Record Breakers

While we were in Austin, Brian forwarded me an email asking for volunteers for the World's Largest Nativity and Music Video. The volunteers would be angels in the video. I thought, "Why not?" and signed the kids and I up.  It turned out to be more stressful and less fun (since it was just me and the kids), but I still got to participate, and I certainly don't regret it. 

So, on December 1, Michael, Rachel, and I officially helped break a Guinness World Record for the largest live nativity.

 And in the process, we almost got trampled by this camel:

 Seriously, Michael had been standing a little bit closer when the camel decided to stand up and start walking backwards. I pulled him away as fast as I could. I've been stepped on by a horse before, and it broke my arm. I imagine that a camel would hurt just as bad if not worse, especially if you're 5 (versus my 8). Michael was mad at me for grabbing him and moving him. He didn't know that he had almost died.

Just before breaking the record, the kids started to lose it. I ran out of snacks, and Rachel went down hill in a hurry. I was wearing this funky bell costume with no arm holes, so I couldn't pick Rachel up and carry all our stuff. Rachel was just crying and crying until this sweet BYU student came and asked her if she needed a hug. It says something about Rachel's distress that Rachel let the girl pick her up and give her a hug. The girl helped us get through the next half hour, but during the actual record breaking, she disappeared to talk with a friend. By then, I figured out how to lift Rachel up (I think it got cold enough for me to wear my coat again), but Michael was upset because there were several taller people in front of him, and he couldn't see what was going on. He broke down, and I tried to explain how I couldn't lift him and how we couldn't move. Finally, I asked a woman in front of me if she wouldn't mind lifting my 5-year-old up so he could see. She readily lifted him, and things got a little better. After the official Guiness presentation was made, Michael was excited about seeing the animals. That's when we almost got trampled.

As part of the Nativity, they shot a music video featuring David Archuleta and the Piano Guys.

and I helped make this light dot nativity. I'm pointing at my spot.

You'll find the "dot nativity" at the very end of the video. And now you know which dot I am :)

 After the camel scare, I had to practice for our dot nativity thing. We found our spot, and Rachel kept crying. She was so miserable! The sun was going down, and it was getting cold. Another nice woman took pity on Rachel and gave us some fruit snacks. Everyone was so kind and sympathetic.  And every time I would say something about being crazy enough to drag my kids to this thing, they would all tell me how amazing I was to get them involved in something like this. Finally, just after 5, Brian came and picked up the kids after he got off work. Michael was sad that he didn't get to shine a flashlight and wear the bell hoop light costume, but I think he was happy to go get warm and get some food. 

After the kids left, it was pretty lonely. Spirits stayed high despite the cold and wind. They hooked a camera to these balloons to get the aerial shot of our dot nativity. It was pretty crazy to watch. We had to pause filming a few times because the wind was blowing too hard. 

Finally, they got enough footage to be satisfied. I watched some filming, took this paparazzi shot of Alex Boye: 

grabbed a muffin, and decided to call it. And when I saw the music video all finished, I must admit I was a little proud to be a part of it.