This & That: Around Here This Week

So around here this week....

My husband came to Primary, where they sang Christmas carols,

...and decorated him like a Christmas tree. I'm thinking this should be next year's Christmas card picture.

I had a couple of concerts with the community chorale I sing with, and some of my family came to listen.

We did part of Handel's "Messiah" and this was the closing number.

Here's a leisurely holiday hello from OllieGus. That's what Ephraim calls them...sort of a collective name.

It was also the week for the live nativity I've participated in the last several years. These pictures were taken by Eric's wife, Elisa. She brought the girls out on a chilly night to see it. There's a market place area...

....and animals of various kinds. There are goats and miniature donkeys and sheep roaming around, not to mention the chickens, ducks and geese.

There are also some pretty fierce Roman soldiers....

....riding around to make sure everyone behaves.

Then there's this gal who stands at the entrance to hand out "money" to pay your taxes so one isn't thrown into a Roman prison with rats the size of small dogs. And do you have any animals to declare? They're extra. And don't spend your tax money on the fish...it's not fresh.

It makes for a chilly couple of hours, but my spirit is warm inside.

Because "unto you is born this day in the city of David..."

Sent to me from my kids and grandkids this week, I got this picture of Eric, rocking a Christmas bow tie. He's wondering why he didn't master the skill of tying one sooner.

Gwen and Caroline had their Christmas dance recitals.

When I see them all made up like this, I get glimpses of what the teenage years might bring.

From Collin's family there was some baking going on. My husband and I laughed when we got this picture. Baby John in the background is totally looking at the camera and smiling. Everyone else is just wanting those cookies.