Our glimpse of Christmas in Germany...
Today was our party with the boys' art class. Our neighbor just so happens to be an artist/art teacher. She teaches a small homeschool group several Fridays a month for an hour and a half. The last half hour she invited the moms for a Christmas tea. The children made our namecards and set the table for us.
She and her husband were missionaries in Germany. Between her travels and her creativity, her home is full of beautiful and interesting things at every turn. We always find Toot off in a corner trying to figure out how to work one of her trinkets. He is more interested in her "stuff" than in her art lessons, I'm afraid.
Afterwards, our friend began a series of Christmas carols on the violin. Then the little ones volunteered to sing. Lydie was at the front of the pack. She loves the warmth of "all eyes on her". She basks in it like warm sunshine. She and her little friend Beau practiced "Away in a Manger". They will sing with the toddlers at church next week.
Later, we left for Alabama. After four years of hopes being crushed, this was our year to finally see the Nutcracker together! Jaybird read the book to his brother and sister in the car. Once we got into town, Lydie stayed behind with Daddy, but Nana joined us. I gifted the boys and Nana with their own miniature Nutcracker. I took ballet classes my entire childhood- from 3 until 18, so I was thrilled to have a night at the ballet! I still cry when I go, even to the Nutcracker! There were several special moments for the boys. My favorite was when "Uncle" Drosselmeyer entered the stage and they both exclaimed (a little too loudly), "Look! Here comes Uncle Drosselmeyer!!" 
And then during intermission, they allowed pretend snow to fall on the audience. The boys enjoyed both the snow, and their visit to the orchestra pit. From our weekly 20 minute music lessons, they could identify almost every instrument. Some of the musicians asked me about their "background". I laughed because neither have had any music lessons yet. Amazing what 20 minutes a week will produce! I need to remember that in other areas (like science, for one). I was very pleased to see that the boys followed the story line and seemed to really enjoy their night. On the way home we all decided we were hungry and stopped for a snack. The boys later finally got to bed- close to midnight. They were thrilled!
And then during intermission, they allowed pretend snow to fall on the audience. The boys enjoyed both the snow, and their visit to the orchestra pit. From our weekly 20 minute music lessons, they could identify almost every instrument. Some of the musicians asked me about their "background". I laughed because neither have had any music lessons yet. Amazing what 20 minutes a week will produce! I need to remember that in other areas (like science, for one). I was very pleased to see that the boys followed the story line and seemed to really enjoy their night. On the way home we all decided we were hungry and stopped for a snack. The boys later finally got to bed- close to midnight. They were thrilled!
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