We got started with our Christmas festivities early this year (see the post below!) We kept them going the first week of December--starting with :Picking out a Tree:
Our goal (one of these years) is to go to a tree farm and cut down a tree. We debated about going for it this year, and then decided two blocks down the street (to our favorite garden center) would work out better. The Saturday after Thanksgiving Marc was off so we loaded up the kids and went to find a tree. Kinnick had fun running through the trees and touching the needles--he kept saying "ouch!" He and Sadie also liked hiding around the trees.
Daddy and Kinnick are posing in front of "the one".
I took the stroller to put Macey in, but in the 1 1/2 minutes it took us to get there, she was asleep. She snoozed peacefully in the car while we chose a tree.
Sadie was excited to check out the tree as soon as we got home. After lunch we put the kids down for a nap so we could get it set up.
Light Up Streator:
Every year our town has an event on the Saturday night after Thanksgiving. They have music, etc. in the town square and the turn all the lights on. We've always talked about going, so this year we did! We invited the Shinkeys to go with us. We had fun walking around and looking at all the lighted displays. They had a few metal trashcans with fires in them--the kids thought those were pretty cool. They also had a table serving hot chocolate. Santa was there in his little house, but the line to see him was HUGE (so we will be waiting for a different opportunity--Sadie was pretty bummed).
Sadie & Carson checking out the big tree in the middle of the park...
Macey and Kinnick enjoyed a bundled up stroller ride to see the lights.
Decorating the Tree:
On Sunday night we decorated our tree. Marc and I got the lights up and the kids helped me put on all the ornaments (mostly Sadie!) Sadie and Kinnick loved looking through their boxes of ornaments. Sadie kept asking me who different ornaments were from and Kinnick was super excited to find his Herkey ornament--he ran around the house with it and dropped it. Herkey is now held together with a bit of super glue (as are many things in the Gorsch house!) I couldn't believe how much Sadie enjoyed putting on ornaments--she helped me until we were completely done!
Sadie is showing Kinnick his ornaments.
Sadie took this picture of our tree :)
Last year our tree was too tall for a topper. This is the first year Sadie has got to help Daddy put on the topper. She was very excited to take part in this job! She was also quick to point out to us that she could touch the ceiling!
Our completed Tree!
Crafts, Presents, and Miscellaneous:
The kids were excited to get out Christmas jammies (Macey wins with the most pairs!) and were excited to find this little Santa hat.
Last year, Aunt Cori helped the kids make "Christmas Countdown Chains" when she was here at Thanksgiving. Sadie loved it, so I helped her make another one. We used stickers, glitter, markers, and crayons to decorate the strips and Sadie helped me staple them together in a pattern. She loves taking one off each night and seeing the chain get shorter and shorter.
In the past, we've had the tradition of letting the kids open a present on Christmas Eve--their Christmas jammies and a book. This year I thought, "Why not get more wear out of the Christmas jammies?" so we started a new tradition. They each had a present under the tree on December 1st. They were excited to open their new jammies.
Bethlehem Walk:
Bethlehem Walk is an event that our church does (every other year) the first week of December. Marc and I have gone twice in the past and two years ago we were involved in it (as one of the Joseph & Mary couples). Bethlehem Walk is a walk through the events that led up to Jesus' birth... it starts with a "time travel" tunnel and we become part of a family that is traveling to Bethlehem for the census. We go through: Old Testament prophesies, Mary's visit from the Angel, Mary's visit to Elizabeth, Joseph's visit from the Angel, Mary & Joseph's visit to the inn, walk through a market place (with lots of yummy treats!), see a story teller (who tells an old testament story with props), see the angels proclaim Jesus' birth, and finally visit the stable. I'm amazed each time I go how it gives me a fresh perspective of the "Christmas Story". It allows me to truly see Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as REAL, ordinary people who played out an amazing role in God's redemption story. It is also amazing how many volunteers and how much time it takes to put this on as a gift for the community. This year there were over 2,000 visitors! We also get new members/attenders each time we have Bethlehem Walk!
This year we decided to take Kinnick and Sadie. As we sat in the waiting room, waiting for our turn, we told the kids a little about what to expect. Kinnick was beyond thrilled to see goats, sheep, and a donkey! He kept saying "See Goats!" I warned Sadie about the "mean" soldiers and she spent the whole time worrying about that. The Roman Soldiers can be very loud and scary, but they steered clear with us because of our two little kids (which was good, because I could tell there were a couple of the guys who really wanted to give Marc a hard time!) They both loved petting the donkey, and seeing everything in the market place. They also loved the cookies and hot chocolate at the end! I asked Sadie what here favorite part was and she said "I liked the cute little baby Jesus"--which was actually a baby doll! Kinnick's favorite part--"See Goats!" It was such a neat experience--one I hope to have again when they're older. As we've been talking about the Christmas story this year, I've been able to reference Bethlehem Walk to help them understand parts.
No comments:
Post a Comment