Real Life...Primary Program 2015

So the good news is that both Parker and Sydney said their parts in the Primary program this year. They stood up for every song and helped make a great sacrament meeting program.

Here are the behind the scenes details that kept us smiling. Sydney has been very nervous about the program this year. When we offered to practice her part with her she flat out told us she was NOT going to say it. We never practiced at home with her. All week she was nervous and kept telling us she was not going to church this week. On Sunday morning she asked both Bob and I, "Don't you want to stay home from church today?" hoping she could find someone to stay home with her. I figured she would end up sitting with us during the program because she was so nervous. Bob had a different idea and once we got to church he offered her some rewards/bribes if she would do her part and participate. She ended up getting a movie date with just she and Bob (they went to see Inside Out at the dollar movie on Tuesday night) and an entire bottle of whipped cream for herself.

During the program Sydney would either cover her mouth or turn her back to us so that we wouldn't see her singing. We tried to ignore her and occasionally we would see her face and see her singing. We saw a lot of the braid on the back of her head and her two hands covering her mouth. Her class was one of the first to speak. The member of the Primary presidency that was helping the kids is a good friend of ours. Sydney told her she was nervous and Lindsey offered to say her part with her. They started together and Sydney finished her cute little part, "I know Jesus loves me because he gave me my parents."

Parker was also nervous. He practiced his part at home a few times on Sunday morning and was prepared. Parker hates singing. He would be happy to never sing and never hear his sisters sing. He stood up for every song and mouthed the words or pretended to be mouthing the words. During a lot of the program one of our kids had her mouth covered and the other was (reverently) singing "BaBaBaBa" or something like unto it. And you know what? We were thrilled about it. After some of the things we went through last year with Parker (weeks where we couldn't even get him to church), we couldn't have been prouder of what he did on Sunday. He overcame any anxiety he had, tried to participate in something that he really does not like and said his part with clarity, conviction and practice. I love our kids, quirks and all!