Preschool... All for Love

It was about the angels practicing in preparation for Jesus' birth. It was about a starry night and their coming to see the shepherds on a hillside. It was about songs and glitter and shiny halos.

But, as the title shared, it was really all about love. That was the reason Jesus came.

And, merry Christmas, there was a lot to love on the cold Tuesday evening when Hope performed in her very first little program.

Starting with our lamb who tried her best to form those perfect singing o's with her mouth just like her music teacher taught her to do. We got the best seats almost right in front of her. So close, in fact, that at one point when she noticed her daddy singing along she mouthed to him, "You're not supposed to be singing, Dad!!!"

Besides for correcting us, there were the cutest smiles and waves and blowing of kisses. We were so proud that she stood in front of all her angel friends and did so beautifully!


Maddie knew that her job was to "cheer weally loud for Hopey!" and she, too, was a show stopper on that one. When she tried, for real, to be an actual show stopper... mostly wanting to run or roll down the aisle and kiss the baby a few rows in front of us... we may have bribed a bit with our favorite candy sticks from TJ's. Yep, not above that especially because-- you know-- it worked.

Alysse helped us film, and it's funny. Even before I was a mom I had a feeling I'd be one of "those moms" who loves to take pictures and film and cry at the milestones. What I didn't exactly count on was marrying a man who can be quite the memory police himself. I started out filming, but apparently he was certain I didn't have a good angle and was missing zooming in on Hope, so I lost my privilege pretty quickly. Don't ask about the little boy who had the audacity to stand up and do his part, thereby blocking the view of his girl. Trust me, don't even ask. :)

We stopped for soup in warm bread bowls on the way home, and I couldn't help but smile at us. Hope recounting the play and reading too loud from a new book. Maddie enamored with the journey to and from the trash can to throw away every scrap and crumb she could find. Alysse finally getting to nurse and coming up all smiles and giggles at the rest of us. And Joe trying valiantly to tell me a story about two dozen times.

I never did hear the ending, but...

Love.

Hope finished her preschool week with a "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" party and I was thrilled because Maddie felt so included. She even got to hold the coveted babe on a rubber maid container/manger. As she told us, "I just love hims, dat baby Jesus!"

I will never forget Hope's first "official" teachers, Ms. Dawn and Ms. Samia, who genuinely love on this big girl of ours. That's why we had to make them a little something special.

(We've had to be more creative than ever with our gifts this year... this was less than $5 including a photo card of Hope with her teachers!)

That's why Hope will show anyone who comes to visit her special ornament for 2010... a little red school house that proudly hangs right in the center of the tree at three year-old level.

I hope she always loves to learn and that the rest of our crew follow in those footsteps too!

~Katrina