Christmas

This has been a different Christmas for us. Of course the most important part isn't different- Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus- God's gift to the world. But it's looked different this year. Partly because we have a brand new baby and her hospital stay changed some of my germ thinking. Partly because in Baltimore we spend more time as a family...
But here are some of the things we've done to celebrate this year.

Wednesday night we went  to Symphony of Lights. We enjoyed yummy hotdogs, apples, and chex mix in the car on the way there- a great idea especially with all the traffic! And enjoyed Gingerbread Chex mix and faux hot apple cider (actually ginger ale for me and apple juice boxes for the kids) on the way home. The kids were awed by the beauty of the lights. A great reminder that for all of us to be in awe of God's Creation and His love for us despite our sin.

We've been doing our Jesse tree devotions each night. Janelle made this awesome quilt and gave us the whole kit. It's been fun each night after dinner to read the Jesse tree passage- K and C have been reading the Bible verses this year and James leading the rest. Then after the Jesse tree, we turn over the numbers on our advent calendar and of course eat the candy! KG thinks it's funny that the candy is only for kids which I keep reminding her means no candy for her when she grows up.

We made salt dough ornaments.  I wish I had pics of James and the kids painting but here are some pics of the final projects. 

 We love getting out the Christmas books the first of December each year. So fun to read Christmas books- lots of favorites. We've also watched some great Christmas movies- two years ago Becky and David gave the kids a set of holiday favorites and we've added a few. Buck Denver Why Do We Call it Christmas has been a good new one this year.  Here's our waiter for "Hot hot hot hot chocolate" - he even did the dance!

We've also been doing the Focus on the Family Advent Activity Calendar each day. This link is to the 2012 calendar. We've been using the calendar I printed out last year. But whatever you use (so many great tools out there), it's been super to teach the kids about Jesus' heritage. Another thing the kids  really understand through this advent activity is how the Old Testament tells lots of the prophecy and promises and the New Testament shows how God keeps all His promises.

K and C sang with KWAM (the kids choir at Trinity Assembly of God). KWAM also had a children's play last Sunday. I was still at home with baby C recovering from RSV and T stayed home to spend time with me. But James and the rest went and really enjoyed the play. KG was excited that she got to go "on stage" too.  

We still make time for resting! I knew there was a good reason to leave laundry out!

and just being cute!

Merry  Christmas!!