Merry Christmas

Here is our house all decorated for Christmas.

Becky made the table runner. Ally and I made the Advent candles at church and Becky made the advent wreath at church – there was an Advent craft workshop a few weeks ago.

When Ally was sick she and I made the paper chain. We received flowers from one of my clients, and we added the Crèche to our Nativity set this year.

Also while Ally was sick, we made the banners.

Since we don’t have a mantel we hang our stockings on the window ledge.

We did things on a much smaller scale this year – no evergreen garlands up, no snowman and Santa collection up. But it felt good, and right and cheerful and us.

Merry Christmas.

Fun Filled Saturday

Ally said she really wanted to go sledding over vacation. Problem is the forecast called for 50 degree weather over the weekend and rain for 2 days! The snow was all going to melt.

So early Saturday morning (8:00AM) Becky took Ally sledding to our local park.

They sledded for an hour then came home, showered and got dressed to go to Roxie’s house for a Guat Girls birthday gathering.

All dressed up for Guat Girls – check out how long Ally’s hair is!

I had been feeling sick off and on most of the week so I stayed home. I wrapped and prepped Christmas Cookies!

 

Ally has been really into penguins lately and asked if we could make penguin cookies. Thanks to pinterest we could and did. Problem is they are too cute to eat.

Then before bed Ally worked on a surprise in her room. After an hour it was ok to go in. She had cleaned up her room!

Pretend Play with Mama

Becky is such a good sport. Ally loves to play elaborate games of pretend play. School, Drama Show, and on Sunday it was dentist and beauty shop.

Ally Loves it when Nali sits on her lap.

The dentist’s office was in the bottom bunk of Ally’s room.

Yes Becky is a good sport. After brushing it was time for rinsing and finally flossing.

Ally did a great job.

Next up was Beauty Shop. I was told to leave the room after these pictures because Ally wanted to surprise me with mama’s hair style. I then forgot to take a picture – it had a bow and a headband in it.

4th Sunday of Advent

Becky and Ally practiced with our church Family choir for a few weeks. They sang the song “All Night, All Day” in front of the congregation on Sunday. My middle school class lit the advent candle and the whole church participated in the “Un-Pageant” that is we arrived in the sanctuary to find various costume pieces spread out thru the pews. Crowns and robes, angel halos and wings, and sheep ears. Ally selected wings, I wore a crown and Becky donned sheep ears.

That is the choir practicing.

The program started with a reading from Isaiah 11:1-2 & 6-9. Then we sang My Heart Sings Out With Joyful Praise. Then Matthew 1:18-25 is read.

Then we sang The Cherry Tree Carol, and while singing Mary and Joseph walked up to the creche.

Luke 2:1-7 was read next. Followed by singing Away in the Manger. During the song the baby Jesus was brought to the creche. At our church the baby was accompanied by her two moms who carried the Star of David. They say in front of the cradle so if the baby was startled her parents were right there.

Then Luke 2:8-14 was read. We sand Hark the Herald Angels Sing next and the congregants dressed as Angels approached. Ally was right there – at the base of the cradle right next to the baby for the remainder of the program. She sang along to songs she knew and joined in on the chorus to others.

There she is – it was really neat.

But the program continued with  a reading of Luke 2:15-20 and we sand The First Noel and the sheep and shepherds approached the creche.

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 was read next, and while we sang We Three Kings of Orient Are the kings (like me) and Magi walked up to join the others at the creche.

We sang O Little Town of Bethlehem next and the remaining congregants joined us at the front of the church ( as townspeople). With everyone now joined / gathered around the baby. We sand Joy to the World.

It was an amazing service. It was the first time we had attended our church for this service and Becky and I both found it much more uplifting than a traditional pageant. It was so moving to all be together gathered around the baby sing the songs about the birth of Christ.