Warning/Apology: this is long and a bit boastful, and may be boring to some.
We were able to go to our church Winter Fest Prairie Showdown (otherwise known to Caleb as the Cowby Party). Caleb really shocked me that night by coming out of himself in new ways. First of all, he got his face painted. Every other time he has had the opportunity to get his face painted, he has been absolutely opposed to the idea. He loves they way it looks and even asks for it, but when it comes to subjecting his face to the painter, he chickens out. But this time he marched right up and turned his cheek. The next surprise came during the program, when they had the preschool aged kids come up to the front and sing, "Old MacDonald had a Farm." At first Caleb wanted Daniel to go with him, but then on the way up, he turned around and said, "I can go by myself." And off he went, but not with the group of children. Instead he went straight up to the piano, climbed up on the bench, and watched the man giving the instructions, as if it was all planned for him be the piano player. And then, when the guitar and the children started the song, he "played" right along, even stopping and starting when the leader would stop and talk between verses of the song. I had such a mix of feelings watching my son up there stealing the show. First, a little embarrassed that he wasn't doing what every other child knew to do. Then amused. Amused at the irony that my quiet little boy who still turns and asks me to hold him in a crowd would get in front of everyone without hesitating a second; that my pensive son who thinks perhaps a bit too deeply for a three yr old would not over analyze the situation but jump right in with both feet; that my cautious Caleb who says "I can't" a lot more than I'd like would take the initiative and fill in on the piano with confidence. And amusement quickly turned to that motherly pride that sees past any shortcoming in her child and says, "My kid is so amazing!" And the last surprise of the day came when Caleb won the prize for the best costume in his category. This was special because his boots and vest had belonged to his uncle Sam as a child.
Caleb and Adeline wondering what they just got themselves into with the face painting.
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| the impromptu accompanist |
Caleb and Micah having a shoot out in the back hallway when the skits got a little over their heads.
4 comments:
Caleb has us ALL laughing because he took it all so seriously and seemed totally unaware that he had positioned himself on that piano bench - costume and all- "playing" so dramatically in front of many very amused people. It will always be a very special memory for his family that know how serious he is in his imaginative roles.
How cute! I didn't see him at the piano, but I think I was a little distracted about having 3 of mine up there without much adult supervision in front of hundreds of our church family. Needless to say, I was a little tense. :)
And, if a mom can't boast about her children, then who can! :)
I wish I could have seen that. That just sounds too too funny, cute, etc. Who do ya'll think is he more like - you as a child or Daniel as a child?
Caleb is more like me, and Lucy is more like Daniel's personality. But once in a while we just scratch our heads. Maybe he has some traits of his first cousins-once removed. :o)
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