December 14... Angels

Tonight was an Angel craft! The kids thought it was funny that I traced their feet and Ethan thought it was even more hilarious that I put his face on his foot, his exact words " my face can't go on my foot, that's silly". I love that Taelor "painted" her toe nails I mean her angels body! The kids know that Angels protect us and that they are always around us, Ethan wonders why he can't see them. Sometimes I find myself going into way more detail then I need to with a 2 year old! But I am glad they know about Angels and that God sends them to earth to be with us!

December 13.....The Star

Tonight we learned about the Star! The kids really enjoyed this craft and now this great string of stars is on my tree at the bottom....gave up on having my tree just be for ornaments!

December 12...Letter from Santa

The kids received their letters today from Santa!!! Yes they were so excited ( I know you can't tell by the look on Ethan's face...he had just woke up!). Thanks to my sister Vanessa who always tells Santa that these two have been good! Ethan was wondering why his only said something about his Woody doll because that same day he realized he also wants a Mac Truck from Cars! Oh goodness, guess Santa needs to look for one of those too!

December 12....South Coast Plaza

Admiring the " North Pole"

Yep we braved South Coast Plaza today! It was a great day, the kids enjoyed all the decorations and the carol singers. I love this time of year!

And I just noticed... I am hardly in any pics because I am always the one taking them!

December 11...Movie night

The Santa Clause

Snuggling...or at least Taelor is!

After the movie, this is what Mommy and Daddy snacked on...Gamma's goodies!

Tonight we watched The Santa Clause, the kids thought it was great, but yes they had LOTS of questions. Never knew that watching a movie where a dad turns into Santa would have to have a commentary the whole time! But it was a nice movie night, I love these nights!

December 10.... Polar Express Sleep over...

The kids had their first real sleepover at Aunt Debbie's Polar Express sleepover with 7 of their cousins! They had a blast, stayed up till the wee hours of the night, and yes I mean wee hours, Ethan made it till midnight and Taelor was up with her cousin Morgan still watching movies till 2 am!! Yes my daughter who is in bed every night by 8 pm was up till 2 am! Guess that's what happens when you let a girl go to bed when she wants. But needless to say they both had a great time, watching Polar Express, making cookies, doing crafts and playing with their cousins. We will see if Aunt Debbie is up for these crazy kids next year! (And 9 kids was only from 3 of us older cousins, can you imagine next year if all the other cousins go!)

December 9th....Ornaments

Today our craft was a homemade ornament. The kids each made a light up ornament from a few stickers I had. Taelor then made a few little ones to hang on her own tree. We learned about "ornaments on the tree" and how in medieval Europe plays were performed and December 24th was declared Adam and Eve day and the setting was the garden of Eden, but they couldn't find a fruit tree in the middle of winter so they decorated it with apples which were then called "paradise trees". Later the trees were more elaborate and decorated with gingerbread cookies, nuts and fruits and vegetables, and then it was referred to as the "sugar tree" (so glad ornaments have come a long way!). The most important ornament though was the wafers of bread hidden in the branches with represented the body of Christ that was broken on the cross for our sins.

As I read this story to the kids I was reminded of my grandma's Christmas tree, she had little red apples for us with our names on them and it was tradition for us to hang our own apple on the tree. I miss our Christmas time with Grandma, she was the one who held all of us together (remember she has 8 children and 25+ grand kids +great grandchildren, so yes I have a HUGE family), since she passed away back in 2002 it has never been the same. I am not saying that Christmas isn't as enjoyable because it is, it gets better every year especially with kids, but the memories of my Grandma will always be some of my favorite times as a child and a young adult. But I am glad that I get to start my own traditions with my family and to create new memories!

December 8th...not feeling good

Today we took a day off from a Christmas activity, Saul and I have had a yucky cough this week so we weren't feeling too good today, hopefully this will pass soon.

December 7th- Christmas Cards

Today we made Christmas cards and learned how they got started back in 1843! The kids each made 2 cards and they got to choose who they were making it for. Ethan made one for Woody and Santa, which he wants to leave out for him on Christmas Eve. Taelor made one for a "little girl who doesn't have a home and sleeps on the streets" (her exact words), and one for her friend Hailey. And yes we will be giving the card to a homeless girl, one of my friend's parents works with the homeless and they are going to give it to a little girl for her, I think I might have them make a few more! I love the heart these two have, I hope it continues to grow with them as they get older!

December 6th- Snowflakes, Tree and Lights

We made snowflakes today with the help from mommy! We also learned about the Christmas tree and how it came about and that it represents God with his arms stretched out for us, and that all Christmas trees point up to heaven, the triangular shape represents the Holy Trinity-the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We also learned about the "lights on the tree" and how a man named Martin Luther saw twinkling stars in the midst of the evergreen trees, so he cut down a fir tree and put burning candles on the branches (yes a fire hazard!). They were reminded of Psalm 19:1 "The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship".