Blog Caroling 2011

Footnote Maven, the creator of the lovely image above, has invited us to go Blog Caroling again! One of my favorite carols is "Away in a Manger," which is sometimes called simply, "Cradle Hymn." The lyrics to "Away in a Manger" are:

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

This song was often sung by my parents, myself and all my siblings at Grace Lutheran Church in Castalia, Ohio, on Christmas Eve.

Nativity image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Blog Caroling: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Footnote Maven has challenged GeneaBloggers to blog about their favorite Christmas carol. While not a traditional Christmas carol, my youngest brother Matt stole the Christmas show in his Kindergarten class when he sang I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus at Venice School, many years ago.














Here are the lyrics to I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, courtesy of lyricsplayground:

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
She didn't see me creep
down the stairs to have a peep;
She thought that I was tucked
up in my bedroom fast asleep.

Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white;
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.

Matt went on to sing solos in countless school concerts, church services, holiday events, and many weddings. He even sang to his lovely bride on their wedding day! Whenever the children's choir sang at Grace Lutheran Church in Castalia, Ohio, we could always hear Matt's voice above all the other choir members.

According to an article by Valerie J. Nelson in the March 10, 2009 issue of the Los Angeles Times, Jimmy Boyd sang this novelty hit song when he was only 13 years old, in 1952. The song's music and lyrics were written by Tommy Johnson, and was also sung by numerous other artists through the years, including the Jackson Five.

Though our parents are gone now, the memory of Matt singing I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is still fresh in the mind of all of his sisters and brothers! We love you Matt!