Real Christmas Carols

December 14th, 2011

real-christmas-carols

The other night, while waiting for a horse and carriage ride, I heard a group of carolers singing “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” The harmonizing was beautiful. Like the Pied Piper, these carolers attracted my children up the stairs to see who could be singing with such angelic voices. It was a group of young people dressed up like the Dickens characters. My kids turned to look at me with wide eyes. We enjoyed their singing until my husband let us know that the free horse and carriage ride had arrived at the building where we were huddled to keep warm.

I’ve always loved harmonizing to real Christmas carols. My best friend would sing the melody, and I would sing the harmony. We wanted to sing every carol in the book. I have such sweet memories of singing with her.

When I was a Cub Scout leader, I led the Christmas caroling at the nursing home for two years in a row. I looked at all the dear elderly people smiling sweetly at the group of children singing with gusto, off key. We ministered to the people there, and it was so easy to cheer them up. I hugged the elderly people before we left each room.

One year our church went door to door, knocking on each door and singing a Christmas carol. We did it for no reason. I don’t remember presenting the gospel or anything. We just sang the songs of the nativity, and the songs themselves told the story…

Floor Coffee: The New Trend (Coffee Humor)

December 13th, 2011

coffee-humorI walked into the kitchen to find scraped-up coffee grains all over the floor near the freezer. I opened the freezer door, and it looked like there had been an explosion of coffee grains. I looked over at my son and said, “Did the coffee can come open when you made my coffee today?”

“Yes.”

“And did you scrape the coffee back into the can from the floor, before making my coffee?”

Silence.

“Well, did you?”

“Yes.”

“Next time it falls on the floor,” I said, “please throw it in the trash.”

“Okay.”

Journey to Bethlehem: Living Nativity

December 13th, 2011

living-nativityMy family filmed a local living nativity for Christmastime this year. It was called “Journey to Bethlehem,” and it included a road with scenes along the sides. “We need a place to stay tonight,” said our guide to a Roman soldier who guarded the gate of Bethlehem. The soldier didn’t care and was gruff with us. We were told to move quickly. The town of Bethlehem had an open marketplace where a variety of foods, pottery, cloth, and animals were sold. The sets were beautiful, and the ambient noise was realistic.

Apparently we represented a group of Jews, because the Roman soldiers called us dogs. They told us why the Roman empire was so great, protecting people with their armies and building roads.

living-nativity2Suddenly while we were looking at some smelly sheep, a company of (somewhat cheesy) angels flapped their wings with music, and the angel on the top riser said, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

A shepherd yelled, “Let us go and find this child!” We followed him to a stable where we found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. When I reached this point in the tour, for some reason I felt choked up, almost as if I was a shepherd on that first Christmas night long ago, finding the King of Kings had been born in a manger.

Here is our family’s tour of the living nativity:

Mime Act for Kids

December 12th, 2011

Here is a mime act for kids that is super fun for entertaining audiences. My son was only 7 years old when he performed it! He taught himself how to do each act.

Here are the mime act ideas and how to do them:

  1. mime-act-for-kidsTrapped in a Box: Pat the air around you on four sides, as if you were in a box. Stiffen your hand when you hit the side of the imaginary box. You can open the lid and jump out of the box. Then push the imaginary box out of the way for the next act.
  2. The Stairs: Pretend you’re walking down the stairs, squatting down lower and lower as you go. This is a fun one to do behind a sofa so the audience doesn’t see your legs. You can climb back up the stairs if you want.
  3. The Elevator: Turn your back to the audience and push the imaginary button of the elevator. After waiting, get into the elevator and turn around. Press the inside elevator button. Now go down as smoothly as you can, bending your knees and squatting down low. If you want, you can come back up the elevator.
  4. Rowing a Boat: Stand with your body facing to the side. Pretend you are rowing a boat with an oar. When the current pushes your canoe backwards, try desperately to row your boat against the strong current. Or you can row around a lake in an oval shape, rowing back and forth. Don’t forget to lose your balance and fall into the water with an imaginary splash.
  5. The Fish: Make your mouth small, like you’re puckering up for a kiss. With both arms bent at your sides, swish your fingers back and forth like the fins of a fish. Swim around the room.
  6. Old Man: Hunch over and hold onto a cane. Wobble your cane and tremble as you walk, shaking your head as well.
  7. The Rope: An imaginary rope is hanging from side to side in front of you. Grab onto it with both hands, pulling yourself across the rope little by little.
  8. The Car: Open the door of the car and get in. Sit down and shut the door. Let off the break, put your keys in the ignition, and put your hands on the steering wheel. Start driving the car. Wave to the audience as you pass by. When you’re finished with your ride, get out of the car and shut the door.
  9. The Motorcycle: Sit down on the motorcycle and hold onto the handle bars. pull the right handlebar backwards several times to start the engine. Ride your motorcycle around the room. Try to do some tricks on your motorcycle, like taking the front wheel off the ground.
  10. The Bullfighter: Grab an imaginary red cloth and wave it in front of the bull. When the bull runs toward you, lift up the cloth into the air. Then turn your back to the audience and do it again. Try it from different angles.
  11. Building a Sand Castle: Sit on the ground and start filling your bucket with sand, using an imaginary shovel. When the bucket is full, turn the bucket upside-down, and whack it on the ground. Gently lift the bucket up, and admire your beautiful sand castle. Make another one.
  12. The Slide: Climb up the ladder of the slide, reaching up for each rung of the ladder with your hands. Once at the top, slide down the slide. Slide down the spiral slide, holding onto the sides and becoming lower and lower.
  13. The Monkey Bars: Grab onto the bar with one hand, then grab onto the next bar with the other hand, and continue until you have crossed the monkey bars. Turn around and cross the monkey bars from the other direction. Jump off at the end.
  14. Sliding Down a Pole: Grab an imaginary pole. Now turn around and around, making sure to squat down lower and lower as you slide down the pole.
  15. The Carousel: Get on the carousel, and hold onto the pole. Go up and down, making sure to continue holding on to the pole. Go in circles, and wave to the audience as you pass by.

If you enjoyed this video where my son did his cute mime acts, go to YouTube and “Like” it! My son is deliriously happy every time he sees another person enjoyed his act!