Sunday's Christmas program at church.  It was Jacob's last one and Carter's first one as part of the "big kids", rather than one of the preschool angels that join for only the last couple songs.

Unfortunately, I can't say we're the best about this stuff.  I mean, the children's Christmas service was Christmas Eve for me as a kid.  We practiced for weeks and even did a couple Saturday rehearsals leading up to the big night.  And they gave us an awesome piece of chocolate as a reward.  It was a given I'd do all the rehearsals and participate in the main event.  But for my kids, inevitably we miss a week or two of church for some reason during practice season, and the Saturday rehearsal always seems to be a tough time for us to make.  This year we had the bowling birthday party.  But even without the full commitment, they always seem to make it work!

To be honest, Jacob has never really embraced it, unfortunately.  Last year he woke up with a cold that morning and looked like death by halfway through it.  This year he had no excuse but the enthusiasm was still definitely lacking!  This picture, taken as the kids were lining up by a friend of ours who had a much better view than I did, pretty much sums it up.

Jacob's in the white shirt and tie, hands in his pockets.

Once everyone was lined up, Jacob's just to the left of center in the midst of the whole group, near the top.  He's next to a kid with a red vest.  Carter is right in the front to the far left, in the green sweater.  He was much more enthusiastic!  Here he is mid-hand motion...

This was my view.  At first I could see both kids, but then Jacob shifted behind someone and I lost him.  But Carter was mostly in my view the whole time.  He did a lot of fidgeting with his sweater--mostly sticking his hands in the opposite sleeve.  But hey, if that's the worst, I guess we're doing okay.

Our friend also got video.  I'll share the three best.  Ignore Jacob and just watch the sweetness that is Carter.  What he lacked in remembering words and motions, he more than made up for in earnest enthusiasm.  Gotta love that kid.






The only video I got happened to be of a couple parts Carter didn't know that well, but he played along adorably well and I appreciated the acting effort.  I hope someday he wants to have a speaking part or something, because I think he'd be great.  So would Jacob have been, if he'd have given it a shot.  Sigh.  Heck, if I can play Mary with a speaking part (gasp, a microphone!), anyone can do it.  I was petrified and did just fine, and my reward was being able to raise my hand when, prior to this program, the pastor hilariously recalled his own Christmas program parts over the years and asked who else had played a wise man, shepherd, angel, Mary/Joseph, etc.  Ahhh, memories.  Anyway, the program was lovely and the kids did great.

Even though I didn't actually need a Christmas card photo this year (miraculously the kids happily posed together enough this year that I had plenty to choose from), since the kids were dressed nicely, I had them pose together when we got home.

See, they almost love each other!  (Never mind that it took about two minutes and multiple attempts to get one without bunny ears or where they weren't almost falling over each other.)

So, another one is in the books.  One more Christmas tradition done for the year.  Following that, we had another busy week full of Jacob's sports, Craig's evening work commitments, and one of my work holiday parties, and suddenly it was Thursday night, when we suddenly had to get packed and ready for a busy Friday and an awesome weekend!  Stay tuned!