Kicking off Christmas

The first weekend in December was a busy one for us.  The Christmas season gets so full that it feels like a lot of events are as early as possible and to me, that is too early to feel even remotely festive!  At least we haven't really had anything since then.  We are going to a Christmas party Saturday night and the kids' choir sings on Christmas Eve.

So on the first weekend - we had 3 events in a row.  Friday night we were invited to a Costume Dance.  Technically not a Christmas event, but for some reason held at Christmastime.  Annalise and Natalie took a folk dance class at PEP and their teacher held the dance and called the dances.  It was a fun time - and EVERYONE came in costume!  I don't have pictures, but there is a short video linked below and if you watch closely, you can see all six of us at different parts.  Irene did not participate in the dance, but when we "strip the willow"  you see her follow the line down the room!

Costume Dance Video

Saturday, the kids' choir sang at the church's Christmas concert - the Christmas eve concert is also at the church and on that concert they will wear "Christmas clothes" (left to parental interpretation) and I, having cobbled together six costumes and made mini quiches the day before, plus the distraction of a very sick dog, got the two events mixed up and we came in "Christmas clothes" when we needed to be wearing Choir Uniforms.  So we quickly went home and changed.

Did I mention that it rained NINE inches that weekend?

Rob tried to take a picture of the kids in the glow of the Christmas tree...

Ahem...

So Sunday, the ladies of the church held a Cookie Party - where we all brought cookies to eat and some to put in boxes for people who are home-bound.   They also sang Christmas Carols and the kids - completely impromptu - volunteered to sing too:

Meredith - you are going to love this:  Those two Christmas trees...are POP UPS!

One of the older, but not too elderly, ladies played duck duck goose with the kids!  I thought she was awfully brave!!

We got to bring home a cookie assortment too:

I'd like to say that all this really got me into the Christmas spirit, but the thought of maintaining that for a whole month was just too much!  I am saving up for next week!