This year, our church did Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God for our Christmas pageant. This was not a traditional Christmas play, but more of a modern cantata, with an accompanying drama performed by the children. The other difference was that it attempts to draw the whole picture of the birth of Christ in the context of all of the years of waiting and expecting and hoping for the Messiah, that we read about in the Old Testament, versus starting the story with Mary and Joseph.

Mike and I have long been fans of this music, and it was fun to see the creative ideas that people put into making the props and puppets and what the kids did to help the story along. Unfortunately, I didn't get too many great pictures, but here are some from the final song... where the kids are all waving their banners... which takes a lot of might if you are not yet 3 years old and the banner is bigger than you are! Here is Zoe on the right...

I will have to post some pictures of the Christmas Pageant- it was fun to watch the kids in it. But first, my dad came to visit last week!

This cute picture was actually taken in Times Square at a Charmin advertising campaign.... that was both clever and helpful. They provided the two things that are most difficult to find on a cold winter's day in NYC... comfortable indoor free seating, and clean bathrooms!

Of course, we all had a great time. And of course, we had to make the most of my sister's connections once more to bring my dad to see the Rockettes show...

Zoe has been eagerly awaiting this year's Christmas Pageant- her first opportunity to be in a show of some sort. She kept asking me yesterday if it was 'tomorrow' yet, because she was so excited about play rehearsal.

This morning around 5am, I awoke to a loud cry... so I went in to see what had happened. In tears she said,

"Mommy! The next day did come without me!"

I had to assure her that no, it did not, and that she hadn't missed a thing.

Early last week, we traveled to Baltimore to visit dear friends who were in town for a conference.  We then took a day trip to Washington, D.C. and got to see the White House, among other things.

The cold wind and the long walk dampened her enthusiasm.

But, there was plenty of fun and hilarity that went on indoors. Here is Paul and Zoe being goofy at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

You know your child is a New York City kid when you hear them singing back some Christmas music that they have been hearing lately...

"You better watch out I'm telling you why- Santa Claus is coming... uptown."