never can you call them underachievers in the costume department. A snowflake, an elf, and a Sahelian Santa left the house last Friday for their last day of school before break! For more not to be missed footage of the Sahelian Santa, visit Tom's teacher's blog at Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas Spirit Day
Other children content themselves with dressing in a green shirt for Christmas Spirit day, but not mine... 
never can you call them underachievers in the costume department. A snowflake, an elf, and a Sahelian Santa left the house last Friday for their last day of school before break! For more not to be missed footage of the Sahelian Santa, visit Tom's teacher's blog at
never can you call them underachievers in the costume department. A snowflake, an elf, and a Sahelian Santa left the house last Friday for their last day of school before break! For more not to be missed footage of the Sahelian Santa, visit Tom's teacher's blog at 
Christmas Eve Theatricals
I did not live close to my extended family while I was growing up. (At holiday time, I often reflect how celebrating with our just our own nuclear family and a few close friends prepared me for celebrating holidays without huge family gatherings here in Niger. It seems normal to me!) We had a lot of traditions: like listening to Handel's Messiah while we decorated the tree, finding oranges and apples in our stocking toes and heels, and Sara Lee coffee cake for Christmas breakfast. Some of my favorite Christmas memories, however, involved our annual Nativity play. Because we lived far from extended family, we always spent Christmas with dear friends who were in the same boat. Their two boys joined my sister and I in writing and performing theatrical masterpieces... or at least variations on the Nativity story. I remember Jason knocking on the closet door one year only to have the "innkeeper" tell him there was no room in the inn, I remember being an angel in my white bathrobe, I remember Jonathan refusing to stay laying down in the manger when everyone knows baby Jesus couldn't sit up at birth! There was the year a modern Jesus was born in the garage and laid in a tire, and several different people as donkeys who my sister, Amy, usually got to ride as Mary. My favorite memory remains the fabulous rap we wrote one year, a concise and spit filled version of Luke 2... but I digress...
This year we had the second annual Christmas play performed by the seven Niger Rideout cousins. They have a lot larger cast then we did growing up, but can't say that they have any less fun! This year's masterpiece was entitled "Jesus, the Lone Star." You might be able to guess from the title that it was a cowboy themed nativity play complete with stick horses. Kay, in her stunning turquoise shirt and matching sparkly cowgirl hat was the narrator.
Mary (Brynn) and Joe (Tom) are told by the barkeep (Elayna) there is no room in the bar, so they are offered a stable in which to sleep. 
An angel (Elayna), a vision of veiled splendor, 
visits cowboys (Kira) in nearby pastures watching their doggies (literally the dog next door) by night to tell of Jesus' birth. 
Visiting mayors (Heidi and Silas-in pink cowboy boots) from far eastern towns came bearing gifts of money and perfume. The stellar performance concluded for the second year in a row with a rousing rendition of "We wish you a Merry Christmas." 
So great was the clamor of the audience, that a repeat performance of the entire play was given (though without the cow, who was hiding under the couch). It was definitely a Christmas to remember. I wonder what they will dream up next year... I already offered to teach them my rap...
This year we had the second annual Christmas play performed by the seven Niger Rideout cousins. They have a lot larger cast then we did growing up, but can't say that they have any less fun! This year's masterpiece was entitled "Jesus, the Lone Star." You might be able to guess from the title that it was a cowboy themed nativity play complete with stick horses. Kay, in her stunning turquoise shirt and matching sparkly cowgirl hat was the narrator.
Mary (Brynn) and Joe (Tom) are told by the barkeep (Elayna) there is no room in the bar, so they are offered a stable in which to sleep. 
An angel (Elayna), a vision of veiled splendor, 
visits cowboys (Kira) in nearby pastures watching their doggies (literally the dog next door) by night to tell of Jesus' birth. 
Visiting mayors (Heidi and Silas-in pink cowboy boots) from far eastern towns came bearing gifts of money and perfume. The stellar performance concluded for the second year in a row with a rousing rendition of "We wish you a Merry Christmas." 
So great was the clamor of the audience, that a repeat performance of the entire play was given (though without the cow, who was hiding under the couch). It was definitely a Christmas to remember. I wonder what they will dream up next year... I already offered to teach them my rap...
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The last first tooth...
I celebrated the last baby spit up, the last night feeding, and the last diaper. I gleefully got rid of the last baby bath, the last stroller, the last portacrib, and the last highchair (how is it that little people have so MUCH equipment?). This week, another last came upon us... the last first tooth.
For years, Tom, wanting to be like his big sisters, has imagined he has loose teeth, so it was with surprise that a few weeks earlier when he told me his tooth was loose, I found it actually wiggled! He has been delighted to wiggle it and Tom-like, very resistant to any unknown, sudden, might cause discomfort schemes the girls had to help it come out sooner. Ian had just tucked him into bed when we heard a holler come from his room. His tooth had come out! Of course we had to take a picture for Grandma...
The fun part was, the next day, the tooth right next to it came out too! Tom was feeling very rich this week! Heidi also lost one of her molars that day! The tooth fairy has very busy around our house! Here is the two space view...
You would think that after two kids, I would be used to the toothless look, but it still makes me smile. While this last is a bit more bitter sweet, I'm not too sad. Lasts always mean new firsts are around the corner: next we get to see new teeth growing in looking enormous in his still small mouth! It is so fun seeing them grow!
For years, Tom, wanting to be like his big sisters, has imagined he has loose teeth, so it was with surprise that a few weeks earlier when he told me his tooth was loose, I found it actually wiggled! He has been delighted to wiggle it and Tom-like, very resistant to any unknown, sudden, might cause discomfort schemes the girls had to help it come out sooner. Ian had just tucked him into bed when we heard a holler come from his room. His tooth had come out! Of course we had to take a picture for Grandma...
The fun part was, the next day, the tooth right next to it came out too! Tom was feeling very rich this week! Heidi also lost one of her molars that day! The tooth fairy has very busy around our house! Here is the two space view...
You would think that after two kids, I would be used to the toothless look, but it still makes me smile. While this last is a bit more bitter sweet, I'm not too sad. Lasts always mean new firsts are around the corner: next we get to see new teeth growing in looking enormous in his still small mouth! It is so fun seeing them grow!
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