Talk About Tuesday - New Nativity

When I was growing up, my mom had a Nativity that I really liked. All the pieces were made of felt and Styrofoam, so it was light and easy for me to handle (and Mom didn't care if I played with it). When she started getting the Christmas decorations out, she would set the Nativity pieces out on a low table covered in a white sheet...all except for the Baby Jesus. He would always be hidden away somewhere close by.

My mom sang in the church choir, so we usually went to the Midnight Mass because that's when the choir sang. At one point in the service, they would always turn off the lights and everyone in the church would have a lit candle. It was beautiful. Once the service was over, we would head home to get ready for bed. But since it was after midnight (and therefore Christmas Day), it would be my job to go get the Baby Jesus and put him in the manger.

Last year for Christmas, my mom gave me a box of fabric. Being that I don't sew AT ALL I was really confused. She explained that she was going to make me a Nativity just like hers, but she didn't have time to get it done. The fabric was what she was going to use to make it, so I needed to give it back to her. So I did, and then quickly forgot about it.

Last week, my mom shows up at my house with a box. I asked her what it was and she said it was my Christmas gift from last year. I had no idea what she was talking about so when I opened it, I was really surprised to see the Nativity she had made...and it looked exactly like the one I played with when I was growing up.

After she had gone, I found a low table and covered it with a blanket. I put it near the tree and set up all the pieces...except for the Baby Jesus. That'll be Jake & Emma's job come Christmas Eve.

Here's a picture of the complete set. That Baby Jesus is there purely for the picture. He is currently tucked away in a hiding spot, waiting for Jake and Emma to put him to bed on Christmas Eve. There are 3 Wise Men, 1 Shepherd (complete with white lamb tucked under his arm,) Mary, Joseph (and his pipe cleaner staff), and of course the manger and Jesus. The whole things weighs about a pound since it's all felt, Styrofoam, and pantyhose to cover the heads. The straw in the manger is just yarn glued to a piece of cardboard.

And here's a closeup of Baby Jesus!

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Talk about Tuesday

After months of talking about it, we have finally booked our next Adults Only vacation! And while it's not Hawaii, it ain't too shabby!

From May 18th - 25th, 2008, we will be sailing the ocean blue on our 3rd Royal Caribbean cruise. We are sailing out of Los Angeles for a 7 night cruise on the Mexican Riviera. We will be stopping in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.

Now, if I can just get through the next two weeks...then I'll be able to switch my focus to beaches. And water. And fruity drinks with umbrellas. And room service.

And of course, buffets!

Christmastime is here!

The tree is up (in a new location this year...I think we finally found a permanent home for it on the 3rd try)...

...complete with ornaments that Emma helped hang. It's hard to tell from this picture, but she felt the need to hang all of the ornaments we gave her on only 3 branches...

...and the stockings are hung...

...and the nativities are out...

O.K. Now it feels like Christmastime!!

See what everyone else has to say on Talk About Tuesday!

Children of Eden

Last Tuesday, I had mentioned that I was auditioning for a part in our church's yearly musical. For Dinner Theatre 2008, we are putting on Children of Eden.

Act 1 is a the story of Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel. Act 2 is about Noah and the flood.

I got cast as Eve. The songs are written for a soprano. I'm an alto. And I sing in 12 songs in Act 1 alone. In Act 2, I'll become a member of the chorus.

I'm freaking out a little bit because, well, I'm an alto and the songs are for a soprano. Did I just say that? If I did, it bears repeating. Because I'm an alto. Not a soprano. I'm just saying. Also, one of my best friends is playing Adam. And I have to kiss him.

And I'm not sure if you know the story of Adam and Eve, but they spend the first part of time in Eden...naked. We'll see how the costumers are going to pull that one off.

I'm anxious to get the music and script and get going with rehearsals. We'll start rehearsing in January and the show will be in March. But it'll be here before I know it.

Audition Time!

In my effort to find all things bad in my life, I totally forgot to mention that I had an audition on Sunday!

Every year, my church puts on a full scale musical (usually 30-40 people involved on stage alone) and this year we are doing Children of Eden. The auditions were on Sunday and again tonight and I should know sometime this week (hopefully) if I got a part.

I kind of fumbled the auditions because they changed the format at the last minute and I didn't realize it was changed. And then I left my audition music at home...which means I had to sight read a piece of music I had never seen before. Good fun!

I think I did O.K., but we'll see when the cast list comes out!

For more Talk About Tuesday, visit Lara at The Lazy Organizer!

Hair today, gone tomorrow!

I did it.

I finally did it.

I got my first haircut in over a year. And I got nearly 7 inches cut off. And I did it a week ago.

And I still don't have an "after" picture of myself yet.

I know, I know. How could I not have a picture?? That's like a cardinal sin in the blogging world! Well, in the past week, I haven't seen anybody who would be able to take my after picture! Dave has been super busy (his play opens on Friday) so he's been at rehearsals nonstop and I don't trust my 4 year old to take a decent picture of my locks.

But I couldn't wait anymore. I dutifully took my before pictures to get ready for today's post...but still no afters. (Sigh)

But I really did do it. I swear!

Jacob's bed

So Lara from The Lazy Organizer is at it again with a new Tuesday blog carnival called Talk About Tuesday. The guidelines say

Talk About Tuesday is a blog carnival where we all write a post of something we want to share or talk about and link them all together here on my blog. It's a great way to get to know other bloggers and make connections in the blogosphere.

And boy oh boy do I have something to share with you guys today!

How can it be possible that the boy who was only happy sleeping on my chest just a few moments ago is now sleeping in his own big boy bed. That's right. Jake graduated out of his toddler bed and is now in a twin bed. While I nearly started crying when he climbed under the covers for a nap, his reaction was "This is cool."

Another moment that I couldn't wait for has rushed by me before I was really ready.

Check out Talk About Tuesday at The Lazy Organier for some more sharing!