merry christmas

From our family to yours, we wish you a very

Merry Christmas

merry christmas

o' christmas tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

How lovely are thy branches!

For every year the Christmas tree,

Brings to us all both joy and glee.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

Much pleasure dost thou bring me!

Wishing you and your family a very 

Merry Christmas 

&

Happy NewYear

DIY Christmas Trees

For those of you who are putting final touches to your Christmas decor, this is a quick and easy way to get the kids involved with a craft, and is something that is simple to do this weekend, just in time for a pretty display for Christmas next week.

Tools and Materials

• Cereal boxes
• Glue
• Tissue paper 
• gift ribbon (the curly ribbon kind)
• Scissors

Take the cereal box and cut it into a square shape.  Roll the box into a cone shape and hot glue together.  With one of the cones,  I hole punched throughout and wrapped with tissue. (to make the tree illuminate,  place a  battery operated tea light candle underneath).

Glue and wrap with tinsel, tissue paper, ribbon...whatever is pretty in the house.  (I've seen music sheets, twine, you name it!).

Oh Christmas tree...how lovely are thy branches.

See you in January 2013!!!

wishes

christmas future

Ironically, as a child who loved to write, I never wrote letters to Santa.  I did believe in him at one point, but at an early age, I figured out that he was not real, and figured, why would I leave perfectly good cookies and milk out for someone that wasn't real?

My kids somewhat believe in Santa. Well, at least my younger one does.  I think they believe in the idea that somehow a gift is left near their "Cookies for Santa" plate, tagged “from Santa”.

I made these plates at a local "Paint Your Own Pottery" store.
One for each child...a boy and girl, of course!

However, the kids didn’t do the full deal this year…lining up to see Santa to get their picture taken with him (he scares my daughter), and then write a letter to him (“if Santa knows if we’ve been good or not, then why do we need to write to him?”…this is my son’s logic).  I even missed booking the Santa train ride where you get hot chocolate and cookies when he stops by to visit you during the ride.

{Recipe for this Chocolate Chip Cookie found here}

As my children get older, we don’t participate as much with all the Santa activities that come around this time of the year.  Yes, I know it’s not the “reason for the season”, but for young children, part of the magic of Christmas is the magic part.  The “Santa twinkles his nose, comes down a chimney and leaves you a gift if you’ve been good” magic.

I don’t think doing all that stuff takes away from the “reason for the season” but in fact, enhances it.  As long as they understand what they’re celebrating, how they celebrate really is all about the spirit of why you do things.

While the children are still young and innocent, my hope for Christmas future (at least for the next few innocent years), we can continue to attend church service, listening to miracle of Jesus' birth and embrace the celebration of our savior, and then come home, where the kids will leave their cookies and milk for Santa, leave out carrots for the reindeer, and say thank you, for celebrating Jesus with us by bringing joy and love to children everywhere.

christmas present

Every year, our children’s school puts on a beautiful Christmas musical & pageant.  It always occurs the night of the last day of school before the holidays, and there is a matinee performance a few days earlier, for those who can’t make the final night.

Hours and hours of practice throughout the November and December months are put into this show.  Teachers and students alike take great pride with showcasing their hard work. 

{Clay Gift Ornament Tag instructions here}

Because I’m on the marketing committee at our school, I attended the full dress rehearsal this week to take some photos and video (I volunteered to edit the video of the performance to be put on the school website…yes, what have I gotten myself into???).

At rehearsal, all the kids were fidgety.  Many talked/pinched/squirmed through other performances, and in general, the energy was not quite there.  Maybe that’s what happens on a Monday morning after a weekend before Christmas (where I’m sure many of the kids were tired from attending Christmas parties…my kids included!).  I can see the tension and worry on the teacher’s faces…what’s going on with all these kids?  All that hard work…

But every year, without fail, when it’s time for these kids to shine, they are up, energetic and dressed to impress.  I guess they’ve “been there, done that”, and since they have done rehearsals for the Christmas pageant so many times, they instinctually know to package their energy until it really matters, then they let it rip, and give it all they’ve got!

It is with this giving spirit, that in return, these kids know their parents, grandparents and loved ones, will sit though off key notes and flubbed lines, put a smile on their faces, and give their gift of love and support. 

{Photo gift card holder in frames. Card holder instructions here}

And that’s the best present anyone could ask for.

{Attending these beautiful  parties...Privet and Holly}