I have SO enjoyed today!!! Last year, Dekker was rocking the flu around this time (as was everyone else) and ultimately ended up missing his Christmas concert altogether. Yes, yes, I know there will be many more ahead of us, but it was pretty disappointing for me. He didn’t care too much at the time, but he’s been getting more and more excited about this years’ Christmas concert as the date has crept up. Meanwhile, I’ve been praying hard against sickness, and I am SO thankful that everyone was well enough to make it to both Dekker’s concert, and Laela’s preschool concert this morning.
I don’t have many great pictures on hand, and the few I do include other’s kids faces of what I have no ownership. So, sadly, no pictures for this one 🙁 But, try to picture it along with me.
Laela’s Christmas concert was terribly cute. There was a LARGE group of children, the three year old class and both four year old classes. They rang their bells and sang and did actions along to a few different songs, and Laela actually participated! It was a bit of a bummer at first, because she was tucked so tightly behind a couple of kids, and it was really hard to see her with our eyes, much less cameras! A loving mom helping out moved her to a more visible location after a song or two, which I really appreciated. I could FINALLY stand up in my back bench and take a video. Apparently, this was the moment Solly chose to make his escape. I didn’t even notice because he had been so calm and quiet and charming up to that point. I took a video while Laela stood still as a statue and smile at Brady, who was also taking a video of her, which she clearly thought he was taking a picture. I recorded the group for about 30 seconds before a friend got my attention and said “I think your son is up there.” Shoot!! Solly had stealthily crept his way up there and was hunting for Laela. He made it onto the stage before I caught him and hauled him back to our spot. He had a little cry but was consoled by watching from my arms.
When the program was over, Laela’s teacher gave each kid a gift, and we headed to the gym for treats. There were two tables full of fruits, veggies, crackers, and sweets. We loaded up two tiny dessert plates for the family to share, and commandeered a table. My parents joined us for the whole thing, and we had a really sweet time as a group. Laela was feeling very proud, and the whole place was just bustling. The snacks were good and the energy was high. But eventually, it was time to head out, and after I held up the show with visiting for longer than I should have (as usual) we made it home.
We napped Solly right away because our window was small, and Laela and Rowan had a bit more lunch. About an hour after getting home, we woke Solly and reloaded everyone into the van. We headed off to Dekker’s school and met my parents there, once again, for Dekker’s concert!
Dekker’s was more in depth, with the whole play, and each class singing a special song or two. Unlike their school assembly last year, Dekker sang and did actions and participated well! He did not like when the spotlights spanned back and forth across the group and hit him. It seemed to really bother him, actually. But by the end if it, he was a bit more used to it. He really liked singing “Marys Boy Child” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” I just LOVE that his school still points to the birth of Jesus as the reason for the season!! That is so rare in schools, and while his school is technically not a Christian school, it does not shy away from the message of Jesus! Amazing job!!
Dekker was pretty thrilled to have such a big group of us there to see him, and we were happy to have made it there too 🙂 Can’t speak for Solly, though. The little boys are just BEAT, but it was completely worth it! There is ONE MORE concert to attend tonight, and thats a second showing of Dekker’s. People aren’t technically supposed to attend both, for the sake of seating, which makes perfect sense! However, either Brady or I will go on our own, just to be there watching him, and taking him to and from, mostly. We won’t even steal a chair, I promise!
Whew! Its been SUCH a cute day! Only one more day of school before the kids are off for TWO WEEKS and we can be alarm-free!! I’m so looking forward to it!