The Shephard that was a donkey

Oh, how I love school Christmas programs. So sweet, so fresh. You just never know what you're gonna get. For instance, last year we told Gabe, "Say your lines loud & sing out so that mommy & daddy can hear you!" Little did we know that this would be interpreted, shout as loud as I can in one tone. Needless to say it was a hoot and made for a very memorable Christmas program.


Okay admit it...of course every parents pride would swell a wee bit if your child were to come home & say,"I'm going to be Joseph in the play" (or Mary if it were your daughter). Of course, these are important roles in the Christmas story right? Also holding merit are the wise men, then shephards. And falling down the list are the oxen, sheep, then....the donkey.


Gabe came home & told me he was the donkey.


Of course I was proud of him & told him he would make a precious donkey & how lucky he was this year to not have to memorize any lines!


I tried not to say this in a reassuring voice, because I didn't want him to know the secret order of importance in the nativity!....apparently I failed.


This morning he woke up and decided to be grumpy when his feet hit the floor.

"I don't want to be in the play" he said with a whine.
He chalked it up to being nervous in front of "all those people".
Of course I reassured him as any parent would and we went on to school dressed in gray sweatpants...aka...donkey attire.


Approximately 1 hour later, Christian received the phone call at home to please come to school, with khaki pants!?

Apparently Gabe threw an all-out 3-year-old-style fit, protesting to NOT be the donkey...blaming it on the fact that the Donkey top...aka...hooded grey sweatshirt with ears, was 3 sizes too big. (true)


Much to his luck, one of the shephards was out due to an unfortunate bout of Strep-throat, leaving an opportunity open for Gabe to indeed move up the ladder of Nativity status. This pleased Gabe immensely and he dropped the stage fright talk like a hot potato. He was indeed a great shephard. (Even if he did once pretend his crook was a rifle, taking aim at some unfortunate grandparent in the audience).



Sometimes things do work out, if even to another's disadvantage.


.....I hope we do not get strep-throat.....!


Moving right along....

This year was Ansley's first Christmas program. She was an angel. Excuse me, the best Angel! and sang all her lines beautifully. Even her rendition of Joy to the World. This is the song that her teachers said to please practice. Apparently it's a toughie for 3 year olds. Well, if you know Ansley at all, when she thinks she's right...she's right! There isn't much changing her mind on what the words really are. So I made sure to zoom in on the video so we could read her lips at all her made up words. Oh she sang out alright. Just some of the words are random. Like, "let every part, repair the broom. In heaven & nature sing"...etc....

Or my favorite..."jack solanson". This is her interpretation for "deck the halls with".



I'll say it again...I LOVE YOU ANSLEY...thanks for keeping us entertained!


Can't wait till next year's Christmas program.

Oh, I have to add this! My friend Ginger just called to give me a brief synopsis of her child's preschool Christmas program tonight......Her little boy cried so hard not wanting to be in the play that he vomited on his angel costume just before it started and was sent out to sit with his parents instead! Mom was not happy....

I'm tellin' you, you've gotta love preschool Christmas programs!