The end of Mainly Music

This year has seen the end of our kids going to Mainly Music. It has been quite a big part of our week for the last 3 years, heading there every Tuesday morning. Some strong friendships have been formed through this group. I have grown in confidence with chatting to people who I haven't met before. I have had some very tasty food made by wonderful people in our church. I have loved seeing Eliza and Alexander (and the few times Daniel came) enjoy the music, have the songs stuck in their heads and have loved learning more about God through the songs. I have also loved seeing them grow little friendships and bonds too.

One of my favourite parts of Mainly Music has been Alexander's love of singing and playing along to 'LOVE, love that's why' at home. The song just gets stuck in his head and I can't think of anything better to be stuck in his head than to listen to reasons why God does things for him, because He loves him. 

At the end of this term the group got to head up to church to sing for the Tuesday morning congregation. I was so proud of Alexander, how he stood up on the stage and confidently sang the songs. He has grown so much through this group. He got to sing 2 of his favourite songs - the scarf song...

And 10... 9... 8... God is Great!

I do love this time of the kids getting up on stage for the older congregation. It is a very special time across generations, having some families who haven't stepped into a church before sing the songs for the different generations and to enjoy each other's presence. It will be a part that I miss from Mainly Music and it is a part that I miss our kids experiencing, the older generations being a part of their lives (like Mike and Meg, Doug and Doreen and others were for Jens and I).

As a new part of our Mainly Music group, Eliza decided to organise a Christmas party and performance. On the Friday night of our last week of Mainly Music, the families of the kids came to celebrate the year with a little Christmas concert, dinner together and a jumping castle. What more could we ask for! Alexander was so excited to have his own Christmas concert! On top of the 5 of us going, he asked Nana and Poppy if they would like to come (of course they did!) and he also wanted to ask Grayma and Auntie Sue but with it being at night I told him that we might not invite them too because it's hard for them to drive when it starts to get late. He spoke about it for the weeks leading up the concert. 

He dressed in his red Swans shirt and wore his Elf Christmas hat (such a cutie!)

And the nose for Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

He did so very well on stage. He happily sang the songs, he smiled, he was serious, he had fun and he was confident. I'm so proud of him! Where has my baby gone?

Here are a few of the songs that they sung. Enjoy his cuteness!
Baby shark (I love Emma's enthusiasm with this song!!)

Jingle Bells (He sure loves to ring those bells)

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Merry Christmas (a Mainly Music song)

It was a great turn up for the concert. Great vision from Eliza to organise this!

What I loved to see most thought was how happy and grateful Alexander was to everyone who came to see his concert. After the performance he went up and gave Daddy a huge bear hug.

Then I wanted to get a photo of him and Emma but he told me to wait because he needed to say thank you to Nana and Poppy. He went over to them both and gave them a huge bear hug too. I loved seeing this especially because he did it on his own, it wasn't forced by us or even initiated by us, it was something that he wanted to do to show how grateful he was (and I'm annoyed at myself for not getting a photo of him with Nana and Poppy!!). But it really was a beautiful moment.

I am also so glad for this little friendship that has formed with Emma these last 2 years. These 2 are such cute little buddies. They have grown from Emma not really wanting Alexander to touch her (give her a hug) to now she initiates the hug. They chat, they watch each other they ask each other to play. Even when heading up to the church on the Tuesday morning, Alexander turned to Emma and said 'Emma, will you stand next to me?' and she responded with 'Yes. I'd like to.' 

As they head off to preschool next year I do hope that their friendship continues, even though they won't be able to see each other every week. We will organise Wednesday playdates.

I have also loved seeing this little friendship form with Mikey. He is such a gorgeous little man who has also grown his comfort with us. Alexander and Mikey especially have a cute little bond. Alexander loves to play with Mikey, likes to help him do different things and shares toys with him. He really is good with younger kids.

 So next year I will still be helping with Mainly Music, at least see how that goes. It will be great to be able to properly chat with some of the parents, to hang out with the kids so the parents can chat, to cuddle the little babies without feeling like I should be following Alexander around. So while I am sad that Alexander won't be at Mainly Music anymore, I am looking forward to seeing how this next year there will look.