Christmas Traditions

After our final day of CC for the semester, we moved into Christmas mode for the most part.  This Christmas seemed to come so fast this year, and I attribute it in part to this Christmas looking very much like the one before.  We're in the same house, the kids are old enough to remember traditions, we have set places for decorations (in storage and around the house), Luke knows how to hang the lights, we know there will be a program at church, playing in leaves, visits to and from certain friends, etc.  I read recently that mothers are often the "Keepers of Christmas" in their homes - carrying the responsibility of meaningful and fun traditions, gift shopping, decorating, special foods/books/experiences, etc.  I certainly feel that and I'm pretty worn out by January, but I LOVE it!  What joy to celebrate this sacred season with these little happy souls!    

The Green girls came over for cookie decorating this year.  

This was the first year we got through all of Jesse Tree.  This is the heart of our Christmas traditions.  I think we will let the kids do more of the leading this year.  It's such a good exercise for all of us to re-walk the story from Creation to Christ. 

We made snowman soaps for friends this year!

Bless his heart.  Hanging lights is not his favorite task, but he wouldn't think of saying no on this one.  We are so thankful he does this!  I didn't take a picture of them up.  I still don't think we've found the right lights for our house, but it was fun and festive to have them up!

This year I joined the church Christmas program.  I went last year and was reminded that I really don't enjoy watching choir performances since I'd SO much rather be singing!  So, this year I joined and loved doing it.  We had rehearsals on Sunday afternoons and performed twice. 

And the kiddos had a program at church, too.  Isaiah recited Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Noelle's class sang a song.