Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Our Day 5
As previously noted, we don't have time for cookie baking or anything that extensive on Thursday evenings, so we switched today's activity for Friday's. Luckily, I still had a pile of cards from last year sitting in my home office, so I pulled those out with some scissors, glue and red ribbon and let the kids choose which ones to use. We traced circles using different sized drinking glasses, and my 8-yr-old cleverly figured out that she could make ovals using a die-cut card. They turned out pretty well, but the best part is that it was fun and the kids are proud of their results.
I'll post a photo tomorrow if I find the time.
(Well, a few days later than "tomorrow", but here it is:)
I'll post a photo tomorrow if I find the time.
(Well, a few days later than "tomorrow", but here it is:)
Waiting for Christmas
The bishop of Salt Lake is urging Catholics to wait until Christmas to celebrate Christmas.
Well, we've all been seeing the Christmas decoration in the stores (and sometimes in our neighborhoods) and hearing the Christmas carols since Halloween, so the bishop does have a point. With my crew of youngsters, though, I don't know how I could hold them off. They begged us to put up the tree on the day after Thanksgiving. Initially, I was only going to put the lights on, but the following Saturday, we went ahead and got out the ornaments.
Saying "no" to decorating for Christmas just seems awfully Scrooge-y to me. What do you think?
Well, we've all been seeing the Christmas decoration in the stores (and sometimes in our neighborhoods) and hearing the Christmas carols since Halloween, so the bishop does have a point. With my crew of youngsters, though, I don't know how I could hold them off. They begged us to put up the tree on the day after Thanksgiving. Initially, I was only going to put the lights on, but the following Saturday, we went ahead and got out the ornaments.
Saying "no" to decorating for Christmas just seems awfully Scrooge-y to me. What do you think?
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Our Day 4
So, the Nativity set.
The thing of it is, I've longed for a really beautiful set, but we just haven't had the dollars to justify it. We have a small set -- the tallest figure is maybe 6 inches tall. I can't remember where we got it, but I think my mother-in-law gave each of her kids one of these. Individual figures that you set on a small wooden oval. It's attractive, and it's worked just fine.
Until tonight, when my youngest was going to set out just the sheep and shepherds, saving the Holy Family for the 14th, like the calendar says, and saving the Magi for the Feast of the Epiphany. And that's when we realized: no shepherds, no sheep.
All we have is Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus in a manger, and three Magi. I don't know why I didn't think of it before tonight!
This provoked some whining, a few tears and quite a bit of consternation. But what can we do? I suggested that she color a picture of a shepherd and some sheep instead and was met with grumbling.
Well, there's always tomorrow. Except we're doing Friday's activity (turning old Christmas cards into ornaments) tomorrow because we dont have time for Thursday's.
Not quite a fail tonight, but close...
The thing of it is, I've longed for a really beautiful set, but we just haven't had the dollars to justify it. We have a small set -- the tallest figure is maybe 6 inches tall. I can't remember where we got it, but I think my mother-in-law gave each of her kids one of these. Individual figures that you set on a small wooden oval. It's attractive, and it's worked just fine.
Until tonight, when my youngest was going to set out just the sheep and shepherds, saving the Holy Family for the 14th, like the calendar says, and saving the Magi for the Feast of the Epiphany. And that's when we realized: no shepherds, no sheep.
All we have is Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus in a manger, and three Magi. I don't know why I didn't think of it before tonight!
This provoked some whining, a few tears and quite a bit of consternation. But what can we do? I suggested that she color a picture of a shepherd and some sheep instead and was met with grumbling.
Well, there's always tomorrow. Except we're doing Friday's activity (turning old Christmas cards into ornaments) tomorrow because we dont have time for Thursday's.
Not quite a fail tonight, but close...
Avent hymns
Over at the Faith & Family blog, they are discussing Advent hymns.
There are some Christians who try to hold off on the Christmas carols until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Instead, they listen to songs that are more aligned with this season of expectation.
I don't know about you, but I might as well try to stop a runaway train as keep my family from listening to Christmas carols. It was hard enough to hold them off until Thanksgiving week.
Anyway, if you're up for it, here's one list of Advent songs from churchyear.net, and here's a list of Advent songs from fullhomelydivinity.org (an Anglican site). Can you think of any others to add?
There are some Christians who try to hold off on the Christmas carols until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Instead, they listen to songs that are more aligned with this season of expectation.
I don't know about you, but I might as well try to stop a runaway train as keep my family from listening to Christmas carols. It was hard enough to hold them off until Thanksgiving week.
Anyway, if you're up for it, here's one list of Advent songs from churchyear.net, and here's a list of Advent songs from fullhomelydivinity.org (an Anglican site). Can you think of any others to add?
Day 4
Set up your family Nativity scene, but leave out the Holy Family.
(Many families just put out the shepherds, sheep and other animals at this time, adding Mary and Joseph some time later, Baby Jesus on Christmas morning, and the Magi on the Feast of the Epiphany.)
(Many families just put out the shepherds, sheep and other animals at this time, adding Mary and Joseph some time later, Baby Jesus on Christmas morning, and the Magi on the Feast of the Epiphany.)
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