Live Nativity

We were given tickets to go see the Live Nativity in Alpine this year by our awesome neighbors the Peterson's.  I have heard amazing things about it and have worked hard this year to do more things involving Christ instead of Santa so we decided to go! Pretty sure Satan knew that was a bad idea - we had a 1001 things come up and get in our way and we also didn't go and decided to go anyway and we're so grateful we did! It was cold but not too cold {it's been a pretty warm winter unfortunately but it was fortunate that night!} and Kaycee did so great waiting in the long line.  We got in the back of a horse trailer and drove up to the start of the nativity.

We were greeted by Roman guards on horse back who told us that everyone is to be taxed. Then we walked to different stations, first shepherds and their sheeps, then a camel {seriously - a camel!} and a donkey. I was dying at the cute donkey. If you haven't read the book "Small One" or watched the movie, do it. It's the reason that I love horses/donkeys so much and it's one of my favorite Christmas stories. The shepherd "watching" the donkey said we could pull his harness to get him in the picture!!

 

Then we walked into a barn.  Before we got to the barn there were a whole bunch of horses in their corral not part of the nativity that were standing close to the fence so Kaycee and I got to touch them. She was staring at them with huge eyes! We went inside the barn and there was different areas set up like if we were downtown in Bethlehem - lots of little shops. And tons of animals! 

 

The goat has a beard!!

Momma and baby goat

There were 2 more camels in the barn and they were MASSIVE!! Jake and I were shocked how big camels are!  We also got to pet another donkey and Kaycee could have stayed there all night long - she was laughing and giggling at his fur. We finished walking through Bethlehem and headed towards the star over another barn.  Inside the second barn was Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

 

It was crazy to me how the atmosphere changed.  There were SOOO many people and kids and animals and it was so noisy and exciting and as soon as you get inside this second barn, it is dead silent.  The spirit was strong on the entire property and throughout the entire experience, but it was overwhelming in this barn.  Seeing a mother and father, holding a brand new little tiny baby, made it seem much more real.  Not a painting or a drawing or a figuring. A real mom and a real baby wrapped in cloths laying in a real trough with hay in it. It was amazing and really helped bring true remembrance of the amazing story of what happened that night 2015 years ago.
 

Standing by one of the camels but you can't really see him

After we left the barn we went outside and got some free hot chocolate.

Kaycee also got to pose with the Roman soldiers and "touch" their sword.

 

Then we waited to ride back down to our car in the horse trailer again. 

 



 

This is easily my favorite thing we've done this Christmas season and I can't wait to incorporate it every year!