choir ninja n' sweet shepherd

Sunday evening, both my boys performed their Christmas programs at church! Maddox was in the little kids program which is Pre-School and Kindergarteners. Maddox didn't want to try out for a part this year so he was in the kids choir! Don't you love his outfit!? He's so cute!! I was honestly kind of afraid Maddox would refuse to put on his choir cape, tinsel crown and big red bow...but luckily Maddox told me he pretends his choir uniform is a "ninja outfit" because according to him "ninja's wear all white AND wear bands around their heads!" Ha!! I'm glad that's how he looked at it!! That could've gone VERY differently...

Maddox did SO well in his program!! He sang loud, he did all the group speaking parts VERY loud and he stood still for a majority of the program!! There were a few really funny (and very cute) moments when Maddox kept waving at us across the sanctuary, he plugged his ears when the wise men said their lines and I'm pretty sure towards the end of the program Maddox had to go to the bathroom!! The entire program was so sweet, so hilarious and so memorable all at the same time!!

After the kids sang their final song, their program director, Teacher Jan, said a few words. Teacher Jan has been leading this program for almost 30 years!! She is now teaching the kids of kids she taught 20+ years ago!! Talk about dedication!! She will have a huge (and blinged out!) crown in heaven!! Teacher Jan has such a tender heart and she truly loves working with children. We are so thankful for her.

After the little kids program it was the big kids turn!! Ashtyn was in this program this year. It's for 1st thru 5th graders and they all work very hard for months to put their program together!! We were sitting so far away that it was really hard for me to take good pictures so I took video of every single song Ash sang with the choir. Ashtyn did such a great job! In years past, he has been known to bust out the air guitar during the program but this year he just got distracted a couple of times and would turn around to see the kids in the choir behind him or would lean out of his front row spot to see what acting was going on across the stage. He just wants to take it all in!! Sorry for some of the shaky video...at times, I was either laughing or talking with Elia and Grayson who were both in the row next to me. We were having way too much fun!!

Can you tell we're proud!?!? Ha!! (I know, I know...it's alot of videos but you don't have to watch them all. I wanted to make sure I put them all up, though, because my parents live so far away and so couldn't see the program in person.) Ash is so cute!! Before the program started I saw his teacher in the hall and she said that she absolutely loves having Ashtyn participate in the program. She said that no matter what is happening in practice, Ashtyn is just as happy as can be and just goes with the flow. She said he is just always having fun in his own little world! We've heard that alot about Ashtyn from different teachers at school and church. Ash is very OCD and likes to have a plan but overall he is a very happy boy! He smiles alot and is really a super easy kid! I'm so proud of the big boy he is growing up to be and that he isn't afraid to be himself!!

When Ashtyn came out as the shepherd in the manger scene I have to admit that I couldn't hold back the tears!!

Wow! My heart is bursting with pride right now! Both my boys did such a great job in their programs! They worked hard at their practices and were so brave to get on stage and perform in front of so many people! Do I see Fine Arts in our future...!?!? Ha!! I'm also so proud because I know that Brandon and I are raising our children to love the God that we love so very much! They have both already been involved in sharing the true story of Christmas with so many and have such tender hearts toward how much God loves them and how much he loves all of us. There's NOTHING like seeing your babies fall in love with God and believe in him without question and with the innocence of a child. So sweet!