Some Bad News

Well I heard the bad news last weekend, there will no longer be an Activities Chairman as of next year.  I felt like the rug had been pulled out from beneath me.  I'm still going to finish the year with the activities we had planned but I no longer have much say in what will happen next year.  It was suggested to me that I list the activities that we traditionally do and add the ones I wanted to plan and see what happens.  I think I know what's going to happen but I'm trying to have a positive attitude about this.

Parade Problems

This week I cleaned out that outside storage closet.  It wasn't as bad as I was expecting but there was plenty of rodent evidence.  I found all the painted animals for the Christmas float were in great shape but the manger was falling to pieces.  The nativity costumes were not in there.  That leaves me coming up with some in the next few weeks.
I'm rather excited about this after looking at some patterns.  I don't want to sew them but I might have too.

This is Simplicity pattern 4795.  I see it's the details that make outfit.  I'm going to some yard sales tomorrow morning to see if I can find anything we could use.  I did purchase a shepherd's crook from Oriental Trading Company .  The shipping and handling was more than the item but that's okay.  The crook is made to come apart for easy storage, I love that.
Chuck volunteered to be on the float and I will be an angel.  Once Katherine heard that, she insisted that she be in the parade as well.  I found a lamb costume on Martha Stewart's site that will work well.  She'll be delighted to wear it.  I bought the hats from Hobby Lobby in their t-shirt and decal section.  They were less than $2 on sale.  I came home and made the ears and sewed them on.  It turned out so cute!

Luckily, my dad volunteered to fix the manger and I'm hoping the men will build us another stable.  Maybe this one will be made to come apart for storage.  The last one spent all year outside and is no longer safe to use.
I bought a beautiful large gold star from Hobby Lobby today as well to go on top of the stable.  I'm thinking we could put a spotlight on it and add a little magic sparkle.  This thing is slowly coming together!

When Everyone Is In Charge...

This week my plan was to find the nativity costumes for the Christmas parade.  I found the labeled box but it held no costumes.  This is what happens when "everyone is in charge" it means no one is in charge.  I have sent a mass email out asking if anyone knows the whereabouts of the costumes but so far I haven't gotten any responses. 
I also ventured into the outside storage this week to have a look at the painted animals that go along with the float.  They are in good condition but the storage closet is a health hazard.  It looked like a haunted house with everything covered in dust and an extreme amount of spider webs.  I had planned on taking the shop vac to it but wouldn't you know, it was raining and very windy.  Some other time then.

I prefer to work with adults on the parade but children are way more fun to see.  Look at these darlings!  I found this on the web and was hoping it was about making the costumes.  It was actually a bizarre article from Great Britain about parents spending mega bucks on their child's nativity costumes. 
Anyway, I'm just going to have to find a willing family or two to volunteer.  I'm beginning to see that I will have to be careful and not ask my friends too much or they'll start avoiding me!