The Concert With No Singing

I've been waiting to post these images until I could upload video from my camcorder, but I've finally decided that the camcorder is inoperable and the video can not be retrieved. Thus, we're stuck with the still images. Unfortuntely, these don't capture the humor of the night, but it's the only option.

Cooper's school, a church pre-school in Hutto, TX, presented a Christmas program one evening in December. We first learned of the event when Cooper's teacher sent home a list of songs they were to perform with a request that we practice with him. My first reaction was to laugh. I'm so proud of my kids, but I'm realistic and know they have limitations, and the reality is that Cooper is just 2. He's not about to put on a concert for a sanctuary full of people. Then, I second-guessed myself. I decided that maybe Cooper was learning something at school and he would surprise us. I followed the teacher's request and tried to prepare him for the performance. 

Over the next few weeks, I frequently prodded Cooper to sing with us. We tried Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas along with the various other Christmas songs Abigail was constantly singing. Every time, we heard the same response from Cooper. "NO!" If you asked again, he yelled, "NO! NO! NO! NO!" while shaking his head back and forth.

So, when the night of the "performance" came, I wasn't expecting too much from my cute but non-musically interested youngest child. And, he delivered on those expectations. 

 

He was the first one to enter the stage, and I was proud that he went to his place as instructed. There were a few kids who insisted on having their mothers on stage with them, or they weren't about to stand up there in front of everyone.

The class sang three songs and Cooper (far left), as expected, never uttered a word. However, when they were given a set of bells to play as they sang Jingle Bells, Cooper shook those bells through the entire tune. He was a jingling fool! 

We were so proud of Cooper, and Abigail, especially, was excited to point out to everyone nearby which one was her brother.