My four-year-old daughter is all about the singing. On a normal day she's known to burst into song at any given moment; during Christmas, when there seems to be extra music in the air, life is one big musical extravaganza.
And, of course, it does not matter that she's still fairly unfamiliar with the words of these Christmas carols. She just forges right ahead. She's an improviser, that girl.
For example, here is her version of Jingle Bells:
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
All night long, there is too high,
A-laughin' on the hay. Hey!
Away In a Manger is also a good one:
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.
The little Lord Jesus...
[long, thoughtful pause, at which point she breaks from the tune altogether but continues singing with gusto]
The little Lord Jesus is asleep and go to sleep little baby and where is your mommy and I am a princess of the world and belie-e-e-eve in your dre-e-e-eams and where is my snack.
My personal favorite has been Gloria, In Excelcis Deo:
Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria
In a shrinkin' spaniel.
It's okay. There's clearly a learning curve. This is the same little girl who was telling her baby doll the Christmas story the other day; as I eavesdropped, I heard her explain that "Mary took the baby Moses and laid him in a nest."
We have a little work to do.
