Live Nativity

In early December, a friend from church called to see if Lili would like to be baby Jesus in the church's live nativity. We were honored, so of course I said yes, and then realized, wait, I have to be Mary. In front of those bright lights. And people. Lots of them. Hans, who can regularly be seen at the grocery store in a fireman outfit (or soldier, night, baseball player, cowboy, Hilti worker complete with red hard hat and tool belt, but no shoes...) was super excited about dressing up as a shepherd. Annika was convinced she was going to be "a sheep mif a pink tail" and I figured she would do fine so long as she followed the shepherds. Trey was all excited to videotape the whole thing, until I assured him that he needed to make sure baby Jesus and I made it to Bethlehem okay. He had a part, too? Sure enough! He did great leading the "donkey". "Donkey" was actually a one-eyed mini-horse that they really wanted me to ride!  With a preggers belly! (beach ball, really, but still a little iffy, and in front of a LOT of people) Fortunately, the girl who we rented the horse from apologized all over the place that I couldn't ride her pony, for which I was very grateful. In the end, we had a really great time, the kids did great, and once we were settled in our little stable, we were quite cosy. It was really a neat way to remember the humbleness of Jesus as he arrived, surrounded by straw and animals, as unfancy as it could get. And yet, visited by kings from afar.