All the anticipation, preparation for the 25th is wonderful and fun and busy. Yes, busy-but FUN, right! December, probably the busiest month of the year. On top of all the normal busy- for me that would include, but not limited to: appointments of any kind, meetings, planning/teaching lessons, working out, making dinners, cleaning house (over and over again), and taking care of my ever-more demanding 2-year-old that I love, 8-month-old Owen and working around a med-students crazy schedule- we need to shop for gifts and wrap them up (which may be even harder), extra cleaning, decorating, lots of cooking/baking, parties galore and Christmas advents to check off the list. Plus, traditions to fill or make/create and memories to have and let's not forget the entire meaning of Christmas and try to instill the importance of it into our children and taking time to ponder the events, re-read them from the scriptures and feel of that spirit daily.
This can be just a bit overwhelming.
I heard just yesterday of people hating to go shopping this time of year because of the crowds and rude people and how this just crushes the Christmas spirit, although some of you are completely on top of things and have all your shopping done-zo, I'm impressed- you don’t have to deal with the ciaos of shopping in December.
Growing up my family would all sleep over at my Grandparents house and the older cousins would watch the younger cousins (I fit into the younger category) and all parents would go out shopping...CHRISTMAS EVE. They had a ball! Well, from my childhood perspective anyway, and if they didn’t enjoy it, why would they do it every year? Maybe because once they all got together and heard what the other had got for their kids, everyone wanted that for their own kids, so they had to go get it. Well that's how I thought Christmas shopping was done...the night before! Ha! I learned quickly that's probably not ideal, if it was then, it's not now.
While I'm reminiscing: as a child my sister and I would make a Christmas advent calendar. One I remember was made just from cardstock and stickers. I would do the even days and she'd do the odd days and put different stickers on the back of numbered papers cut out into squares. Then, I'd turn over the odd days and she'd turn over the even days to see what stickers the other had used. I remember being so excited to see what sticker was on each day. How silly, right! But how simple! And the joy we had from just something so simple helps me to remember I don't need to over do it this season. More like, be okay with the simple.
I have some high ambitions though. Can I share??
My advent calendar (in no order yet):
1. write a letter to Santa
2. Make candy buttons
3. Make marshmallow snowmen
4. 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional
5. Condensed milk painting
6. Build a snowman dice game
7. Stitch paper stockings
8. Christmas Hand print Santa clause
9. Nativity memory game
10. Look at Christmas lights
11. Make nativity “gingerbread house”
12. Watch a Christmas movie together
13. Caroling and hayride
14. Paper snow flakes
15. Color Christmas picture
16. Take dinner to someone in need
17. Ward Christmas party
18. Make Christmas goodies and take to neighbors
19. Go to temple and look at lights
20. Christmas fort and drink hot chocolate to read stories under
21. Salt dough Christmas ornament
22. Visit Santa!
23. Play felt mitten game
24. Christmas Eve usual
25. Christmas Day thankfulness-still thinking
Just for kicks I also need/want to…
*send out Christmas cards
*wrap up Christmas stories to open and read one a night
Yes, this doesn't sound simplistic at all does it!? Well, thus the evils/blessings of pinterest!!
I'm not worried. I just love the idea of planning it all, I may not be the best at instigating but this is the plan, the goal is to spend time together, sharing our love while creating fun, loving memories- let’s hope!
Merry Christmas!! Dec. 1st...Let’s get crackin!
Ok, we cheated a little, we went to the Temple in St. George over Thanksgiving weekend and enjoyed to beautiful set-up there.
0 comments:
Post a Comment