Redneck Rugrats Meet Baptist Brats
This is how I would describe my favorite December book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
It's the story of a back-woods kind of family who smoke, cuss, chew, and run with lots of others who likewise do. Picture kids with no shoes, no couth, and no church experience. In your mind introduce them to Baptist kids who've been coming to Sunday School since their were in utero, and have been in or seen one Christmas play after another, to the point where their participation in Christmas plays appear lackluster at best, rebellious at worst.
You'll love Imogene and her disheveled, saucy siblings. Read the book out loud. You don't have to have kids to do this, I promise. A willing roommate, friend, husband, or cat would appreciate it.
I was never one to read "holiday" books, so I resisted this title for years until one year it was part of our homeschool curriculum,and I saw it popping up on many must-read booklists by adults and kids alike.
We've been reading it annually for about eight years, I guess. Every night about a week before Christmas, we all gather on my queen-size sleigh bed, taking turns reading it while rubbing each other's feet. Folks, we have 12 feet and 12 hands in our family. Talk about a close-knit crew! Since we are familiar with the funniest parts, often we start laughing (okay, some of us even start honking) before the reader even gets to the best lines.
Paul and I can't read last chapter aloud. We pass it along to the kids. Sarah also defers. Reading the last chapter has become the job of a tough teenage guy. (Stephen starts well, but then ...blinks back tears--I mean, he gets an allergy attack every year during the last chapter..and alas, our stoic, stalwart Ben has the manly job of finishing the last page. Thanks, Ben.)
Read it. Laugh till you cry. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
It's the story of a back-woods kind of family who smoke, cuss, chew, and run with lots of others who likewise do. Picture kids with no shoes, no couth, and no church experience. In your mind introduce them to Baptist kids who've been coming to Sunday School since their were in utero, and have been in or seen one Christmas play after another, to the point where their participation in Christmas plays appear lackluster at best, rebellious at worst.
You'll love Imogene and her disheveled, saucy siblings. Read the book out loud. You don't have to have kids to do this, I promise. A willing roommate, friend, husband, or cat would appreciate it.
I was never one to read "holiday" books, so I resisted this title for years until one year it was part of our homeschool curriculum,and I saw it popping up on many must-read booklists by adults and kids alike.
We've been reading it annually for about eight years, I guess. Every night about a week before Christmas, we all gather on my queen-size sleigh bed, taking turns reading it while rubbing each other's feet. Folks, we have 12 feet and 12 hands in our family. Talk about a close-knit crew! Since we are familiar with the funniest parts, often we start laughing (okay, some of us even start honking) before the reader even gets to the best lines.
Paul and I can't read last chapter aloud. We pass it along to the kids. Sarah also defers. Reading the last chapter has become the job of a tough teenage guy. (Stephen starts well, but then ...blinks back tears--I mean, he gets an allergy attack every year during the last chapter..and alas, our stoic, stalwart Ben has the manly job of finishing the last page. Thanks, Ben.)
Read it. Laugh till you cry. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
posted by Zoanna at
5:16 AM
6 Comments:
Hi Zoanna,
Sounds you have loads and loads of fun. Zoanna, I posted some fabrics but not sure when it will reach you. Due to Christmas it might take longer to get there. Sorry it took me so long to get sorted out.
Take care and have a lovely Christmas I go to India next week.
hugs
Thank you very much, Sashi. I look forward to getting your stash! Do you know we've had 249 bags sponsored? I've sent all but the 15 or so. I think what I'll do is put it on hold till after Christmas anyway, and assess the needs by then. Hopefull the homeless from Katrina will be out of mass housing by then. If the need continues. NO matter what, though, I will continue to make disaster relief bags for when the next catastrophe hits. (If you saw my basement, you might think one already had. Hence one reason to wrap up the hurricane outreach ASAP.)
Many thanks!!! How is your husband doing?
You know, somehow I've never read that book, although I've heard alot about it. I'll have to get it from the library! Good to have you back blogging!
Oh, thanks, Danielle, Don't know if I'm back for long. I'm making a lot of little gifties this year on my sewing machine. I would say go ahead and shell out the five bucks for your own copy of the book. It's well worth it, IMNSHO.(In my not so humble opinion.) I've come to grips that my opionions really aren't very humble, who am I kidding?
Nice to hear from you. You are a blessing to us all.
I will get the book and read it aloud (although I don't have a cat...I'll have to settle for my wife.)
God bless!
Sounds like a great family tradition.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Blogging in 2006.
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