Last year, we started a tradition with the kids of having a birthday party for Jesus with friends a couple of days before Christmas. We go to my friend, Kimberly's house and she tells the story of Jesus' birth while acting it out with help from the Fisher Price nativity set. The kids get really into it and sit quietly waiting to sing happy birthday and eat birthday cake. Here's some photos from that day:
The night before Christmas, we went in the front yard and sprinkled "reindeer food" on the front lawn. It was a mixture of oatmeal and purple glitter. Madeline was so excited to do that....she couldn't wait for the reindeer to come. She was happy about reindeer coming, but didn't want Santa anywhere near the house. She kept telling me he didn't need to come and that she didn't want him to come in her house while we were sleeping. I have to admit, that does sound a little ooogy, if you think about it. I assured her, it was okay and that she wouldn't even hear him or see him. This made me seriously rethink our Santa beliefs in this house, but I gave it a go, for this year at least.
On Christmas morning, Madeline came and woke us up and we went and got Isaac up and went into the living room to open presents. I decided we needed to start another tradition of the kids only receiving 3 gifts each from Santa, just as the wise men brought Jesus 3 gifts. I heard this through a friend at church, and thought it was a wonderful way to tie Santa back to Jesus. Of course, they were both fine with this and didn't even realize they only had 3 gifts. Maddie had asked Santa for cowgirl boots, a jump rope, and kid scissors. Isaac got a Fisher Price Noah's ark set, a leap frog drum, and a leap from radio. Madeline didn't like her cowgirl boots, but we managed to get a picture of her in them before we took them back. She's such a silly goose. Isaac was happy with his new toys and got busy playing with them right away.
My parents came over and Marty's mom too, so they could give the kids their gifts. My mom and Madeline have been cooking together a lot lately, so they got Madeline an apron and chef's hat with her name on it. Also, they gave her a huge cupcake making set and Paula Deen's kids cookbook. Starting her young! Here she is in her apron and hat. Too cute!
3 comments:
I love the oatmeal and purple glitter and the idea of 3 gifts from Santa is great. I think we should try that next year!
Do you still do a stocking of little things?
Very cute pictures!
Yes, we still stuff their stockings with gifts from mommy and daddy. I am a huge lover of stockings, so I enjoy this assignment! I even wrap up stuff and put it in there! :)
In Spain & Italy, Christmas is all about Jesus's birth and hardly any presents are given. It's mostly a day to spend with the family - eating, of course. All homes have a nativity scene in them - some quite elaborate - and on the 25th, they place baby Jesus in the manger. Then it is actually 6th of January, "Los Reyes" in Spain and "Epifania" in Italy, when the kids get all the presents, in honour of the day when the kings visited Jesus. Supposedly the kings weren't actually there for the birth, they were travelling from afar, so arrived a few days later. Just thought you'd find it interesting.
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