Concert Craziness

Avery looked at her calendar. How did both her daughter's school Christmas concert and her Sunday School pageant end up in the same week? The girl had both a reindeer costume and a Mary costume. Talk about two very different shows. And Avery had to find all the stuff for both costumes.

Thankfully, for the school play all the parents of kids playing reindeer had agreed that brown shirts, jeans, and dollar store antlers were enough. One of the moms had offered to do face painting if time allowed. So other than her daughter Harper's attitude about the school play, everything was ready.

Harper was upset that she had to wear jeans. The rest of the girls in her class were either playing elves, wearing skirts, or playing a mother/daughter pair, wearing party dresses. And if Avery was honest, she couldn't blame her daughter - being Dancer the reindeer wasn't as exciting as playing an elf. But as Avery had tried to remind Harper, she did get to go first in the reindeer song and she was playing Mary in the Sunday School pageant. So it was okay to let the kids at school have some of the more fun roles in the school play.

After trying to find everything they needed for the Christmas pageant in that church costume room, Avery had personally volunteered to sort through the room after Christmas. It was some kind of nightmare there. But at least all the kids had a suitable costume for this Sunday.

She stared at the calendar. Harper had rehearsal on the stage as a class on Tuesday, dress rehearsal with the whole school on Wednesday afternoon, church rehearsal on Wednesday night, school concert on Thursday, dress rehearsal for church on Saturday afternoon, and then the Sunday morning show. Avery was already tired. And the week was just getting started…

Avery stopped by the school during her lunch break to bring Harper her costume. “Do you want me to stay, Honey? My boss said I could come back late."

"No! I want you and Daddy to be surprised together!” Harper gave her a quick hug, and a "Bye, Mommy!”

Avery was a little disappointed that Harper didn't want her to stay, but hey, kids will be kids.

That evening as Avery drove Harper to the church, she asked, "Can I stay this time?”

“Mom! What part of being surprised do you not get!" Harper rolled her eyes. “I want you and Daddy to see both plays for the first time together!"

Avery smiled. “That's very sweet. Okay, I'll wait. I'll bring you a donut after practice."

“Awesome!" Harper jumped out of the car, trying not to trip over her costume. Avery took advantage of the time not spent sitting at the church to go pick up the last few things on her Christmas list.

Thursday night Avery and her husband sat as close to the front as they could for the school play. Despite Harper's attitude earlier that month, she did a great job as Dancer the lead reindeer. She was clear and seemed to remember all her lines, even if she did seem a bit distracted during the songs. They stood and applauded when the show was done and cheered when the reindeer came on for their final bow.

When they got home, flowers were waiting for Harper in her room. “MOMMY! DADDY BOUGHT ME FLOWERS!!!" Harper came barreling out of her room and tackled her dad in a hug.

"You did amazing tonight, Sweetheart, and superstars get flowers!” He beamed. "Though I only could get you flowers for one of the shows, so they'll have to count for Sunday too.” He poked her nose.

"Okay, Daddy.” She giggled. “Thank you.”

Avery had her husband do the rest of the running around that week; she took the time to enjoy some moments of much-needed peace.

Sunday morning came much faster than Avery was ready for. So much rushing around for a play that was supposed to remind everyone about the true meaning of Christmas. But eventually, she and her husband were sitting in their pew, ready to watch their daughter.

The Sunday School pageant was full of all the usual shenanigans - kids who forgot their lines, sheep who hated their costumes, and wise men who forgot their gifts. But the kids seemed to be having fun. Poor Harper and the boy who was playing Joseph - they ended up with a case of giggles and couldn't stop laughing while trying to say their lines. But you could hear them at the very least.

However, by the time they got to the last song, everyone in the whole church was singing, and all the distractions of the play seemed to be forgotten.

Harper came running once church was dismissed. “Mom, did you see? I said all my lines and even when I was laughing!"

“I did, Honey, I'm very proud of you!" Avery picked up her daughter and gave her a huge hug. “Ready to end this part of Christmas with some lunch with your grandparents?”

“Yes! YES!" Avery watched as Harper ran. One Christmas event down, and a few more to go.