Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Day 24

Day 24

The final day of our activity advent. Today we will listen to Dad read the Christmas story from the Bible and reflect on what our true gift is.

 


Merry Christmas

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Day 23

Day 23

Happy Christmas Adam!

Today we continue one of our very favorite traditions that we started a couple of years ago. I really can't remember where I got the idea.....if it was from you then you can comment and claim it, but someone/something gave me the idea to give secret santa (call them whatever you want to santa haters) gifts out on this night. This is our third year of anonymously blessing people in our neighborhood. We usually give some kind of sweet treat or gift card to people who have shown some kindness or blessed us in some way.  This year we chose people in houses who go all out in their Christmas light decorating with music and everything. The kids were a little nervous about going up to the doors but after one positive interaction they found it to be quite fun.

 
Pardon the poor quality of photo but at least you get the idea.
 
 



It really is better to give than receive!! 



Day 22

Day 22

Today's activity: Go and see the poinsettia tree at Lauritzen Gardens.

 
 
 
 
 

Day 21

Day 21

Today's activity: Ask Santa Park for a Christmas treat. Cam got a Christmas t-shirt and CM got some Christmas earrings. Needed something easy today as I had to work and finish some shopping.

 

Day 20

Day 20

Today's activity was watching a movie together as a family and enjoying our first batch of Christmas cookies....gingersnaps! Sorry no pictures today.


Day 19

Day 19

Today is the last day of school so the activities were Camden's class party and then after school we played our first game of our Christmas vacation. (We told the kids that we would try to play at least one round of every game we have during this vacation. I'm not sure we will make it.)
It was Professor Plum, in the hall with a knife.


DAY 18

Day 18

Today's activity is Camden's Christmas program at school and then a little party at our house afterwards for the people who came to the concert. Peppermint ice cream dessert, chocolate chip pie, and punch were on the menu.
 
 
 
"Tebowing" before his performance.
 
 
In the 12 days of Christmas, Christian style, he was Amazing Grace-he's in the back row.  And no I did not coordinate his sweater with his sign.  I didn't even know what color the sign was!! 
 
 
Psalm 92:1 What a beautiful thing God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God.


DAY 17

Catching up.....

Day 17

Today we took a man, who Sam became acquainted with at the store, out for supper. This is his first Christmas without his wife of 58 years. He had a lot of stories about being in the war (showed the kids his 3 purple hearts), his years as a Douglas county sheriff, and many other things. We had a good time getting to know him.
 
 
Leviticus 19:32 Show respect to the aged; honor the presence of an elder; fear your God. I am the LORD.



Sunday, December 16, 2012

DAY 16

Day 16 The Lord created us to be in relationships with others. Let's keep building our relationships with our Life group friends at the party we are hosting tonight.


This night was also special for me as I have been wanting to go caroling for a long, long time and could never get anybody to do it with me. Until tonight! All 21 of us went to 6 houses (rejected at 2....how can anyone reject a group of carolers?). It was so much fun!!

 
 

DAY 15

DAY 15 Day of rest and refocus after some busy, buys days.

DAY 14

Day 14 This day was going to be a dad and kid's date night with ice cream afterwards. But, due to the events of the day it just seemed important that I participate too. We went to The Rose (children's theater in Omaha) to see Madeline's Christmas (a friend was one of the girls).
A sweet treat afterwards. It was just a special end to a "bad news" day.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

DAY 13

Today's activity was Christmas craft night. As I like to craft but am not really great at it, tonight's activity kind of flopped. We are going to try again another day.

DAY 12

Let's think about all the sweet things God has given us. We are blessed! Tonight is peppermint night. (This was a large peppermint stick and a peppermint Santa after Awana. Another easy night.).

DAY 11

Luke 2:12 You shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Mary only had swaddling clothes for Jesus but that was enough to keep him warm.

Look under the tree for something that will keep you warm.

New Christmas pj's

 
 
 
 
 
 
Just a note about our advent activities.  Every year it is a tradition for us to give our kids a new ornament, new pj's, and a new book so I knew I would be adding those things into our activities.  I don't usually get them a new CD but I happened to come across a good deal on them and knew that I would probably need some "easy" days. 
 


DAY 10

We love our Christmas music around here. Today's activity was new Christmas cd's for each kiddo.

DAY 9

God gave us beautiful lights in sky. You know what else is beautiful....Christmas lights. Tonight we get to drive around and look at the lights.
With hot chocolate of course....

Sunday, December 9, 2012

DAY 8

Day 8 It's Aunt day! Today we are going to celebrate Aunt Arlene's birthday and watch Aunt Rhonda in her Christmas Concert.
Pictures are not great as I forgot my camera and had to use my phone.

DAY 7

Day 7

We have experienced so many blessings from our teachers. Let's return the favor by making them cards to tell them how much we appreciate them.



(Insert picture here.....if there were one.)



Thursday, December 6, 2012

DAY 6

Day 6

Today is St. Nicholas Day. Why should we learn about St. Nick? He was the true Santa Claus and Father Christmas: St. Nicholas, a man of faith who lived his life in devotion to Christ. He helps us focus on giving as he cared for the needy. St. Nicholas loved children. St. Nicholas points to Jesus, the heart of Christmas. His story offers a spiritual dimension to gift giving. His story is one of a Christian saint, whose model life inspires compassion and charity. Camden received a book-St. Nicholas, The Story of the Christmas Legend. Claremarie received a book with The Christmas Carol and other selected stories in it.
 

DAY 5

Day 5

One of the best things about Christmas is the music. Today's activity....a holiday dance party!


 
 
 
 
 



Let them praise His name with dancing, making melody to Him with tambourine and lyre. Psalm 143:3

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Day 4

Today we think about one of the fun "games" we play at Christmas. Is he or is he not real??
 
Their requests....a phone and a drum set. 
 
 
No more candy canes....now they give out Build a Bear coupons and these fun, fun hats.  Still shocked that
CM agreed to be photographed in one or with Santa for that matter.