maryryanbogard | A Christmas play, with plushies

Remember last year, when I mentioned how some people get a little... creative... with nativity scenes, using various toys and I ended saying I planned to do so? Well, last year didn't work out, but with some help from my mom and stepdad, I actually managed to go through with it this year. Think of this as a play, and the plushies/characters are actors (so no one's role is going to be an exact match). So, with that...

"Centuries ago, the emperor Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So everyone went to their hometown to register. So Joseph and his wife Mary made the journey from Nazereth to Bethelhem."

"But there was no room at the inn."

"So it was in the stable behind the inn where Mary brought forth her son, and laid Him in a manger."

(Yes, I know Vanellope's a girl. But she and Ralph are the "saviors" of Sugar Rush, so to speak, and Ralph's too big and too much an adult for this role.)

"And there were, in that same country, shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night."

(Yes, I made a "hearding cats" joke here.)

"When an angel appeared before them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them."

"They were scared, but the angel said to them, 'Fear not. I bring you great news that will bring great joy to all people. For a Savior has been born- Christ the Lord. You will find the babe lying in a manger.'"

"Now after Christ was born, three wise men followed a star westward towards Him."

"And presented Him with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

"And that..."

"...is why the arcade is always closed on this day."

The idea is that Ralph was telling everyone the story (and no, they didn't fall asleep or anything like that; trying to get all of them to stand up was just too much trouble), and they were imagining themselves in the roles (and now you'll probably reread all but my "stage notes" in Ralph's voice.) Yes, had there been a King Candy plushie (or I was willing to pay for a custom one), he would have appeared as Herod- a fitting role indeed, especially given who was "baby Jesus".

In any case, remember when I said I was "hoping this take on the Nativity is but a small part of a greater holiday treat involving the arranging/staging of dolls and taking of photos"? Well...