Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’
We’ve baked up a storm today making chocolate chip cookies and ginger snaps to leave for Santa. Sammi also thought it would be prudent to leave Santa a gift. She chose to give him cookies for the ride home 
We’re off to read the Nativity Story and
open our new Christmas jammies.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Merry Christmas!
I have always loved Nativity Sets. My mother had a beautiful ceramic set painted in blue and white that I remember from my childhood. It was so soft looking that it helped me feel the tenderness of the Christmas story: the birth of Jesus Christ. Since I first went away to collage I have added a few nativity sets to my collection, including my mother’s set from my childhood.
At the beginning of each December we pull out our nativity sets. This year we have the same number of sets as people in our family: 5. Scott is using the Fisher Price Nativity Set we got when Sammi was a baby. As we set up our nativity sets we read the Bible verses about each character. Then we sing a song about each character. This has proved to be a successful activity with young children.
This year it was all about Elli’s wise men visiting Sammi’s Jesus. It’s so fun to see the girls finding each person or animal as we read about them. Then when we are finished reading we play with the sets, retelling the story or parts of it. I love starting the Christmas season this way because it puts the Christmas story of Christ’s birth in our minds and hearts as we go about the rest of our holiday preparations.We also read the story and sing the songs again on Christmas Eve.
Here are the details of our Nativity Story and Songs for each character:
Mary: Luke 1:26-38 “Silent Night“
Joseph: Matthew 1:18-25 “The Shepherd’s Carol” CS, 40
Jesus: Luke 2:1-7 “Away In a Manger” or this version
Shepherds: Luke 2:8-20 “Angels We Have Heard on High“
Wise Men: Matthew 2:1-12 “With Wondering Awe“
This year we are also making a little book that follows the order we read the Christmas story from the Bible. I wrote a short summary of each part with the verse references to put on each page. Yesterday we did the Angel Gabriel and Mary pages. We’re making three books, one for each child, so it’s taking a fair amount of prep work, but the pages yesterday turned out so cute and we had so much fun doing it that I think it’s worth it.
Today we did the pages for Joseph and the angel who comes to him in a dream. Sammi totally won the creativity award today. She made the best looking sleeping Joseph. I wish I’d done my arms the same way! If you’re interested in making this book, too, you can download the words and verses for each page here.
How are you sharing the Christmas Story with your family?
Click on an image to read more about that project!
Christmas-Themed Projects
Jesus Spelling Activity
Materials:
- cookie cutter letters: J, E, S, U
- 1 sheet of cardstock, red or green for a Christmas theme
- scratch paper, decorative or plain, enough for the 5 letters
- glue stick and scissors
My part: I used the cookie cutter letters needed to spell Jesus. Then I pressed them in an ink pad and “stamped’ them in order on a piece of cardstock. Then I stamped the letters again on pieces of scratch decorative paper I had. I cut out the letters from the scrap papers.
Sammi’s part: She used a glue stick to put glue on the back of each letter. Then she glued the letters to the cardstock matching each letter to it’s shape. I let her choose the letters in whichever order she wanted; she, of course, started with “S” since it’s her favorite.
Penguin
This penguin is one of the crafts found in my new eBook: Laptime Songs for Mommies. Sammi had fun putting this cute guy together then adding her own touches.
Go ahead, make the purchase that will help you bond with your little one through music, books and snuggling. Purchasing today, at the limited-time, introductory offer of $10, you’ll get a full-color, interactive version of Laptime Songs for Mommies, a black-and-white printable version and the 6 songs in MP3 form that you can burn onto a CD. This purchase will benefit you and your little one for years to come. —Laptime Songs for Mommies
Treasure Pouches
I made these for Sammi’s friends for Christmas gifts. Each one has the initial of the child it belongs to. I filled each pouch with a bag or two of fruit snacks. The idea is they can hold any little “treasures” your little one may be attached to and want to take everywhere.
Materials:
- felt sheets in different colors
- scissors, fabric glue, sewing maching
- ribbon
I folded a sheet of felt in half longways then cut off a third. This makes the pouch. Before sewing the sides up on the pouch, attach your letter and shapes using fabric glue and stitches. Some I stitched by hand and some I used the sewing machine. then sew up the sides, fold over the top edge and sew to make a hem for the ribbon. Cut a slit in the front middle of the hem then thread the ribbon through the hem. Voila, an easy, personalized gift for the little ones in your life.
Visiting Santa
I had to share this picture of the girls’ first encounter with Santa this year. Sammi was excited to see him and visit with him. She asked for toys and didn’t get any more specific than that. Elli was not the least bit interested in Santa. Poor thing. But she has enjoyed wearing a Santa hat and a bell on a necklace. The girls saw Santa at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on campus at Lincoln Memorial University. They had a great program that I thought was the perfect blend of the religious significance of Christmas and the holly, jolly side of the holiday. Afterward we were treated to a stellar performance by the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra. We had to leave early because the girls were desperate for their beds, but what we experienced of the orchestra was energetic and full of holiday spirit.
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