A Caroling We Went!

Last night we met up with about six other families up to do some Christmas Caroling at Little Sister's of the Poor...a nursing facility in our neighborhood. We weren't sure how Cady would do because it was somewhere different and potentially overwhelming...and it was smack in the middle of dinner time too.

We pulled up the facility and the first question out of her mouth was "where is Gigi's car?" She only knew at this point that we were going to visit some "Gigi's" (Cady's term for anyone who is around the same age as her very own Great Grandmother, AKA Gigi). We went into the facility and were greeted by a very outgoing and vivacious nun who Cady was pretty frightened of...even after she told Cady that she was a penguin and tried to play peek-a-boo with her through her ummmm nun-atire(insert correct word).

The kiddos were given cards that other kids in the group had made to pass out to the residents. Initially Cady stayed right with us and wanted nothing to do with the cards. Mid-way through the touring and singing she approached a resident with me and gave her a card (It's a really good thing Cady had already turned her back and started on her way and thus missed the woman shrieking "Joey!" and throwing her card on the floor.) As we moved through the facility, which was a huge multi-floor facility)Cady started to warm up. She naturally warms up to certain people and takes a liking to them right away and it was no different here. When she would spot the "right" person (always a woman) she'd trot right up to them with a card. She was really starting to enjoy all the singing and card giving and it warmed our hearts to watch her spread some cheer. By the end of the evening, she was walking alongside the activities director leading the pack, peering into rooms, and with the other kids gathering around the residents. One Gigi had M&M's that she shared with Cady which may have a little to do with her new-found comfort of the whole situation. And at the end of the nights there were cookies and apple juice. Oh boy!

Cady's favorite part? She said it was the cards that she gave to the residents.