We started lots of new traditions this Christmas and it has been so fun! The kids are just at the right age for doing many things and they are so into it that is is worth it. I couldn't wait for school to get out so we could enjoy all of the fun more. Here is a little bit of what our house is like right now:
1. I made a Christmas Advent like I did for Halloween. Each pocket has a paper with an activity for each day and a little ornament. It definitely keeps me accountable for following through with all the festivities we have planned. I will post some of those things next time. Sorry this isn't a very clear pic.
2. Christmas Stories. We are carrying on Peters mother's tradition of reading a story every night to the kids. I got special Christmas mugs for sipping hot chocolate during story time as well. They love to cuddle up and read with only the ambience as lighting. I like how Lily is messing with the tree. Very typical. I love reading this way so much that I wish we could just leave the tree all year long. It makes the mood so fun.
We have thrown a string of lights up here or there, but this is the first time we went all out and really decorated the house. So worth it! The kids just think it is the best thing ever. We will definitely start adding a little more each year until we are that house on the block that is all decked out. Dallin decided where and put up the candy canes by himself.
This is our Elf on the Shelf "Jingle Bells". He came to stay at our house this month to watch the kids and make sure they are being good. Each night he goes to report to Santa and comes back and sits in a different spot each day. The kids LOVE waking up each morning to find where Jingle Bells is. Tanner is really a believer and talks to him regularly to make sure that Jingle Bells knows that he wants Woody, Buzz, Jesse, and Bullseye for Christmas. The first morning after we read the book that came with it, when Tanner woke up and found where the elf had moved to, he got so excited and said, "Mom, last night I though the elf was just a toy, but now it moved so it really IS real!!!" The kids tell people about him all the time. I don't know it has has particularly help reduce the naughties around here though.
The kids have their own baby tree that they get to hang their advent ornaments on each day. It adds more depth to their daily pocket, and it has been fun to watch the little tree fill up. The last ornament they will get on Christmas is baby Jesus.
As if that wasn't enough fun every day. When we got our Friend Magazine this month and found this scripture tree, we added it to our morning scripture study right away. Each day we read a question about the Christmas story and find the ornament with the scripture reference to find the answer. Once we find the answer and discuss it, we glue the ornament on the tree.
