Checking it Twice

Trying to get Claire to commit to some things that she wants from Santa this year. Last year her list was excellent- easy to find, fun to buy, mostly in square boxes for simple wrapping.
This year Nick's list has been the simple one. I have an abundance of ideas to fill his stocking and then some and his pile of gifts just keeps growing. He even drew his list for Santa this year. (If I find the picture I'll share it)
Claire drew a list as well. She drew a car, a house and some blocks. :/ Santa needs a larger sleigh and a bigger bank roll.
Merry Christmas!

Truth

Today we went to a family get together. I took 5 gifts, I received no gifts. I felt great!

Where is Everyone Else?

Today we unwrapped our "First Christmas" book that GB and Pappi sent us last year.. Claire and Nick spent the first three pages saying things like "We know Pappi" and "I love you too!". At the end Claire told me she loves her Pappi 100. (That's high praise, she loves me 20 and Jim anywhere between 8 and 15.)

We have been reading all about that First Christmas, Claire is really enjoying it and asking some really good questions that make me think....

Today while we read about the wise men she counted them in the book... One, Two, Three. 'How come there's only 3?' Because there were 3 kings who came to see Jesus, remember they followed the star from very far away. 'But where was everyone else?'

Knowing what we know now, it is amazing to her that not everyone followed that star to meet Baby Jesus.

This weekend we'll be going to see all the bright lights of Christmas but my little girl reminds me to always remember the first bright light of Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Our Big Day

Today we are playing hookey from school (but we don't have a table) and taking the day off of work. We plan to see the Big Jolly man and the Big tree and eat a Big lunch. So we started the day off with Big breakfast!

Then we went to Macy's Like the one of 34th street to see Santa. Who is very popular (like 2 hr wait popular)! Here we are waiting... and waiting... and leaving the line to go potty and waiting and waiting...

They had some neat things to look at while we waited... lots of trains (which were a bigger hit with Nick than Santa was). and even a huge polar express that the line weaved through :)

Finally we got to see the Big guy! He was super impressive, and totally worth the wait. Nick decided he'd view from a distance but Claire jumped right up there and gave him her letter and told him what she wanted for Christmas. (Thomas trains and a basket for her bike)

After Macy's we took a train!!! (wish I had pictures of film of the kids) to Rockefeller Center to see the Big Tree and the ice skating rink. Claire thought they had us on size but our decorations on our tree at home were much better.

Then we walked over to lunch and then another train back to the car.
All in all a great day and one to remember.
Special thanks goes to Grandpa Bill whose idea it was to see the Big Guy and the Big Tree and who played hooky from work to go with us :)

ps. Please don't tell Santa that we played hooky to go see him, I think that might earn us a spot on the naughty list. ;)

O Christmas Tree...

This year the kids decorated most of the tree, I did the garland and lights (things that needed to wrap around the tree) and they did about 95% of the ornament placement. I think they did a great job. :)

Christmas Anthem

I needed a little reminder today of why I am wrapping presents till I am out of tape, cleaning my house like my mother-in-law is moving in and baking for an army.
I needed to remember that I am not only celebrating the child-like sense of wonder and blind faith that the holidays bring. But also the arrival of a Savior. A triumphal entry and a humble beginning to the greatest story to ever unfold (and that is still unfolding). So hallelujah! Christ has come, "Unto you a Child is born, Unto you a Savior is given". (Isaiah 9:6)

I found just the pick me up and reminder in Landon Smith and The Real Matt Jones' song;

Christmas Anthem

(Amazon has it for free download HERE)(It's like God knew I needed to dance like crazy to welcome in this holiday season to my home)

Hallelujah - Hallelujah
Is the jubilant refrain
God is sending us a Savior
Peace on Earth - Good will to men

Let us also sing the praises of our God so full of love
Who on Christmas sent a Savior - sent a Savior from above

Hallelujah - Hallelujah
Is the jubilant refrain
God is sending us a Savior
Peace on Earth - Good will to men

Salt Dough Ornaments

We made ornaments for on our tree, ones that weren't collectible, ones that weren't very breakable, ones that if they didn't last to see next year we didn't really care. We made them out of salt dough. (recipe here)  We mixed them up, rolled them flat and cut them out.

 The recipe said you could speed the hardening process by 'baking' them at 200 degrees for about 20 min. Ours 'baked' for about 2 1/2 hours, then sat out all night and were still not really hard the whole way through the next day... I wonder what we did wrong?

 

Regardless of their soft middles we painted them the next day... 

ok - Nick ate one. (pre-paint) I didn't think he'd like it.

He ate the whole thing.

The Perfect Day

This morning Claire crawled into our bed at 7:30 and cuddled down in between Jim and I. She rolled over to face me and 'whispered'

"It's a perfect day mommy". 

What she meant was that the sun was up, she was awake and I needed to make the best of it. (she's good for me like that) Did I mention that my perfect day started at 7:30, the latest I have been allowed to wake up in about - well - 18 months.   :)

And it was a perfect day. 

Jim was home on his day off, grocery shopping so there were goodies in the house, getting our Christmas tree, decorating our Christmas tree, first flurries of the season, delicious dinner with in-laws and kids to bed without even a moment of fussing.
Claire was right, today was a perfect day and I feel so very blessed to have been able to share it with her.

Where is the Baby Jesus?

Yesterday we opened and set up the nativity. Here it is when I did it.
We read the first Christmas story. Claire was concerned that the cow was going to lick the baby Jesus. And also wondered where His cake was. "Since it is his birthday, right?"

Then the Nick tried his hand at making the Nativity come to life... Surprisingly it was an action story instead of a drama like I always assumed. Then the cow took out the baby Jesus (Claire was evidently on to something).

Then we played 'what's missing'. Where Claire or mommy takes something; in this case a person or animal from the nativity and the other person has to guess 'what's missing'.
Claire was really good at the making things disappear part:

So good in fact that now Baby Jesus is now missing. I hope he's under the couch and the cow did- not in fact- "lick his hairs off".
I encourage you to read through the story again and really imagine it. I am seeing it in a new light through these kids of mine and it's amazing how many things I never noticed or given much thought to. I hope to rediscover Christ this Christmas and I pray the same for all of you.

Jesus Shines

Jesus Shines night and day to show us the way.

"...And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was." Matthew 2:9b

Please continue to remember that Jesus goes before you, preparing the way and knows what there is to come. He will never take you down a road you couldn't handle.

Advent

This year I made my own Advent calendar. I made it out of a mini muffin tin and some magnetized scrapbook paper and stickers. I am quite fond of it. And the thing I am most fond of is the storage space it takes up, or lack of storage space; I can fit it into my pocket!

I can also use the tin for other things, baking muffins and cupcakes of course but also countdowns to vacations, birthdays and other holidays.
I even made some small magnets to put inside. Since the books I bought won't fit in the tiny cup, there will be a present magnet (sticker stuck to a business card magnet and cut out). A matching sticker will be on one gift wrapped book for the kids to open that day.
Can you tell I'm excited!?

I am hoping that doing advent this year will keep us focused on the true meaning of the holidays. Jesus' birth, God's sacrifice and our Hope.

Merry Christmas!