Christmas in the Village

One of the many activities Give Kids the World has each week (families are only there for a week, so they can repeat the same activities every week--pretty smart, right?!) is a special Christmas celebration.

Run almost entirely by volunteers, the kids can visit with Santa,

receive presents (Caleb got a Transformer and Abby picked a doll--shocker on both accounts!),

participate in all kinds of crafts and games,

Here they're flinging chickens into this guys huge pants...kind of weird, but the kids loved it!

eat Christmas snacks, dance to Christmas music,

and watch a parade complete with dancers, toy soldiers, elves, and floats!

It was SO much fun! We'd been advised by many GKTW alumni to be sure to attend the Christmas celebration, and it did not disappoint!

The highlight of the night was when they made it snow. This one little boy from Puerto Rico was beside himself, having never seen snow. It was so sweet! No one cared that it was actually bubbles--every child there loved playing in the "snow!"

Later, Abby danced on stage without a care in the world. It was the cutest thing! If you're friends with me on Facebook, the video is posted there. Blogger doesn't like my videos and won't post them.

I'll be honest--I teared up several times that evening. I loved listening to the laughs and shrieks of kids who were thoroughly enjoying themselves without abandon. It was just so great to watch kids being kids...not kids with cancer, not kids with trachs, not kids with Cerebrocostomandibular Syndrome, not kids with siblings with life-threatening illnesses...just kids.

And that's what Give Kids the World is all about.

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