Christmas Programs

Both of the boys had their Christmas programs last week at school. Eric's was on Wednesday. His 5-year-old class along with the 4-year-old class put on the nativity scene. Eric was chosen to be one of the three wise men. In rehearsals (including the one the morning of the program), Eric did great. He walked up the aisle, waited for his turn to take his present to Baby Jesus, etc. Participated in some of the singing. His teachers, therapists and the director were thoroughly impressed.

I went to the show Wednesday afternoon. He looked so cute all dressed up like a king. He walked past me down the aisle, saw me standing on the end of the pew filming him, stopped, turned around, said "hi mommy" and waved and then...came to sit with me. No singing, no present delivery, nothing! Poor Jesus only got two presents. Hopefully Eric wasn't carrying the gold. I mean, no one knows what frankincense and myrrh are anyway!

It was super funny (and cute--Eric independently said "hi mommy!), but once we left the church he seemed very upset that he didn't do his part. He kept asking for the "purple present" (the one he was supposed to take to the manger). When I showed it to him, he just kept saying purple present and looking back toward the church.

Lesson--Hide from kids at school programs.

Evan's recital was on Thursday afternoon. Again, his teachers, therapists and the director said he was doing awesome during all of the rehearsals. He sang along, did the song movements, shook jingle bells, wore angel wings and a halo (ahh, the irony in that one!). I learned my lesson from the day with Eric so I hid. I sat on the floor, behind a pew and waited for him to proceed down the aisle with his classmates. Then I crept into my seat and started filming. His first three songs, he did great. He was singing, doing the movements, etc. Then, he saw me. He sat through the next song completely mad at the world. When the song was over, he graciously clapped and then got up to come down to see me. When the teacher told him that it wasn't over yet and that he needed to sit back in his chair...the waterworks began. He cried through the next song and then I signaled for his teachers just to let him come and sit with me. No sense in ruining everyone else's videos with my kid screaming.

Lesson --Simply forgo the kids recitals and send someone in my place who can just videotape the entire thing for me.

I do have video of both of the boys, but it is on the actual video camera and I don't know how to transfer that to the computer. I don't really have any photos from the events because I was so busy trying to film them!