Christmas Back-log #6: Christmas Again

(I just love this picture)

We traveled from Timothy's parents to my Mom's the day after Christmas. We were able to visit with all of our family there also!4 Cousins in Christmas clothes


Grandma with 2 grand-daughters

Poor Emma

On Monday, the 27th we had Christmas again with my family.

My sister, Katherine, crocheted stuffed animals for the children. They are so cute and the children really like them. Hyrum got a lion

Rebekah got an elephant

Brigham got a snake

My niece, Mikayla, got a baby and she just loved it!

Christmas Back-log #4: Timothy's Family

Our first stop was to see Timothy's family. The children were really looking forward to seeing their cousins again. WE all had a great time visiting and playing games and trying to keep too many hands out of trouble. :) (The kids only managed to knock over three of Gram-Gram's plants this time and they all seemed to have survived!)

On Christmas we actually had all of the family together so we took advantage of that and got family a family picture. The family is definitely multiplying. When I joined the family in 2001 there were 11 of us, just two years ago there were 15 of us, now there are 20.



More on Christmas day next time...

Christmas church outfits (a little late, I know)

Maybe, since the clothes are red, I should lie and tell you we're on top of things and these are actually Valentines outfits.

Christmas!

We had a great first Christmas with our little ones. They were very excited about opening presents. Timothy and I are concerned about the way Christmas has become over commercialized and a time of greediness for children. We made it a point not to ask them what they wanted for Christmas, but to think about what others may like or want. They got to pick out presents to give to Mommy, Daddy, each other, cousins, grandparents, and their former foster family. We also tried to make a point during the opening of presents about giving to each other. So, they each took a turn finding the gifts that they had gotten for others and handed them out. During the day we spent a lot of family time playing and exploring. After ham and rice for Christmas dinner we went on a walk to try to unwind the children from their sugar high. We sang carols as we walked and stopped at one neighbor's house to sing to them. We also took the time to watch a DVD about the birth of Christ Christmas evening.

On Christmas morning we let them get their stockings when they first woke up. After breakfast and getting dressed we began the giving of gifts. Hyrum started, although he wasn't sure he wanted to let go of the gifts he had. He got excited when Bekah gave him one to open.

Here is Brigham giving Daddy his present


The children opening the presents I gave them- New Towels!!


Timothy gave Brigham and Rebekah tents and Hyrum got a flash light and ball to go along with the theme


Despite the fact that Bekah has so many dolls she was very excited to get three new dolls for Christmas from various people.

Brigham got a wooden puzzle train (sorry, had to delete the picture temporarily)

Hyrum got this raccoon from his "Nana" (previous foster-mom) and loves it!

We hope each of you had a great Christmas and are looking forward to a wonderful new year!

Teaching about Christ's birth

We've been talking to the children about Jesus' birthday since we set up the Christmas tree on December 7th. That's what they think Christmas is all about and I'm glad. They couldn't even name Santa when they saw him at a church activity- for that I am glad too. We've been trying to focus on Christ and giving. We let the children pick presents for each other and for us. We've been teaching them "Away in a Manger". Their friends started singing Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nose reindeer and they couldn't sing along. But whenever they hear Away in a Manger they can sing along. I have also been teaching the "When Joseph Went to Bethlehem" and Timothy's been teaching them "Silent Night". Those are the types of songs we want our children to associate with Christmas, not the Santa and Snow ones.

By tonight (Christmas Eve) they have a little idea about the story of Santa and are looking forward to their stocking being filled, but we've casually mentioned we're pretending Santa is coming because we don't want to lie to them. I'm sure many of you do things differently in your families and it's okay to have differing opinions, this is just the way we have chosen to handle the mythical characters in our children's lives.

Anyway, tonight we helped them act out the nativity while we read Luke 2.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.


They really seemed to enjoy it. We also sang some carols and talked about the symbols of Christmas.

We helped them set up their stockings on the couch before we got them into bed.

Timothy made the stockings, don't they look great?! I helped a bit with the white and put their names on.

We hope you all are having a great Christmas! Remember Christ as you celebrate for He gave us the most glorious gift of all!

Merry Christmas