i’m not sure what these wooden pieces would be used for, but we received a big bag of them.  i added a little face and a loop of yarn.

when wrapped in strips of swaddling clothes (toilet paper strips) and a bit of glue to hold it in place, i think they make pretty sweet baby jesus’.

perfect for our rendition of “away in a manger” while practicing our mama and daddy and aunt and uncle skills.

happy fourth sunday of advent, all!

last week was pajama week!  no letter of the week, just a week for celebrating christmas.  we ended each day with a pajama party with families invited to come watch our songs and stories and games.  with cleaning and moving chairs (and walking on them once they were all lined up), coffee and cookies (thanks to the new creation church community), enjoying three lit advent candles (on our toilet paper roll advent wreath), finding a present from the teachers (modge podge and hot glue ornaments with milk lids, photos, buttons and beads), we had a fun time!

what i think makes it work to do this kind of gig five times in a week is that we don’t “perform” during our “programs.”  there isn’t practicing, simply directions on the spot of where to stand, what to do with the things in hand, which song is next, and mostly a lot of “follow me!”  statements.

we ended each day with the same song, “we wish you a merry christmas.”

but do you know the funny verse?

we fish you a hairy chris-moose

we fish you a hairy chris-moose

we fish you a hairy chris-moose

and a hippo new deer!

we do indeed wish you a merry christmas time.

oh, what a delightful conversation this was:  “things we know about kings.”

next up was making king crowns.  oh, the drama of being called “king” when you are a girl:  since girls and women aren’t called “king” when they are the leader, they are called “queen.”  therefore, when a girl or woman is dressing up as a king, she is dressing up as a boy or man.  ah, the details of life…

then the grand finale of having mr. rob be the king (also known as “boss”).

yes, you can hear me giggling in the background.  good times.

again, with the thrifted wooden pieces, we made candlestick holders for our paper, masking tape and fabric flamed candles.

:: :: :: :: ::

i remember reading once how many children do not know the old nursery rhymes. frankly, there are some that i am fine with them not knowing (with the whipping and not feeding and all). but especially in our days at the retirement community, it was a sacred moment to see eyes light up when the old and young knew the same poems. in honor of j week and our candlesticks, we learned about jack jumping over the candlesticks. then we did too.

(insert child’s name) be nimble!
(insert child’s name) be quick!
(insert child’s name) jump over the candlestick!

quick and nimble, indeed!

we loved this moment of spontaneous show and tell:

and i loved the strength this girl showed!