"Mewy Chwistmas Evwyone!"

Just after Thanksgiving, we pulled out all the Christmas decorations. The boys were right in the middle of the whole process, helping carry boxes, put up the tree, hanging the star and ornaments. A daily highlight is turning on our Christmas lights. Aden loves to wonder about what he is going to put in his stocking, and they both enjoy the advent calendar they use each morning. Wiley decided that his favorite decoration is the star on top of the tree, and Aden especially likes the stockings and the lights. One of the boys' favorite decorations to play with is the Nativity that sits under the Christmas tree. And the coveted piece of the Nativity is, of course, Baby Jesus. A new set of phrases has been heard around our house that we never thought we'd hear, nor find ourselves saying . . .

"We're not going to chew on Baby Jesus."
"Where is Baby Jesus?" ("The bathroom.")
"I want Baby Jesus!"
"(Baby) Jesus is not to leave this house."
"I want Baby Jesus to stay in the living room."
"Don't step on Baby Jesus."
"Baby Jesus is riding on the brown cruiser."
"I want to take Baby Jesus into the shower."
"Rock-a-bye, Baby . . . down will come Baby Jesus, cradle and all" (crash!)

Last Sunday in the monthly English service on our station, the children presented a special Christmas program. Aden and Wiley were quite inspired watching the program. After their naps on Monday, Wiley came out (as usual, recently) carrying his pillow and a blanket. He soon put the blanket over his head saying, "I'm a bear!" They played for a while with blankets over their heads, acting out a poem from one of their books. Then Aden came up with a new idea: "Look, Mommy! I'm a shepherd!" Mommy
tied the blanket around his head, and did the same for Wiley. They took their pretend play outside, grabbing the attention of all who walked by. Various pieces of the Christmas story were recited, such as "We're watching our flocks" and "Let's go to Bethlehem!" Then Aden decided to change roles as he laid down under a tree: "I'm Baby Jesus. Wiley, you can be Baby God." When Uncle Bill walked by, they were lying in the grass, Baby Jesus and Baby God, pointing up at "the star" - which was a rainbow they had discovered in the late afternoon sky.

The last line of the children's Christmas program stuck with Aden and Wiley and has been repeated over and over around our house over the last week. They pass it along to you as well - "Merry Christmas Everyone!"