The littlest sheep

So, I have just one child, and he's my ticket to all the fun of having a kid at Christmas. So I made the perhaps ill-advised decision to sign him up for the Christmas pageant as "little sheep" (as opposed to the big one with horns, below).


He was, by far, the youngest child in the pageant, requiring me to spot him as he trooped up to the stable with the rambunctious horde of sheep. The pageant director just smiled welcomingly and recommended that I don a sheep helmet too, so I would fit in.

So I did.

(Side note: that little boy in the red vest was the Rogue Sheep of Everlasting Cuteness. Yes, he had a sheep helmet too. Yes, he took it off before reaching the stable. When the pageant director suggested we open with prayer and invite God into this place, he said loudly, "Yeah, where's God??!!" as if God had let him down by not showing up. He continued to ask this throughout the prayer. I thought it was both relevant and profound)



Note the lion and leopard. Their job was to lie down with the lambs. I understand they just stood there, though.

Singing "The Friendly Beasts"


This is me, sheep sitting. Had to give the ones to my left a talking-to at one point as they were singing the ABCs loudly during carols (they were old enough to know better).

Isaiah even showed up!

I'd like to think he's pondering it and treasuring it up in his heart. More likely, he's just enjoying the taste of his first gingerbread.

Thank you for your hospitality, everyone, even to a very very little sheep.

Advent Panoply

Well, what with my being a grad school widow these past couple of weeks I've hardly seen the computer! So this is my account for lack of updates.

I suppose I could make two cute entries on different themes, to break it up and make it easier on the reader... but I won't. Takes too long :-)

On the first Sunday of Advent, we arrived to Church to find the usual Sunday school was replaced by Craft Time and Coffee. Everyone was making advent wreaths! Some wonderful people had brought sprigs from lots of different kinds of tree- spruce, holly, wild berries, etc- and we all got to make our own! I was thrilled. Here's ours, gimpy candle and all:

Once December hit, so did the snow. We had about eight straight days of gentle, light snow. Not enough to be an inconvenience; just enough to feed our souls.

Miles CANNOT get enough.

The babysitter has learned the best way to cheer him up is to get bundled up and venture out in the snow. That's my boy!

We love living here... have we said that?

I love photographing my church. I can't stop.

It's a law, all Episcopal churches must have red doors.

St. Francis blesses the snow.

Home.

They're ready. Bring on more snow!

Just last week, we got our midget tree.

We enjoy the lights being covered with snow.

Look at me, with a real chimney to oblige Santa for the first time in my life!

Miles ordered my to take this. He handed me the camera and said his generic command, "Da-da!" and sat down and smiled. Little ham.

He now knows the words "picture" and "smile." Here's what he did when I suggested we take another picture in front of the tree.


Finally, for those who made it this far, 1.5 minutes of Miles being far too silly. Watch at your peril... He starts with imitating "head & shoulders, knees and toes" and continues to a jog to his room and back, then degenerates into silliness spirals on the carpet.

Happy Advent! Welcome, Baby Jesus!