On Nativity Scenes, and Holy Nights....

Early this season we took out the nativity scene as a family, unwrapped the pieces, and arranged them around the little wooden stable. I helped my children arrange the pieces in what I've always felt was the suitable and artistic manner. Mary and Joseph in the stable with Jesus in the manger, various animals gathered around. Outside are the visitors, arranged in two groups. The shepherds with their sheep on one side, and the wise men and their camels on the other side.

Through the season little hands have consistently rearranged the pieces, nearly on a daily basis. Sometimes the pieces have all been bunched up inside the stable in a decidedly unattractive manner, sometimes they have been making a procession across the table in one big line. Other times they have been gathered in unorganized groups around the stable, ox, shepherd, and wise man shoulder to shoulder. Only one thing has remained unchanged, the babe, in the manger, in the center of the stable.

As these little dramas have played out on our living room side table I have realized something important. We all kneel at the manger together. Heavenly Father never meant for us to worship in distinct groups made up of the rich and learned and the poor and humble. He is much happier when we are jumbled together in an unsegregated group of believers, labeled only with the common name of disciple. Whether we have gold in our pockets or only wool, we bring the gift He wishes for most, our Hearts.

Merry Christmas to all those who kneel at the manger with me on this night.

Christmas Traditions

You can copy and paste it on your blog/email. Just copy and fill it in. Have fun!

1. WRAPPING PAPER OR GIFT BAG?
I usually try to do a mix, and I am definitely never going to be named as gift wrapper extraordinaire. I do like wrapping gifts though. I do usually reuse any gift bags that I have gotten from the year past and I have a couple of decorative gift boxes (reusuable) as well. I like to think I’m being green. I bought and used three rolls of wrapping paper this year, and while they did not follow a theme, they were color coordinated.


2. REAL OR FAKE TREE:
Real trees are lovely and it is fun to choose one and set it up, but they are also expensive, messy, and time consuming. So, I must admit, I love having a fake tree. We’ve had ours for 4 years now, and it did decide to not be prelit anymore this year. If we get into a house rather than a townhouse, I would like to get a bigger one (prelit please).

3. WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE:
Whenever we have an evening with Charles and the kids available (after Thanksgiving). Charles works 4 ten hour shifts a week and is usually not home till after eight, so we have to wait for a good night. I like to pull out the Christmas stuff, put some music on, and decorate the house together.

4. WHEN DO YOU TAKE THE TREE DOWN:
When we get around to it, hopefully not too far into January.


5. DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG:
It’s yummy, but in small quantities only. If I go the season with out having some, I don’t miss it.

6. FAVORITE GIFT RECEIVED AS A CHILD:
I was always happy with what I received for Christmas, though I don’t remember too many specific gifts. I only remember one year when I had hoped to get a Barbie type doll and didn’t get one. My Grandpa Dawson asked if I had gotten everything I wanted and I said, “The only thing I didn’t get was a Barbie doll.” He told me to wait and then rummaged around in the other room for a minute and came back with a Barbie type doll. He had bought it a couple of months before when he had seen it on sale and then forgotten about it. It was a happy coincidence that is what I asked for.

7. DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE:
Yes, I have a nice one that my little sister Jocelyn bought for us for our first Christmas after we were married.

8. HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR:
I have a really hard time picking out gifts for anyone other than immediate family members.

9. WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU EVER GOT:
I am usually grateful that someone thought of me. Some things I have liked more than others, but I always appreciate the thought.

10. EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR: My kids, because they love anything right now. And my Mom, because she is always so grateful, and there are always a few standards I know she’ll like.

11. MAIL OR EMAIL CHRISTMAS CARDS:
I haven’t done too well with Christmas cards, but I always appreciate getting them, especially when they include a family picture.

12.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE:
It’s a Wonderful Life

13. WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS:
Usually in December, and usually too late to be stress free.

14. HAVE YOU EVER RECYCLED A CHRISTMAS PRESENT:
This is kinda embarrassing, but yes. If I have something in good shape that we haven’t used, I might give it. I hate to have things go to waste.

15. FAVORITE THING TO EAT AT CHRISTMAS:
Oh, everything. I really do love Christmas candy and Peanut butter kiss cookies. Christmas dinner is great too, and I love a good Christmas brunch too.

16. COLORED OR CLEAR LIGHTS ON THE TREE:
I lean slightly toward white lights.

17. TRAVEL AT CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME:
We have a nice set up right now. We have a lot of family that lives nearby. So this year we are going have open gifts in the morning with our kids, head over 11ish to Grandpa Valentino’s house for a brunch and gift exchange. Then go over to my Mom’s house for Christmas dinner and gifts. The next day there is a family gathering with Charles’s mom’s side of the family. So, we have our bases covered. I don’t mind traveling on Christmas sometimes.


CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER:
Yep.

19.ANGEL ON THE TREE TOP, OR A STAR:
Right now we have a star, but it looks it little bit like a fancy snowflake.


20. OPEN THE PRESENTS CHRISTMAS EVE OR MORNING:
Christmas morning!

21. MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR:
Getting stressed out about getting gifts and worrying about money.

22. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT CHRISTMAS:
I love the spirit of the season. I love Christmas music. I love heart rending stories. I love anticipating giving a gift I know someone will love.

23. HOT CHOCOLATE OR CIDER:
Hot Chocolate with lots a marshmallows up top.

24. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS: Lot’s of quiet peaceful moments.

25.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG: Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel.

First Real Day of Snow

A couple of weeks ago, we were running really late as we were trying to get ready for school. It was just one of those days, full of delays. When we finally made our way the car we were already a good 20 minutes behind schedule. When we got outside it was snowing, and there was some snow on the ground. It was the first snow the kids had really seen this season and it was really very beautiful. As they ran out in the snow, rapture on their faces, I made a decision. What was 10 extra minutes of being late. They loved having a few free moments to run around in the snow, as you can see by these pictures. We were about 30 minutes late, but, so what.....

o

Juliet's Birthday

On December 9, my beautiful 3-year-old became a beautiful 4-year-old. She had a very special day with much cake and presents. We love you Juliet and we are so glad to have you as part of our family.

Four things I love about Juliet:

1. Her dramatic flair. Juliet does everything dramatically. She even runs dramatically. You'd have to see it know what I mean.
2. Her creativity. She is always creating something new, whether it is a picture of a princess or a redesign of Mommy's new shirt with some scissors.
3. Her curiosity. She loves to learn new things. Recently when Charles was taking physiology, she loved to have him explain how the body works. She understand it pretty well too.
4. Her love. Juliet is always telling the ones close to her that she loves them, and she's free with her hugs too (sometimes to Cole's chagrin).

I love you so much 4 year old.
,

Hike to Indian Seats

While in Georgia we also took a little hike to see the Indian seats. It was a pretty easy 20 minute hike up the mountain with a huge view as a pay off.


Grandpa Craig hiked with Cole and found that he has two speeds. Full-out run or dragging along like a snail.


Our just sitting.

Southern home cooking

This place looks authentic huh? It was pretty good.

Visit to Helen, Georgia

While we were in Georgia we got to stroll around this neat town, Helen, where everything is styled to look like an Alpine village. It is right on the Chattahoochee river and it was a beautiful day.


Yea, those aren't real Juliet.


"Okay, I'll bet the horse, but I don't have a good feeling about this."

Grandpa and Cole having a little bonding time.


Charles and Cole enjoyed listening to this man and his one of a kind homemade instrument.

Trip to Cabbage Patch General Hospital

While we were in Georgia our family went with Grandpa Craig to the Cabbage Patch General Hospital in Cleveland, GA (which is the birth place of Cabbage Patch dolls). It is basically a huge store/museum of cabbage patch dolls. In the cabbage patch which you can see behind me in the picture you can see cabbage patch dolls born. A nurse comes and does a big presentation where the doll in pulled on out and weighed and wrapped in a blanket. The audience gets to name the doll and if you pay some ridiculous price you can bring the doll home that was born. They also have the more normally priced doll available to buy. Grandpa secretly bought Juliet one and we gave it to her later for her birthday.


Grandpa secretly bought Juliet one and we gave it to her later for her birthday.


This place was heaven for a 3 year old girl.

Trip to Atlanta

For Thanksgiving we spent a week down in Cumming, GA (North of Atlanta) with my Dad and family. Juliet loved hanging out with Aunt Maddie, and would have followed her around everywhere if possible.



Cole was really interested in Pearl the cat, and loved watching petting her.


We also had a lot of fun seeing my brother John and meeting his cute girlfriend Tonya (I didn't get a picture of her).


Thanksgiving dinner was great, thanks to my Dad and Step-Mom Paula for cooking and extending their hospitality for a whole week. We had such a great time.

Church Christmas Party and Santa

We had a very Christmasy day yesterday, as we went to a Breakfast with Santa, and a Church Christmas party. Both kids were having fun with Santa and had a great time at the party. It was a Feliz Navidad party with lots of great Mexican food, several pinatas, arts and crafts, face painting, Santa, balloon animals, Karyoke, etc... Everyone in my family was pretty happy. I guess they also did a "posada" which is a reenactment of Mary and Joseph looking for an inn and had a program that included the three kings. We ended up leaving a little early so we didn't get to see that part. It was a great party though.

Ward Halloween Party

We did a family costume for the Ward Halloween party. Goldilocks and the three bears. Here we are with the award we won for cutest family costume (not to be confused with scariest costume, funniest costume, or pinkest costume). Anyway, it was fun night, and the kids of course got more candy.