Christmas Parade 2008

We had a blast! It was darn right cold, but fun. I realize that my children are very early sleepers, and that made for a cranky Mary about and hour into all this. But all in all it was fun.

At 3:45pm yesterday I got an email from Miss Jeanna that said our Mary has the Chicken Pox (please pray for Elizabeth) and we are in need of a Mary :) Good thing I have a little girl who is all Mama :)



She was getting ready - that is the baby we used for Jesus. It is a huge baby doll and super heavy, she doesn't normally carry it any where because of it's weight. hahahahaha!!!!

That was all wonderful but Nana had just made a beautiful Angel costume for Melodey to wear :) Ok well, Tylor informed me (how could I have not thought of this) that Gabriell was an angel but he was also a boy. So....



Tylor became the angel who got to tell Mary about baby Jesus :) He was more then thrilled.

Melodey told him "Oh thank you Ty for telling me about my baby Jesus!" and she gave him a little squeeze :)



So here they are, Gabriell, Mary (which I threw together in about 30 minutes), and Baby Jesus :)



It was darn right cold last night at a whopping 33 degrees. The children all had long unders on, their homeschool Tee shirts (which no one saw), sweatshirts, coats, hats, gloves and 2 pairs of socks. Not to mention that we all shared blankets in the float. It was cold - with the wind it may have been in the twenties!



So here they are all on the float getting judged :) 2nd Place!!!!!!



Good Job Kiddos!!!!


This was when they were still getting judged at 6pm last night



Alex and Jacob were worshipers :) They did a great job :)



They did really well. We waited for the parade for well over an hour. I had them singing songs and playing games (the Sunday School teacher in me came right out) I love children :)



By about 7, Mel was done!



My sweet baby was cold and tired and done just sitting there... and I was running out of songs that 6 and 7 year old boys like :)



We did get our wiggles out a few times, which the children love doing



Here is a shot of Mary and Joseph - They we both so good, and cold and neither of the head dresses were working! Such good children



Here is the Rouge gang!



Oh my sweet girl was so sleepy, she nodded off several times



Shelby came and so we had more laps for little ones to climb onto and get warm with :)



I even got traded for Shelby for a short time



By the time the parade started though, they children got into it saying Merry Christmas to everyone and waving. Tylor even yelled out Happy Birthday Jesus!!!



I loved it and now my mind is already thinking about next years float... I am a planner that is for sure :)

Decorating the Float/ playing in the Leaves

Miss Melodey is practicing being on the float :)



It was super cold yesterday, but the children still loved playing outdoors all afternoon :)



Above is Tylor and below is Alex



Melodey was cold and shy to start out with... but she quickly warmed up and played and had a blast.



Here is the giant Bible we are using for the Nativity scene in the float. This year we are doing a Storybook Christmas, so we are telling the true story of Christmas.



Melodey decided that throwing the leaves was great fun.



Alex was so cold - I think I need to go purchase some gloves for the children this year :)



The inside of the Bible for the float



Here are most of the little ones and two early teenage girls, the rest of the teens weren't there and we are missing a set of twin little girls :)



Getting the light hung



The manger for our sweet baby Jesus



Miss Jeanna taking a picture of me, while I take a picture of Miss Jeanna :)



Melodey decided that all that throwing of the leaves made a huge mess and while the other children went indoors for hot cocoa she raked then went inside for her snack :)



The boys had a great time of playing in the leaves :) Alex is the one in the middle of the leaves in the red coat.



Untangling the lights....



Taping on the lights....



Hanging the gold garland....



Tylor waiting for the two 13 year old girls to come out and play :)



The inside of the Bible and the Star



Miss Tamarah fixing the stapler



I think Alex let the little girls tag him :)



My sweet girl



Jumping in the leaves



Look how pretty it is all lit up :)



Our sign :) I tied the bows all on my own :)

The International Children's Festival

We had a great time as our first field trip of the year :) We went to the International Children's Festival in Tulsa. The children got passports that were stamped at each booth, while they did special crafts or games at the booths. We had a great time!





Here the children are making Red Cross Flags


Watching a Russian Puppet show




The only picture of me :) I was helping them get their passports stamped. The children are so polite that they kept letting all the public school kids push their way to the front :)


Deciding where to go


Taking a little rest :)










Sporting the wooden shoes :)




















they put their prayers inside a box at the wailing wall :) Ty wrote that he loved Jesus and can't wait to meet Him :) So sweet














They had tons of fun!