Communion with The Crazies

today was our "family communion service" at church.  what a wonderful time to sing carols, worship the Savior, breathe deeply and relax from the hustle and bustle of Christmas, and share an intimate time with our church family.  what a great idea, right?   not for us.  this was a fail...total, complete, epic fail.

let me set the stage...  it was an over-cast, sunday morning and all 6 of us were ready to leave ON TIME.  this probably should have been a warning sign, but we took it as a sort of blessing.  we arrive to church ON TIME (this happens about 20% of the time...again, should have been a warning sign), and we find seats on the first row of the upper section in the theater--you know, the ones with the metal bar dividers.  the communion table is four rows below us.

the girls, smasher and i take our seats and wait for the hubs and si-guy to come in.  we begin to sing "silent night" (although not so much of a "silent sunday morning" for the littlest crazy).  soon, everyone is seated, and we are worshipping together as a family.  at this point, smasher begins to swing on the metal bars...then crawl up the stairs...then swing on the metal bars...then crawl LOUDLY up the stairs.  as i grab him, i look up and catch the eyes of a "still honeymooning" new mom--i see her fear.  i wanted to say, "yes, this is what boys are like.  this is what they DO. they MUST move."

nestled somewhat quietly on the back ramp of the theater, smasher begins to run and move.  at least his noise isn't quite so bothersome back here.  at least he can move and not distract others.  im ok with this.  im fine with walking and singing. i am wondering, however, when we will take communion together.  will the hubs come and get me?  will he just bring the bread and wine to me and we partake together as a family?  will i miss it altogether?  then i see him!  my knight, my hero, my best friend.  he's coming with miss may.  but she just has to use the bathroom.  so we tag-team.  i take her, and hubs has smasher.

upon our return, the hubs is selfless enough to tell me to go ahead and take communion while he watches smasher.  so miss may and i walk to the table.  i take the bread and the wine.  we walk back to our seats...AND THEN IT HAPPENS...

all of our church family seated in front of us, and beside us, and behind us begin to say, "Sheree!" and point...and laugh.  my heart sank as smasher began to scream and cry LOUDLY while AT THE COMMUNION TABLE.  

mortification...shear mortification (if only i could have seen that new moms face then...)

i had no idea that he had followed me...the hubs thought that i knew. 

im not exactly sure WHAT happend at the table. (did he play in the bread?  did he dump it out?  did he turn over the grape juice?  DID HE DRINK THE WINE??????)  thankfully two "soon to be parents" grabbed our littlest Crazy and met me with him.

we go back to the ramp.  the hubs takes smasher completely out of the theater.  i begin to pray...A LOT...for MANY reasons...about MANY things.  im a little teary-eyed, spending some time with The Savior...

AND THEN.........

"hey mom! can i go get some of that grape juice?  im thirsty!"

"no, son.  but you CAN go get your sisters...we are leaving."

i see quite a few teachable moments here.  theres a great deal of parenting that needs to take place.  we have a year (365 days) to practice and talk through and teach proper communion etiquette.  until then, i will take in all of the days with these little Crazies and cherish all of their adventures...even if they DO mortify me at times.  this is what family is all about...this is how memories are made.  this is where we see our purpose...