Christmas time

For the past couple years I have been trying to change the focus of the Christmas season for our family. I try to keep the kids occupied with thinking about others instead of themselves and what presents they will get for Christmas. To help switch the focus we have a special box where every time the kids do something for someone else, they write it down and it becomes one of the "gifts" we give Jesus. Then on Christmas we open the box and read all the papers. The kids also pick a name of a fellow sibling and buy a gift for that person. Everything is kept "secret" until gifts are exchanged. This year Jonathan and Ella used their own money to buy the gift, which they happened to get each other. This special gift is opened on Christmas Eve, along with the traditional PJs. Even though I feel like we could do more,  I also feel like we are truly trying to remember what the season is about.

We did a few things during the weeks leading up to Christmas which were fun. We took the kiddos to Build-A-Bear where they made a bear which would be donated to a local hospital for their children's intensive care unit. We donated the bears through a Boy Scouts eagle project. Our neighbor and a friend of hers came over to help the kiddos decorate cookies. Jonathan and I spent four hours putting together a play kitchen my parents bought for the girls. We were so happy when it was finally put together.

About a week and a half before Christmas we tried to complete the countdown to Christmas advent calendar that was in the Friend magazine. We took a special trip out to see the Gilbert temple at night, read a few different scriptures about light, sang a few songs and turned out the lights to our home and then one-by-one turned them back on. We also watched The Nativity and The Other Wise Man on the Monday before Christmas. The kids really got into the second movie and Ella seemed to get the message, that our acts of kindness and service to others is also a way we serve and show our Savior that we love him.

 On Christmas Eve I took the kids to our neighbors' houses where we dropped of a gift and some home made caramels. The kids had a lot of fun wrapping the caramels. Audrey actually did a fantastic job. Once at each house the kids were so excited they were practically yelling when they talked. Yowsers! It was nice to see how happy they were giving gifts rather than just receiving them. The girls also helped me make Jewish Apple cake. Christmas Eve is also when we have our "big" dinner which we ended up having Reuben and his family over. Then I made hot chocolate to go, we loaded into our cars and Jonathan led us on the Dolphin Express. He kept us occupied on a scavenger hunt, along with asking us questions while we took a trip out to the Mesa temple. The kids enjoyed the trip, except for Leia. She thought we would be able to walk around the temple and was disappointed that we only drove around it.

 We got our Christmas tree early this year! It was so big we had to buy a new stand. Jonathan and I had to move it into the house since Ryan was still recovering from his back issues.

 

 The kiddos had a lot of fun making and decorating cookies with our neighbor.

 An art project Leia made at preschool.

 The girls helping me make Jewish Apple cake. Audrey did a fantastic job at coating the apple slices with sugar and cinnamon.

 Christmas PJs!!!

 Leia received this gift from Audrey.

 Ella received this gift from Jonathan.

 Christmas morning!!!

 

At church I helped the little Nursery kids make this craft so they could take home their own baby Jesus. Ella and Leia loved them so much, they also made one when we came home.


The kids had an awesome Christmas. They loved all the toys our families members sent them. Audrey enjoyed eating lots of candy. The kids spent most of the day just playing with their new toys. In the evening, right before bed, we went through the box of "gifts" for Jesus. It was fun to see the girls' faces light up when an act of service was mentioned that they were a part of. I love this time of year and am always a little sad when it ends.