The Christmas Play

We were so excited for Jayce's Christmas play at his school this year.  I go crazy for things like this.

We found out a few weeks before that he would be playing Joseph, and we practiced his lines each night.  On the morning of, he was prepared.

I was prepared too.  I had charged my battery, brought an extra memory card and my tripod, and stood at the door early to get in and get a good seat to record the performance to show the grandparents.  I didn't bring my flash because I doubted that I would need it, since I'd be filming the event.  I grabbed a seat in the middle near the front, set up my tripod, revealed myself as "a crazy camera lady" to the other parents and was ready to go.  But, my plan didn't really work out. It turns out that I didn't need my tripod because I was running around trying to actually get Jayce into the picture, and I definitely needed my flash.  Oh well.

The program started with the kids singing, and Jayce sang and did the motions enthusiastically. (In the video I put the play first and the songs second, but it was actually reversed.)  

By the time that he moved onto the stage for the nativity play, I think he was a bit spent, or just spaced out.  He said his lines well, ushered Mary around the stage, knocked on the doors of the inns, and patted Mary's shoulder reassuringly.  But he was spaced out, big time.  He didn't sing or really do the motions onstage, he just kind of looked around, wide-eyed.  After the play was over we went to give Jayce hugs and tell him how proud we were, and he was still completely spaced out.  I guess he was "stage struck?" (Is that a thing?)  Anyway, he just kind of stared all around, even when he was with us.  Eventually we let him go back with his class.

(Video disclaimer: I thought I was so prepared, with my tripod and a great seat in the middle of the room, but when the kids came in and got in their spots, Jayce was seated at the very end of the row away from the center of stage.  So despite my efforts we couldn't see him at all.  So I ran over and filmed him on the side, and by the time he made his way back to the middle, I didn't have time to set up the tripod.  So, sorry that it's a little shaky!)

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Pigtails

Why is it that these little things, which are meant to be functional more than anything else, are just so amazing the first time that they appear?

I don't know.  But they are. Just, so, amazing.

And a single pony tail, even if slightly out of focus, almost did me in.  She couldn't get within 5 feet of me without me running over to smother her neck in kisses.  We'll see how long this lasts.  But for now, we're enjoying pony tails, one 30 second stint at a time.

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Christmas Afternoon/Evening

Christmas morning was spent opening and playing.  Then when the afternoon/early evening rolled around for us, we called our families and opened their gifts "in front of them" via Skype, then there was another round of playing.  And playing and playing.  Playing upstairs and then playing downstairs. 

Mom, my Rescue Heros tower is really big, but look, I'm still bigger.  

He did a 20 minute happy dance/song when he unwrapped this.  Such a little boy.  Actually, Jayce had unwavering enthusiasm for every single package, declaring "Mom, I always wanted this!!" over and over.  Even with things like the charger for his LeapPad.  

(We thought this was funny. Can you see at the top of Jayce's LeapPad, it says "Select Language," then lists the American, Canadian, British and Australian flags.  All places that speak English.  Guess which one we picked?)  

While we were in Jayce's room, Hannah got into the dresser that they share, brought me this skirt and held out her leg, so I put it on.  (She also had duck socks on for a bit, but they were gone at this point.)  Anyway, it actually looked really cute!  That's my girl.  When we were on Skype Chelsea said, "Is there a reason that Hannah is way more dressed up than you are?"  That was the reason.  My motto for Christmas day at home was, roughly, "whatever you want."  She wanted to wear it, so she wore it.  I'm not going to be the one to get in the way of good style.

However, the dress matching the tea set, and matching the kitchen accessories…well that was an honest-to-goodness coincidence.  Sure, I picked out those things, and I do like red and white polka dots, but I didn't get them at the same time or intend for them all to be used together.  Pinky swear.

 Our day of playing wrapped up with a yummy turkey dinner, (patting self on back), getting the kids down a bit early, and Chris and I settling down on the couch all bleary eyed to watch a non-Christmas movie.  We had a good day, but by the end of it, we were all Christmas-ed out.  

Only 10 more months until we start the celebrations again. :)

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We Wish You A Merry Christmas Morning

This post will be mostly full of pictures.  I don't think I'm up for much reflecting at the moment, and with a boy who won't nap and is attempting to play quietly in his room, I doubt I'll get through this whole thing all at once.  But I will leave you with a few thoughts, and then a slew of pictures.

(Dear Santa, Here is a snack for you.  It will make you very healthy.  To Santa, from Jayce.  Then he drew a picture of Santa at the bottom.)

Thought #1

This is the first time that we have woken up in our own home on Christmas morning since we've had kids, and only the 3rd time in 9 married years.  The highs were very high, particularly the "night before Santa and reindeer prep," the "Christmas morning tree squealing and happy dancing," and the "not having anywhere to be at a particular time and doing things at our own pace."  

Also, the lows were low, with 4 days of "we're all out of our routines and in this house together and driving each other a bit crazy," missing our families, and seeing how our families missed us.  Chris and I talked numerous time about this in the past few days, "this is one thing that's great about just being home/this is one thing that stinks about being here right now instead of…" and just kept saying things like, "Well, each situation has pros and cons.  Now we know the pros and cons with this one," and other such reasonable comments.  We pretend that being reasonable makes us feel better.

(Jayce paused in the middle of ripping open this kitchen to chop the watermelon that I had staged on the counter, and hand a piece to each of us.  Kids are so funny.)

Thought #2

Why do we insist on taking pictures of all of us together in the morning, with slept on-hair, bleary eyes, and bad lighting?  

Because these are the things that memories are made of, right? Right. Anyway, on to the pictures.

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