Category: Christmas

Grade-School Drama

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…of the cutest kind.

The primary grades at Little Brother’s school put on their Christmas play tonight. It’s always a “play within a play” in which something happens that might prevent the Christmas pageant.

This year Little Brother played the Grinch/Scrooge character–actually a politician more concerned with getting votes than with the Christmas story. He wore a suit–and a “red power tie.” And a top hat. My big kids said he was “totally a boss.” He had some great one-liners in his part and nailed the comic timing.

The rest of the play was enjoyable because it was a primary-school Christmas play. That means it came complete with:
–can-can dancers that danced in opposite directions and sometimes kicked each other
–battery-operated candles, some of which did not light
–two kids on the top riser that nearly came to blows
–dueling verses of the same Christmas carol (kids were apparently confused about whether to sing verse 2 or verse 3. Both were going at once.)
–hippies, and a “rich couple” named Thurston and Lovey. The kids didn’t get that joke.
–two kids who spoke in a strange accent (but who don’t in real life.)
–lots of adorable off-key singing
–and a light-up star.

The first, second, and third graders did a great job. The play was lots of fun to watch–and the prelude by the pre-K and kindergarten was nothing short of adorable. Little kids + carols + reindeer headgear = completely cute.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

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Every year that weather permits, our Secular Franciscan Fraternity hosts a “Live Nativity at Greccio” celebration.

Last time we had it, it was in a new place, indoors, without live animals, but we had 117 people to enjoy the Live Nativity. This year, it’s going to be even more different.

It will no longer simply be a Live Nativity, but will be incorporated into our parish’s “Catholics Come Home” Christmas Carol Festival. That means that it’s going to turn into a Battle of the Bands of sorts, with all 3 parish ensembles (Religious Education Kids’ Choir, Adult Choir, and Folk Group) all participating.

A few diehard Greccio participants have bowed out this year–the changes are just too much for them. I kind of want to join them, but I’m bound to hang in there with both the Folk Group and the Secular Franciscans. And I do have to say that I’m relieved for us Seculars, because the membership in general is getting up in age and it’s hard for many of them do to much to help with the event. I was getting pretty tired of handling most if it myself. This year, my role is much more limited, and those SFOs who are physically able will bring cookies and help hand out (and collect) costumes.

Tonight I have to go over to the church to represent the Folk Group as we do a walk-through of the whole event to figure out how long it will take. I know it’s going to be a bittersweet time. I’m going to have to compromise, as if I haven’t done enough of that already with this event and this parish merger.

And in the end I’m going to have to hope that this event touches the hearts of those attending and those participating. After all, “that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Saturday Miscellaneous–with a bunch of Christmas thrown in

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  • I’m thankful that my kids “get” that it’s too early for Christmas decorations–and even Christmas music.  Yesterday I had Middle Sister in the car when I stopped at church to hang an announcement on the bulletin board.  She saw the “Giving Tree” in the church lobby.  “It’s too early for Christmas trees,” she told me.  Sure, I know you have to plan ahead with those Giving Trees, but it just doesn’t feel right.  Our tree will go up, as usual, on Pink Candle Sunday.
  • It’s not too early, however, to enjoy a Christmas present from Big Brother, who bought tickets for me and TheDad for today’s TransSiberian Orchestra concert.  TheDad bought 3 more tickets so the whole family can go together.  We’ll all make a collective exception to the “no Christmas music before Advent” rule and enjoy the amazingly talented TSO.
  • Sarah has Seven Advent Tips that are very good.  Listed among them:  wait to decorate!  Count me in as one who decorates gradually, throughout the season.  It works well for me and it brings Christmas gradually into the house instead of one big BANG on Black Friday.  Basically, here’s how it goes:  First Sunday of Advent I bring out the Advent wreath, Christmas storybooks and the empty manger scene.  Nothing else.  Second Sunday of Advent I hang a few pine garlands around the house and put up some other decorations.  Pink Candle Sunday is Christmas-tree day.  Fourth Sunday of Advent, anything else–and animals (only) in the manger.  Christmas Eve:  Holy Family in the manger.  Christmas Day:  shepherds in the manger.  Epiphany:  Wise men in the manger.
  • Speaking of Christmas Storybooks, this may be the first year I don’t bring those out.  They’re all picture books and no one in this house is still reading those.  I guess it’s time to put them in a nice safe container and save them for when we have grandchildren.  And unlike Denise, I’m not ready for that to happen anytime soon.
  • I’ve really got to get down to business and figure out the timing for the Thanksgiving Morning Cook-a-Thon.  I’ve done all of the “nonperishable” shopping and secured a promise from TheDad that he will get the kids off to school on Monday or Tuesday morning so I can go to ShopRite the second they open (7 AM) and avoid all the Amateur Shoppers who are in search of unusual Thanksgiving ingredients, but who have no clue how to even find the canned gravy and Red Delicious apples.  I’m banking on the hope that most of the Amateurs don’t wake up that early.
  • Too Good Not To Share:  Heidi’s prayer for the Adventure Boys in her neighborhood.  Pray this one for Adventure Boys everywhere:  Heavenly Father, watch over all the children in my community whose parents aren’t there to influence their daily choices and habits. Give these children wisdom beyond their years, to protect their hearts from the evil one and his schemes. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Merry Christmas!

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Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

We had a lovely day. A little sleep-deprived, but lovely. Little Brother woke up at 2 and saw that Santa had been here. It took some doing to talk him out of opening his gifts right then.

We attended early Mass because it was for my father-in-law. But the later Mass was the one that the folk group was going to play. Big Brother offered to attend two Masses if I would, so we both went back for “round two.” The doubleheader was definitely worth it. It was wonderful to sing all the Christmas carols with the other musicians in the folk group, and a couple of other friends who joined us for the day. Afterwards, Father H. (the parochial vicar) told us that the music was wonderful and that it had filled the church. So we did what we were there to do. I love Christmas carols!

Tomorrow I will drink my coffee in the “My mom is great” coffee mug that Little Brother got me at Santa’s Secret Shop. Then we’ll head up to my parents’ house for “Christmas: The Day After.” But now, I’m off to sleep. Hopefully it’ll be a calmer night tonight!

Deflatables

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I like driving around town looking at people’s displays of outdoor Christmas decorations. There are lots of pretty lights, fresh green wreaths with red bows, vintage sleds, stars and more. There are reindeer on the lawn, or the occasional wooden cutout Nativity scene.

Of course, some houses have all of the above.

And then there are the inflatable decorations. There’s a house that I pass on the way to Big Brother’s school that has no fewer than eight inflatables: Frosty, Santa, a huge snow globe, and others that I can’t remember just now. Problem is, most people don’t inflate their decorations until it gets dark, so all day long people drive by and see Frosty doing a face-plant on someone’s lawn.

That’s not a pretty sight.

The only inflatable I was ever tempted to consider displaying was a Snoopy-as-World-War-I-Flying-Ace, complete with doghouse. Now that was cool.

The saddest thing, though, was what I saw today. The house had an inflatable Nativity scene–but it wasn’t turned on. So the Holy Family lay flat and crumpled on the dead winter grass.

Jesus and the Griswolds

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I was thinking earlier that Jesus didn’t come so we could have a “Griswold Family Christmas” with the perfect tree, perfect family reunion, perfect meal. Of course, the Griswolds didn’t get that either, but Clark just kept on dreaming that they would.

So even though there are parts of that movie that are a little “mature” for my first-grader, I think the Griswolds’ story really does show what Christmas is all about–and what it can do to you.

In his quest for an over-the-top decorated house (indoors and out), a fabulous “cut your own tree” experience complete with carols all the way, and a terrific family dinner, Clark is trying, in his own way, to create something special for his family. He knows that Christmas is something special and he wants his family to know that too.

After all, Baby Jesus wasn’t born in a nice clean hospital with all the amenities. He came into the world in the humblest of circumstances, to parents who were basically homeless and probably social outcasts due to Mary’s pregnancy. He was laid in an animal’s feeding trough. That’s not the kind of cozy bed most moms envision for their children.

Similarly, Clark’s well-planned Griswold Family Christmas goes all awry due to snobby neighbors, crazy (and senile) relatives, technical difficulties with lights, extension cords, and squirrels in the tree, a discarded cigar and a misguided boss. But in the end he learns that what matters is that the whole family is together–mess or no mess. And that’s what’s important.

Baby Jesus didn’t come to bring us perfection here on earth. He came as an expression of the love the Father has for all of us. And he came to lead us to something better.

Merry Christmas!

Very Merry!

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The tree is up–and re-lit. Yes, re-lit. I learned the hard way that when you put 1500 lights on your Christmas tree, one extension cord is not going to cut it.

This time I’ve got multiple cords and all are plugged into a surge protector. I think Bill would be proud.

The gifts are wrapped, but the ones belonging to people who live here are not tagged. I did that on purpose, since some people here should answer by the name of “Snoopy.” (You know who you are.) I have employed a secret code for the packages for easy tagging later.

Santa’s plate of cookies is wrapped and already on the table, since we do not want to neglect the Big Guy in Red!

Today all the figures will go into our empty manger.

I’m as ready as I’m going to be. Early this morning was the last quiet time I’ll get until Saturday.

Come, Lord Jesus!

And Merry Christmas to all my blog buddies, near and far!

117 People

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This afternoon our Secular Franciscan Fraternity once again hosted our Living Nativity at Greccio celebration.

It was a little different this year. Actually, it was very different this year. First of all, we had it in a new location, as our parish merged with another parish and has leased the property where we used to hold this event.

Second, we held the celebration indoors because of the morning’s very nasty weather: ice and freezing rain and then damp cold.

Third, we had to cancel the animals as we could not have a pony, a llama, two sheep and two goats in our parish gym.

BUT we found a four-year-old boy who was there with his grandparents and willing to put on a fleecy costume and walk along with the shepherds–even if he did have to exit the scene before it was over so he could take a potty break.

This year, “Baby Jesus” was a very happy little one, so Middle Sister (as Angel Gabriel) and “Mary” didn’t have to go looking for the Holy Binky as in years past.

We had a nice big choir and the audience actually sang along. And there were tons of little angels and shepherds.

I did have to zip home to pick up a forgotten costume part, but made it back in plenty of time.

Our indoor Greccio was better than I expected–especially since I didn’t have to freeze my fingertips off while playing my guitar.

7 Random Christmas Things

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Ellen tagged me for a “7 Random Christmas Things” meme.

I may have mentioned some of these before, so I’ll link to that if I have.

1. I just learned this week (because my cousins are on facebook) that my parents’ tradition of “Santa decorates the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve” was actually my father’s family tradition, so it happened in all my cousins’ households as well.

2. We only bake one kind of Christmas cookie here, and it’s still too early to do those. If we bake them now, there’ll be none left for Santa!

3. Other than the Nativity Scene, my favorite Christmas decoration is the set of “doily on a toilet paper tube” angels that my older children made in pre-K.

4. I love Christmas carols (not “winter carols” like “Sleigh Ride”) but my all-time favorite has to be “O Holy Night,” followed by “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

5. TheDad likes to taunt me by “hiding” my unwrapped Christmas gift practically in plain sight. For some reason I never notice it, which mystifies everyone (including me). Of course, he’s a last-minute shopper, so he never has to hide it for too long.

6. Childhood Christmas present that I still have and still use: a couple of pairs of mittens knitted by Granma. She had 15 grandchildren and I don’t know how many step-grands, and every last one of them got a new pair of mittens every Christmas.

7. I’m all done shopping AND wrapping! Woohoo!

I know it’s a busy time so I won’t tag anyone, but if you want to play, just say so in the combox!

Merry Christmas!

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The presents are unwrapped. Tiny pieces of Little Brother’s Christmas treasures are strewed everywhere. Everyone is enjoying their presents and a delicious breakfast (if you haven’t tried Denise’s cinnamon roll recipe, get things set up so you can have it tomorrow! So good, and so easy. And the freezer thing really works!)

We’ll be attending noon Mass and then having our big dinner.

Have a blessed Christmas!