Merry CHRISTmas 2011

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2: 8-11

I told Chuck that I am so glad that the only thing that matters about Christmas is the birth of Jesus, because this year, it seemed like everything else was a flop! Both girls were sick the entire week before Christmas (and I am the mom who waits until the week before Christmas to get everything done!) so I wasn't able to get some things done that I wanted too, but everything turned out fine and we had a wonderful Christmas!

Nana and PawPaw came over on Thursday night before Christmas Eve service and we opened presents with them.

**I forgot my phone and my camera at Christmas Eve service, so I didn't get any pictures :(

On Saturday, Gracie woke up with a bad "croup sounding" cough, so we made the decision to stay home from our annual "get-together" at Grams' house (which we have never had to miss, Gracie was VERY upset!!) and we took her into the pediatrician that morning. He got her on a steroid, and after the first dose she was much better! We spent Christmas Eve just relaxing and the girls were able to get a lot of much needed rest! They were both in bed and asleep by 8:00!!

Here they are leaving cookies for Santa....

On Christmas morning, the girls woke up and "Santa" had left a note that talked about how he was so proud that they knew the true meaning of Christmas, he also left a cupcake for us to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. After we sang, we went to see what he brought!! G-Maw and Aunt Ree had come in late Saturday night after Christmas Eve service, so she got to see the "Christmas morning" joy on their faces!!

Gracie got a sewing machine from G-Maw, loudest toy EVER!!

G-Paw came by later in the morning and we got to spend some time with him and open presents. He brought finger paints.....thanks dad:)

Daddy trying out the new markers and making sure they are really washable!

I hope you and your family were able to remember the true meaning of CHRISTmas this year!!

Christmas School- Done!!

We finished up most of everything I had planned for our Christmas activities last week, and it's a good thing because this week has started off with Allie getting croup and double ear infections and she has been miserable!! :( I managed to catch a few pictures....

We attempted a gingerbread house for the first time....

I did most of the decorating while the girls ate....

and ate....

and ate....

Caught ya!!

I'm thinking most of the candy will be gone by Christmas!!

We have also been doing our Truth in the Tinsel activities at school time. I am a little behind, but I am so proud with how much she knows of the Christmas story. She even uses our Little People Nativity set to act out the story for me!  (she is a little bit confused at why our set only came with one camel for the 3 Wise Men to share. When she acts out the story she says that the camel has to go pick them up one at a time and drop them off in Bethlehem, HA!)

Day 9 (Joseph and Mary)

Matthew 1: 18-19

 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Day 10 (Joseph's Dream)

Matthew 1: 20

 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

**(Gracie was so proud that she got to help me sew Joseph's pillow:)

Day 11

Matthew 1: 24-25

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Day 12 (census)

Luke 2: 1-5

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

**(for this ornament we dyed rice to represent all the people in Bethlehem, then we added 3 Fruit Loops, one for Mary, one for Joseph, and one for the donkey (that was Gracie's idea) and we talked about how they were all going to be counted)

Day 13 and 14- (no room at the inn)

Luke 2: 6-7

 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

I can't believe Christmas is this weekend! So much still to do!!



Christmas School- Week 2 and Truth in the Tinsel

The kids have been loving these blocks! They built a "puppy cage" and played in it on and off all day!

 Gracie and I made some Christmas play-doh, complete with glitter and peppermint scent.

**(You can find links to most of the printable activities and games here)

We have also been continuing with the Truth in the Tinsel activities everyday, we are really loving this!

Day 3 (Zechariah)

Luke 1:11-20

 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.  He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.  And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

  Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
  The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

We made an ornament of Zachariah and put tape on his mouth to remind us that he was not able to speak until the birth of John (John the Baptist)

Day 4 (Gabriel)

Luke 1: 26-38

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
  “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
  “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Day 5 and 6 (Mary and Elizabeth)

As soon as Mary got the message that she was going to have a baby, she ran to Elizabeth's  house to share the news with her.

Luke 1: 39-45



  At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Day 7 (Mary Praises God)

Luke 1: 46-49 (Mary's Song)

 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.

(we made a rice shaker instrument and danced to our favorite praise songs:)

Day 8 (sun)

(these are words Zachariah spoke to John, fortelling that John would prepare the way for Jesus, and calling Jesus the "rising sun".)

Luke 1: 76-79

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”