Christmas activities

For the past couple of years we have started a new tradition. At the beginning of December we make a chain counting down the days until Christmas. On each link of the chain we write down some activity we will do that night as a family. Some things we do are quite simple like reading a Christmas story, singing a song, or playing a game. Other nights, when we have more time, we do more exciting things.

For our Dec. 1st activity we took the kids to our annual stake nativity. Each year our stake hosts a huge creche (nativity)display for the community. People from the stake donate nativity sets, trees, food, etc. There are over 600 different nativity sets, many from other countries. There are 8 or 9 rooms filled with displays. The display runs for three days and there are concerts every night. The last night is on the first Sunday of December and they show the 1st presidency broadcast.

Our favorite room for our family is the room where we can dress up to be Mary, Joseph, an angel, wise men, shepherds etc. Then they take the family picture. We have done it for the past four or five years and it is fun to see the kids and how much they have grown. They are supposed to send us a copy of the picture, so when they do, I'll post it for you all to see.

The pictures in our slide show are of the international room. This room is especially important because I spent over 10 hours decorating this room. There were four of us decorating it and it took that long. It was amazing how many man hours went in to making this whole creche display possible. It was worth it when it was all said and done though.

The pictures of the kids making a gingerbread house was our Dec 3 activity. This is probably the favorite activity for both Joshua and Breanna. We have made one for the past three years. Joshua has to make a Christmas stink bug (I have no idea where he came up with that idea) to put by the house every year. Breanna usually makes Rudolph to put by the house. Anyway, it was a fun night. We also watched Mr. Kruger's Christmas last night too. That is a sad show.

P.S. For my siblings: This morning I was switching some light on our tree that weren't working and I heard a bird outside and it brought back memories for me. It sounded just like that chirping bird ball thingy that you plugged in and it chirped over and over. Do you all remember that? What was it anyway, just something to annoy parents?