Christmas Day 2011

Once I learned the "truth" about Santa, I immediately enlisted myself as "Santa's helper."  I loved staying up late on Christmas Eve helping my mom wrap presents and set out piles of gifts (because, even if everyone isn't getting much, with 10 people in the family, there were always piles of presents).  There was nothing I liked more than seeing the living room sparkling in the glow of the Christmas tree lights, filled with festively wrapped presents, and somehow, alive with joy and excitement.

Fast forward twenty years - nothing much has changed.  

Christmas Eve, when the kids are nestled snug in their beds, is still one of my favorite times.  While Santa may not figure strongly in our celebration (I still haven't quite decided what I want to think/do about that part of Christmas...this year I didn't put "from Santa" on any of the gifts, and nobody noticed or commented), there is still a strong element of anticipation and surprise.  

For starters, with the exception of gifts we receive in the mail from family and friends, I don't put any other gifts under the tree before Christmas morning.  Part of that is because the boys are still small and I don't entirely trust their ability to refrain from unwrapping said gifts, but the main reason is that I love the dramatic shift from "hardly anything" to "full to bursting."  I love the amazement I see in my kids' eyes when they come into the living room first thing Christmas morning and are greeted with a transformed and entirely wonderful sight.  I like it so much, that I even send Mark to bed before I'm "finished" so he can have some of the surprise too.  Although, this year, I had a midnight helper, who apparently couldn't wait till morning to see the wonderment.

Since Christmas fell on Sunday this year, we felt we needed to be a little more proactive in making plans for how the day might progress.  Since church began at 11, we worked backward and determined that the kids could get up at 7 and open presents for an hour.  Then we'd stop for breakfast and get ready for church and finish opening gifts when we got home from church.

Of course, the kids were all up before 7, but we managed to (just barely) hold them back till the appointed time.  Due to a poorly timed potty break, I missed witnessing the moment they saw the transformed living room.  Devastating (silly, I know, but it really made me sad).

First, we always open stockings.  I love stockings!  It's so fun to fill them with little treasures and treats; little, usually simple things that might be meaningful to the receiver.  

  Even Grandma and Grandpa had stockings and it was great to have them celebrate the day with our little family.  On Thane and Bryce's Christmas pajamas, it reads, "What Santa Doesn't Bring Me, Grandma Will," and boy was that ever true!  

Once done with stockings, we progressed to opening gifts one at a time, from youngest to oldest.  Thane had no problem figuring out how to open his presents - he tore in with a toddler's delight and energy.  However, once he got the present unwrapped, he was more interested in throwing away the wrapping paper than in the gift itself.  He took his "job" of throwing away everyone's wrapping paper very seriously.  He's his father's son.

Thane's favorite gifts were probably bath toys (including replacement bath drums for the ones that finally met their demise after 5 years of loyal service).  Though, he also loves the Legos (Duplos) we added to our (vast) collection and his Wedgits (a seriously cool toy).

Thane spent most of the present opening time wandering from person to person asking for snacks and treats.  When he came to me asking for a package of fruit snacks, I happily unwrapped one, only to hear from Mark, "I already gave him two packages."  Then Grandpa piped up, "I shared one with him too."  Then Aubree, "me too!"  Clever little beggar.

Bryce greeted the morning with pure delight.  Everything thrilled him.   He got a bright orange beanie in his stocking and promptly put it on his head and left it there all morning.  His favorite gift was a fabulous Viking ship from Grandma and Grandpa Winters (don't be confused if he tells you he got a pirate ship, he won't be persuaded that it's actually a Viking ship).  He also loves his new Car Mat/Rug and plays with it all the time.

By now, Aubree's a professional when it comes to Christmas morning.  She orchestrated handing out all the presents (and quickly discovered that I'd wrapped each person's gifts in their own special wrapping paper) and helped coordinate who was next in line to open a gift.  She was properly excited with all her gifts, though she certainly had favorites, including: a snow globe, a container full of fancy rocks, and new books, nail polish and chapstick from her cousin, Cambrie (who knows exactly what Aubree likes).

My favorite gift was a picture frame from my amazing sister, Kira.  She put a quote on the frame from Alma, "We do not doubt our mother's knew it."  I've always wanted to put that quote on a board or a wall, but on a picture frame where I can put my kids' picture too??  Worlds better!!  Kira's a genius!  I cried when I opened the gift, it's so perfect.  I'm going to hang it in my bedroom where I will see it everyday as a reminder of what I hope my kids can one day say about me.

Surprisingly, we finished opening all the gifts just before 8 am.  I remember it taking 2 full days to open gifts when Aubree was younger.  It's amazing how much different it is to have older kids setting the tone and providing the example.  Thane didn't seem to get overwhelmed at all.

It was a very good day.

Pre-Christmas

It's a week into the new year, so I better get busy and finishing writing about the end of 2011.

*I recall some years when my kids saw Santa no less than five times.  This year they only caught a brief glimpse of the Jolly Fat Man at our Ward Christmas Party. We did manage to get the obligatory Santa-lap-photos of Aubree and Thane (who, surprisingly, didn't cry), but Bryce refused to get closer than two feet.  I'm not bothered.  I decided it's just not worth the trauma to make my kids sit on a stranger's lap for a photo op.

As we stood in the short line to meet with Santa, I remembered that Santa would ask the kids, "what do you want for Christmas?"  I knew what Aubree would answer (an American Girl doll), but it occurred to me that Bryce was totally unprepared for the question.  I bent down to explain to him what he could expect, but the line moved quickly and too soon it was our turn.  Sure enough, after speaking to Aubree, Santa turned and asked the obvious question to Bryce, "what do you want for Christmas?"  Bryce was stymied.  First, he looked at me confused, then repeated Aubree's answer, "a doll?"  Finally, he stated, "I'll be happy with whatever I get."  

*Another favorite Christmas tradition is decorating gingerbread graham cracker houses.  Truth is, I don't like gingerbread and am too lazy to bake it, so we've always just used graham crackers with moderate to minimal success.  This year, thanks to Pinterest (amazing), we learned the Secret to using graham crackers to make fabulous, sturdy (lazy-mom approved) houses.  Want to know the secret (this could seriously change your life)?  

Forget frosting or royal icing, the trick is white chocolate.  Oh yes! Melt up a little white chocolate, pipe it onto your crackers (I used a plastic baggie with a small hole cut in one corner), stick the crackers together (I even found a graham cracker house pattern!), wait a couple minutes, and (Tada!!) perfectly solid structures.  Genius.  

We waited until Grandma and Grandpa Winters came to town to make our houses so we'd have a better adult to kid ratio.  They made houses with us last year as well and were thrilled with the improvements this year.  

Aubree and Bryce probably didn't notice too much of a difference, because they were too interested in eating the candy carefully decorating their structures.  Is there a better way to use excess Halloween candy?

Thane was asleep again  (poor kid) during our decorating, but don't feel too bad, because he certainly didn't get left out of the demolishing eating of said houses.

* We started another new tradition this year - the Minivan Express.  I got the idea from my spectacular friend, Holly, and have been wanting to try it for years.  One night we put the kids in their pajamas and got ready for bed as usual. 

However, once they got to their beds, they each found a ticket good for passage on the Minivan Express.  We loaded into the van and each kid (and the grandparents) got a cup of hot chocolate (sippy cups for the kids, we're not totally insane), and we drove around nearby neighborhoods admiring Christmas lights.  The kids were thrilled.  Definitely a keeper.

* I already wrote about our plans for Christmas Eve, and I'm glad to report that the scavenger hunt went well.  We invited the Missionaries over for a big dinner and to share in the festivities, and tried hard to spoil them in honor of my brother, Ian, who's serving a mission in Africa (hoping that someone was likewise spoiling him).  

Live Nativity

The week before Christmas we invited over a few families, parceled out parts to the children, and put our bump stage to good use.  

I've been in charge of putting together a Nativity Play since I was a teenager "directing" my little brothers and sisters in my Aunt Nancy's basement.  Clearly, I'm a slow learner, but after all those years of frantic, hap-hazard last-minute preparations, I finally planned ahead and wrote out a script (apparently, this is the year for script writing).  It made the performance fifty times smoother (let me know if you want a copy of the script and I'll email it to you).

We also had the kids watch the new Bible Video version of the Nativity story before they acted, so they would have a better foundation from which to begin.

Here our our cast of characters:

Aubree and Bryce reprised their roles from last year as Joseph and the Angel.  Aubree was anxious to have a speaking part. 

When the Wise Men (man) came, we had a toddler fill the role of Baby Jesus, which would have been great except he was more interested in pulling the original Baby Jesus doll out of the manger, which sent Mary and Joseph into a panic (note: you can't see the Wise Man in this picture because he took the admonition to "fall down and worship" seriously).

The whole watching and acting of the Nativity only took about 20 minutes total, then we had tons of treats while the kids played and played and played.  Good times, great tradition.

Nativity Scavenger Hunt Script

A few years ago, my amazing friend Juliana told me about a tradition she had for her family.  Every year on Christmas Eve, they would read the nativity story (as many families do), but to help her little ones maintain interest, she turned the story into a scavenger hunt.  I loved the idea and our family has since adopted it as one of our favorite Christmas traditions.  

This year I took the time to sit down and type out a script and I thought I'd share it for anyone else who might be interested in Juliana's fabulous idea.  Keep in mind, this is what works for our family, this year.  Next year's iteration might be vastly different.  That's what's nice about it, it can be altered to fit any age or interest level.  Add, adjust, or subtract activities as appropriate, change the clues, make it your own.

 

Christmas Eve Nativity Scavenger Hunt - 2011 Version

Opening Song: Picture Christmas

Introduction –

- Why do we celebrate Christmas? 

- On this night, Christmas Eve, we celebrate the night Jesus Christ was born over 2000 years ago.  There were many people who witnessed the events of that most wonderful night.

- Just like the Wise Men followed a star to find the baby Jesus, tonight we will follow clues to help us learn more about His miraculous birth.

***********

Open envelope 1 with first clue:

Clue 1) When you want to begin a journey, you usually begin by putting on your shoes and coat.  To begin our journey, look for your next clue where we keep our coats and shoes.

**********

Go to coat closet to find envelope 1, then head back up to living room.

Envelope 2 (on outside): Read Luke 1:26-31, 38

- Who do these scriptures tell us about? (Mary)

- Discuss Mary for a few moments. (She must have been very righteous to be chosen to be the mother of Jesus, and she was willing to do whatever Heavenly Father asked of her.)

Activity: Look at pictures depicting Mary.

Open Envelope for next clue:

Clue 2) Mary was the mother of Jesus.  You’ll find your next clue where the mother of Aubree, Bryce, and Thane sleeps.

*************

Go to bedroom & find Mary figurine & clue in envelope.  Return to living room to place figurine,

Envelope 3 (on outside): Read Luke 2:1, 3-5

- What does it mean to be “great with child?”

- Who was Joseph?

- How do you think Joseph took care of Mary and showed that he loved her on the long trip to Bethlehem and that night in the stable?

Activity: Sing “When Joseph Went to Bethlehem”

Open envelope for next clue:

Clue 3) When Mom and Dad pay our taxes every year, we don’t have to walk the places where we were born.  Instead, we use our computer to fill out forms and pay what is due.  You’ll find your next clue there.

***************

Go downstairs to computers to find Joseph figurine & envelope with next clue (take the Joseph figurine upstairs and set next to Mary).

Envelope 4 (on outside): Read Luke 2:6-7

- Discuss (importance and power in those few, short scriptures and what they mean to the world)

Activity: Draw a picture of what you think baby Jesus looked like wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Clue 4) Mary laid her new baby in a manger filled with straw.  To find your next clue, look where we lay the baby of our family.

*****************

Go to Thane’s crib to find the next envelope and Baby Jesus figurine (return to living room & put figurine on display).

Envelope 5 (on outside): Read Luke 2:8-20

- These scriptures tell us about two more groups of people who witnessed the birth of Christ.  Who were they? (angels and shepherds)

Activity: Tell what you would have said, done, or thought if you were one of the shepherds that night.

Clue 5) “Make haste,” like the shepherds, to where we keep our hymn books, and remember that, like the angels, we still sing praises to Jesus Christ.”

********************

Go to hymn books and find figurines of angel & shepherds.  Place on display.

Envelope 6 (on outside) : Read Matthew 2: 1-3, 5, 8-13

- How did the wise men know that Jesus was born? (they saw the star)

- How did they know what the star meant? (they studied their scriptures and understood the prophesies.)

- The wise men are a great example for us.  First, they show how important it is to read our scriptures, so we too can know how to find Jesus.  Second, they brought precious treasures as gifts to Him. 

-Can we bring Jesus gifts of gold or dolls or cookies?

-What kind of gifts can we bring him?

Activity: Write or draw a gift you can give to Jesus this next year.

(We’ve done this the last few years, and have kept the pages from previous years, so we’ll have a chance to personally review our progress.  We’ll add this year’s gifts to our envelope and review them next year.)

Open final envelope

Clue 6: Sing the Closing Song (He Sent His Son) and you’ll find the Wise Men waiting with our dessert.

Spoiled

Aubree only asked for one thing for Christmas- an American Girl doll.  She's been asking for months.  She loves all the books and spends hours pouring over the American Girl catalogs.  But, have you seen the price-tag on those dolls?!?

Recently I got an email from my Aunt Kat saying: "I have an authentic American Girl in her full outfit for a little blonde girl who happens to belong to you."

Say what?!  How did she know?!?

Last Saturday we had an opportunity to visit Aunt Kat.  I didn't tell Aubree about the awaiting surprise, and the look on her face when she opened her present was perfect.  "Really?!" she gushed, "for me?!"

After expressing her thanks, she spent the rest of the visit totally enraptured with her new friend, Kit.  To be honest, she's spent the last 5 days the same way.

Of course, the ever-generous Kat, provided gifts for Bryce and Thane as well.  And, given her choices, I'd say she could make a great second-career as a gift selector.

Though feeling ill, Bryce still mustered enthusiasm for a new car-hauler.  Once home and feeling better, he promptly filled up the hauler with his matchbox cars and has been zooming it around the house ever since.

Thane received a portable music player/lantern.  A toy that makes noise and light??  Could you find a better gift for a toddler?  

 After receiving such fabulous gifts, I figured we'd had a great Christmas and could be done.  Right?  

Yeah, the kids didn't buy it either.

Thank you (so much!), Aunt Kat!!

Feliz Navidad (Happy Nativity)

We're big on Christmas traditions.  We've realized (and are glad) that a lot of our traditions center around the Nativity.

Every year we make our own salt dough nativity set.  It's an activity we all look forward too, and it's amazing to see how much "artistic" progress our kids make in a year's time (I say kids, because I don't think Mark or I have gotten any better over the years).  

Last Christmas was the first year Aubree was able to try to make figures that actually looked semi-recognizable.  She carefully watched what I did, then deliberately copied my efforts.  This year?  She worked totally independently and her camel is arguably the best piece of the set (she also made the angel, the star, the wise man's presents [complete with bows on top], and the shepherd).

Bryce understood the concept and tried really hard to make a cow.  He got frustrated that his efforts did not materialize, and would smash his creations down to begin again. Finally, he decided he wanted to "help" me make Joseph, and was largely responsible for making Joseph's head covering.

Thane, because of his early bedtime, was asleep during our creative renderings.  However, tradition mandates that the baby of the family make baby Jesus.  So, with persistent reminders from Aubree and Bryce, I made sure that Thane had his moment to participate.

Aubree and Bryce were a little appalled at the lump that Thane produced, declaring, "that doesn't look like Baby Jesus!"

*********

A new tradition we started this year involved going on a "Journey to Bethlehem."  A friend told us of a 7th Day Adventist Church that puts on an elaborate, interactive "journey" each year before Christmas.  We got [free] tickets, bundled up, and headed out - unsure of what we might find.

Elaborate was an understatement!  It was an amazing 30 minute "walk" through the outskirts of Bethlehem, through the city gates, the city marketplace, and finally ending up at the lowly stable where we found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

Along the way we met the Wise Men and their (real life) camels, were yelled at by Roman Soldiers, appeared before a gluttonous King Herod, danced at a Jewish wedding ceremony, were beckoned by a myriad of shopkeepers, were refused rooms at the too-full inns, and witnessed the angels bringing good tidings of great joy along with shepherds in their fields.

It was extremely well done.  I didn't know how the kids would react, especially at getting yelled at by the Roman Soldiers, but they loved it.  Aubree begged, "when Grandma and Grandpa come, can we go back and take them too?!"

Of course, it didn't hurt that they got hot apple cider and cookies at the end.

*******

Another nativity-related tradition we started last year is going to the LDS Christmas Creche Display.  Once again, we were in awe at the myriad nativity sets, from all cultures and circumstances, all showing the same pivotal moment in time.

I asked the kids to find their favorite creche.

Bryce liked the silhouettes on clear blocks.

Aubree had a hard time narrowing it down, but finally decided on a couple African sets.

We have a few more Nativity activities still planned, including a live nativity performance with friends and our annual Christmas Eve nativity scavenger hunt.  Love it!  Tis' the reason for the season.

PS All this Nativity reflection, reminds me of a time earlier this year (April, maybe?) when Aubree and Bryce spent weeks re-enacting scenes from Christ's early life.  That may sound well and good, but it didn't begin quite so well...
One day Bryce says to Aubree, "let's play Baby Jesus.  I'm King Herod and you're Mary." He then proceeded to chase Aubree around the house yelling, 'I'm going to kill baby Jesus!'"
After a few moments of shock (and a few more moments of laughter), I gently re-directed their play.  For the next few weeks they pretended they were Mary and Joseph running away from King Herod. "Quick, here comes King Herod! Let's flee to Egypt!"...