Advent Continues

More Advent excitement here.  Our countdown to the celebration of Jesus' birthday continues.  At church on Sunday Father Reagan read the story of the birth of Jesus for the kids (the Gospel reading) after the the Gospel processional.  And oh I must explain the Gospel processional.  Before the reading of the Gospel the two priests process through the aisles of the congregation (this is at our children's service) encouraging the children to fall in line behind them as music is playing and follow them up to the front where they will be seated for the reading of the gospel.  For the past 2 Sundays, Tate has gotten up and followed along in the processional all by himself while I remained at our seats.  Such a big big boy!!!  He just follows along, a little uncertain, but gamely follows the priest and the kids in front of him :) 

So this Sunday as Reagan was reading the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke (the one most widely read/known) the children were invited to come up on the stage to represent the characters of the story.  First called after the pre-chosen Mary and Joseph were the angels.  Up hopped Tate who clamored up on the stage with about 10 other children to be the angels who went to the shepherds.  And then shepherds were called and on down the list...sheep, cows, magi and stars.  It was just so very cute. 

On Christmas Eve there will be 2 Children's Services and all the kids of the congregation are invited to participate and the church provides costumes.  After the service on Sunday parents were invited to go look through the costumes and choose one for their child(ren).  Tate chose to be a star.  So we picked up his costume with glee and I can't wait to see him next Monday as one of the bright, shining stars of Bethlehem.

13th Day of Advent... 

Saturday celebrating the 14th and 15th Day of Advent...

Sunday the 16th Day of Advent...

(I love how he knows Mary is the mother of Jesus)

December 17th...

And then there's tonight, the 18th day of Advent...one week until Christmas.  He's in such a good mood lately.   I wish I had been able to record him singing 'The Little Drummer Boy!'  He does a great job...it's one of his favorite songs this Christmas as it was last year.  It seems I sang that song to him well into March every night last year, and it's still a fave.  Tonight was the first time I heard him singing it though.  What I have heard him sing constantly for the past few days is 'Deck The Halls', though it's his rendition...I don't recognize hardly any of the words, but he's enjoying himself immensely when he belts it out!