The Christmas Pageant

The girls' school did Christmas pageants this year for the first time and all but the infant classes participated. We had such a fun time seeing them perform and it was truly cute overload! For all you teachers out there that work programs like this into your days (and nights) on top of lesson plans, corralling kids, and everything else you do; THANK YOU; these memories are the best!

Charlotte's teachers provided the song lyrics in advance so that we could practice with the kids at home, and we had a lot of fun singing and dancing along as a family! Her teachers told me that she did great during all of their rehearsals, but I wasn't sure how she'd do on the day of the performance given that she's fairly shy and a big Mama's girl. It was jam-packed in the gym when we arrived, but we were able to snag a seat fairly close  to the "stage," but apparently not close enough for Charlotte to see us (or maybe she couldn't see much of anything through her sunglasses, ha). She was cool as a cucumber during the performance, but didn't appear to love or hate it, just took it in stride and wore her sunglasses like she owned the place. I'll take it over throwing a fit a crying and there's always next year!

We were welcomed back to her classroom afterwards for cookies, lemonade and a visit with Santa, but she wanted nothing to do with the jolly old man and neither did her sister who had joined us for Charlotte's performance. We took Anna back to her classroom to prepare for her performance and went back to the gym to grab a front row seat. While we waited, someone found her groove and we had to pull her kicking and screaming off the stage when the older kids entered. Such is life!

Anna and her class did wonderfully and what a difference two years makes! Her teachers also told me she was a star during practice and rehearsals, but she never showed us much when we asked to practice at home. I was SO happy when she was one of the few children interacting during each song, and I couldn't get over how cute they all looked with their antlers and red noses!

Singing and using sign language to "Silent Night"

"We wish you a Merry Christmas" with the added verses of:
Now lets do a clapping (... jumping ... waving ...) to spread Christmas cheer!

It's confirmed that our girls are NOT fans of characters and we also skipped (literally ran from) the opportunity to visit with Santa in Anna's room, but enjoyed cookies and lemonade. I can't wait to see what the kids come up with for next year!