Vacation

Today was our first day of vacation. It was a nice and relaxing day. I got up fairly early (7:30ish) to write out my Christmas cards. I know, I know - it's awfully late to be sending them out but that's just the way it has to be this year. I feel lucky to have gotten them out at all. I just can't believe how busy we have been. There has been something every single day. But it's done. The cards are in the mail.

Of course Jay slept late. That's his favorite thing to do. The kids played, read, and just relaxed. It was all good. Lorena came over around 6pm. We were expecting her at 4:30 but Uncle DoDo was on Bolivian time. So by the time she came and DoDo left, we still had to have dinner. We ended up leaving here at 7:45 - we were heading out to Lake Lanier to see the lights. Needless to say, we didn't make it. We got there and the line was so long to get into the park that we turned around and headed back home. We didn't think we'd make it before the park closed. We drove all that way for nothing! But we will not give up...we will try again tomorrow.

Last night was the kids' Christmas program at church. The kids all did a great job! I am always amazed at how the program just comes together. There were kids aged 2 all the way up to 18 in this program!

This first picture is of Alex participating in the Angel Choir during the regular service. The kids dressed like angels - it was very cute.

The next picture is later that night. As you know, Mary has never cared to participate on stage. She chooses not to speak, sing, or in anyway follow directions. This year was different. She did it all ! She was awesome!

So she sang two songs w/ her friends. I like the star sunglasses they wore while singing "Jump for Joy". She actually jumped! Here's a video:

Then she had to come out and say her lines in a poem. Each child had several lines and together they made up a poem. Mary's lines were "Don't be afraid, the angel said, I bring a happy story. Then all around the shone the light of heaven's greatest glory". Just listen to this!

Isn't that fabulous? But let's not forget the boy. He was the most reluctant participant this year. Not sure why but it didn't matter - he did great anyway. He sang first...

Then he said his lines....




Wonderful!

Now, onto our other girl. She did double duty - she was in the elementary program...

and also in the Youth program (middle and high school).

She sang the cutest song!

And then changed clothes to be an angel in the finale of the play.

We were blessed to have Mimi and PapaJohn make the long drive out to see the kids. It meant a lot to the kiddos. Mimi said that John took over 200 pictures! I can't even imagine! Of course he has a very fancy camera....

That was the excitement for this weekend. And with the big performance, all of our obligations are finally completed. No more parties, brunches, recitals, pageants, programs, ornament exchanges, cookie swaps, ensemble singing, belt ceremonies....it's all finished! We are coasting into Christmas now. Now, I just have to find some "alone" time to wrap all the gifts. Hopefully, Jay will be able to help w/ this soon - maybe he can take the kids somewhere.

Christmas Pictures

My friend Laura just sent me over a couple of pictures of Mary dressed as an angel in her Christmas program last year. It is now the end of March...but I am still so grateful to have these pictures. I was sitting too far away to get any good shots (and I still had my crappy camera) so we didn't have any pictures of that night. The fact that Mary's teachers got her to wear a costume and actually get on stage was a miracle to us! Of course, this was the year she sang in the Living Tree too. Here's my baby girl....

Random Thoughts

John gave me copies of pictures that he took of our performance in the Living Tree and the kids' Christmas programs at church. We had such a good time preparing and participating in these programs. It was my second year in the tree, Alex and Liv sang for the second time as well. This year Little Mary joined us! Since the whole family was around when the older two practiced with their choirs, Mary learned all the songs and stood right next to brother and sister during the rehearsals. Patrick (music minister) was kind enough to indulge her and let her stay and even included her in the official program! It was a hoot because she is so tiny she just really stuck out next to all of the older kids.

The actual tree

The Living Tree!

Mary singing away in between

Olivia and Alex.

The kids with the Adult Choir.

Checking out behind the scenes!

It was fun, fun, fun. And the best part was that my dad came to see both performances! I was very happy to see him the first night and pleasantly surprised to see him again the next night. It was great.

The next week the kids had their Christmas program. Once again Mary sang with the big kids. She also sang with her own choir, the Cherub Choir, and recited her little poem! She has never actually moved her lips on stage before the night of the Living Tree, much less has she ever spoken into a microphone on stage! It was a big night for our little one!! We were very proud. We were just as proud of Alex, who sang and recited a poem as well, and of Olivia, who sang and acted in a skit. She was very, very good! A budding actress, perhaps? Hmmmmm......

The kids all did a wonderful job. Unfortunately, this was not the end of their flurry of Christmas activities...the next night, Liv had a school choir performance and then the school Christmas parties began. Even though it was difficult to juggle all the schedules and make it to all the places we had to be, it was so worth it to see their joy and their enthusiasm at each performance.