We have a picture stored away in a box somewhere of the first year we acted out the Nativity. Tammy, our oldest daughter, was just turned two years old at the time and Michael was a year behind. They acted out the Mary and Joseph parts, while I filled the roles of narrator and the angel. A wrapped doll took the part of the baby Jesus. We did it as a little surprise for Neil on Christmas Eve.
The following year, Jonny acted as the baby he was, while the rest of us kept our same parts. I remember one year Michael acted as the donkey, the inn-keeper, the shepherds and the wise men. I think Abby was a sheep that year :) As the years progressed, Tammy eventually took over as the narrator, reading from the book of James, and as the angel and the producer. Abby took over as Mary, and I joined Neil in the audience, with the performance a surprise for me each year too.
Somewhere we have (all packed away), a nativity play that Abby wrote out, with parts for all her brothers and sisters. It may have even been this year..
The performance would stop in the appropriate places in the story, for us to sing, 'Silent Night', and 'Away In The Manger', with Tammy on piano.
Eventually the children all grew up and we switched to Neil reading the Christmas story aloud from Luke each Christmas morning before we open our presents. But perhaps now with beautiful grand-children it might be time to start the tradition over again... :)
SUCH good times!! :) I think the grandchildren should DEFINITELY do this before we unwrap gifts on Christmas Day! :) I know our girls will be doing it Christmas Eve as well - it's so fun that they're getting old enough to participate! :) How cute are the twins in that top picture?! - I believe Shepherd Ben is having some head-towel issues :) I remember using that koala toy that had been in the family forever, for the baby Jesus one year :)
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother made that koala toy. That was a special koala :)
Deletexoxo
Ben is indead having head-dressing issues...
ReplyDeleteSO CUTE :)
xo Tammy
Are you absolutely sure that it's Ben having the issues and not Oliver? I know it looks a lot like Ben, but then Oliver does, doesn't he? :)
Deletexoxo
Hahaha. It's fun seeing old photos :)
ReplyDeleteAbby and Micky so serious as Mary and Joseph lol.
Would be so fun to see the grandkiddies do it!!
xo
Do you think that Hallie would want to be the baby Jesus? Actually, the thought of little Mary and Joseph trying to manage her is a bit funny.. we might need a younger baby.. Abby, what do you think you can manage? :)
Deletexoxo