decorate a tree, put out our nativity, light our advent candles, hang our stockings
including a mini one for Jesus (the kids have written down the things they would like to give to Jesus during Christmas - mostly kindness, obedience and love)
of course we always bake cookies, although in recent years it's not quite as many, but still yummy.
The kids get to open one gift a night as we get closer to Christmas (otherwise we would spend all
day opening presents from grandparents and family members. Some new traditions we started 
this year was having the kids draw a name of another sibling from a hat, so rather than buying four gifts for each sibling this year they only had to buy one. Of course they are free to
make what ever other gifts they want for their siblings but we wanted to keep the focus off the toy and on the joy of giving. Soon we will begin finding ways to do service, like serving in a local food bank or at
a senior center or a children' s shelter, because I truly want my kids to learn the true meaning of giving and service. Unfortunately most places require you to be at least 12 years old. So we decided to
write letters to the soldiers serving their country who can't be with their family during Christmas as well as sending thank you notes to the Fire Department and Police Department.
My kids are so blessed to have the life they live I just want them to understand that fact and appreciate what God has given us. So through the cookies, decorations and Santa (although they are starting to get a little hip to him - they ask lots of questions) we want them to just be thankful, that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.
Thankful for the life we have and why we have this Wonderful Life. (I know very cliched but very appropriate ...and yes this picture of the girls sledding with the neighbors was taken from the car...I really don't like the cold). Hope you enjoy the pictures and have a very
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
2 comments:
love your traditions...and that you took the picture in the car :-)
Thanks for the Christmas post, Michelle. So true that it becomes hard to get kids to focus on the reason, and that we have SO VERY MUCH to be thankful for! Merry Christmas!
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