Boy's First Christmas Program

The evening started with an outfit. It just so happened that we received this sweater as a hand-me-down the day before and it was adorable...

We got to Holy Cross Preschool, dropped him off with his teacher and went to the church to grab a seat. After a few minutes the kids started to walk down the aisle one by one to a story. We had Mary, Joseph, a little one carrying a Baby Jesus (so cute), etc.

Then came the Simon the Shepherd. I had no clue he was going to be wearing a costume or holding a giant stick (yes, they let a three year old boy hold a stick twice his size). We were less than half way from the back and as soon as he saw Grandma Mory he just stopped dead in his tracks and said loudly, "Grandma Mory!" and tried to go by her. He stopped the progression for what felt like forever and I could feel my face turning bright red, but eventually we were able to coax him up the rest of the aisle and my face went back to its regular shade. Everyone seemed to get a chuckle out of it :)

Then 40 three to five year olds started singing a variety of Christmas songs. Right away Simon got poked in the eye with a star by the kid next to him, but he held himself together and didn't cry or run away thankfully. He sang along for the most part and only got distracted when they gave the kids lights during Silent Night (the light went in his mouth, on his eye, etc.). On occasion, he did stop to roll his eyes around, puff out his cheeks and make goofy faces to prove he wasn't paying attention, but he always found his way back.

After the performance everyone gathered to mingle and eat Christmas cookies. It was at this point when Simon lost his effing mind and went crazy. He didn't want just any cookie. He didn't want to be by just anyone. He didn't want to take a picture with Mrs. Hanson. He didn't want to wear his coat outside. He didn't want to walk to the car.

So Bryan wrangled a thrashing, coatless kid to the car who promptly stiffened and refused to get buckled in. Simon was laughing like a MANIAC through this whole thing which meant I only made it  halfway through a 1-2-3 threat before having to stop to regain my own composure (not effective parenting if you're wondering).

He was threatening to unbuckle the whole way home, but waited until we got in the garage. The SECOND the car stopped he was unbuckled and on Bryan's lap in the driver's seat. I am not kidding. It was like some crazy ninja move and we were both taken by surprise (it had me wondering if there was crack in that Oreo he ate).


I won't even get into what bedtime looked like....let's just say he must have been overwhelmed by the evening and did not know how to cope. But now he's sleeping. Phew.

{And for coming, thank you Grandma Ruth, Auntie Al, Grandma Berta, Grandpa Jimmy and especially Grandma Mory and Grandpa Mike for driving an hour and a half just to see it!}