'Tis the season when we are nearing our most hallowed of Christmas rituals--the children's pagent! For many parents, this remains the reason we send our children to Sunday school every week (that and taunting our beloved Shaun, who, as I have mentioned before, is a teacher). It is the time of year when we all get to lovingly look at our dolled up children and then laugh our asses off. We get to take blackmail-worthy pictures. And we get to witness grandparents curse other dolled up children for blocking their own lovely ones from view.

This is our third Christmas pagent. This year Emma graduates from angel to shepard per the rules of order--preK are angels, kindergarteners are shepards. For the boys, this is wonderful. They have decided since turning the wise age of 5 that angel costumes are not for boys. Their are a few girls who are not so happy--in their wisdom, they have decided that shepards are definately boys and they would rather be angels. As for Emma, she is very happy. She wanted to be a shepard last year and was disappointed when she found out she had to be an angel again. Here's how the conversation went:

Emma: Mom, I don't want to be an angel again. I want to be a shepard (looks longingly towards the shepards).
Mom (Janet): But your in preK so you are an angel. Come try on this costume.
E: But I REALLY want to be a shepard.
M: But you look great in this costume. You get wings. (Pause) Why do you want to be a shepard?
E: Because they get sticks.

That's when I look over at the shepards and find that they do indeed have sticks with big hooks on the end with which they are hitting each other.

M: Next year babes.

So that is what the pagent is to a 5 year old--it is all about the weapons. This year is Emma's year! Stay tuned for pictures!