Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve together.  Something I have learned to love is the time we spend just the six of us.  It doesn't always seem to happen, so when it does, and its an enjoyable time, I try to pack it away in my memory - especially for the times when things aren't so enjoyable.

Both Matt and I spent a few hours at work.  I came home and found that Matt had brought two kids away for a short play date before supper.  The family they were playing at came over for supper and then we all went to Celebration for our Christmas Eve service. It was a nice service.  Low lighting, personal candles, and lighting to Silent Night.  We enjoyed the song 'Follow the Shepherd Home' which is a beautiful song that has been sung in our church a few times.  

After the service we came home - just us - to open presents.  The week before there had been a 'Santa Shop' at school where the kids could go through and pick out presents for their family - $1 each.  The kids were so excited to give it a try.  Those of you who know me, know how excited I was about getting $20 worth of $1 items in my house.  More stuff, of course we need that.  And such vital stuff that I'm sure we'll use over and over again.  So, I was less than excited about the prospect but I conceded and handed over the money.  We had a chat about it at work, and I was reminded that the joy for the kids is in the giving, so I just need to smile and nod.

So, we are at home, opening these presents.  I was amazed at how much thought the kids put into getting presents for each other. They actually found things that were thoughtful and thought out and had no personal gain.  Brandon got Anika a book light.  A little light she can clip on to her book so she can read at night and he can sleep in the dark - brilliant.  It never worked, but what do you expect for $1 - but-  he really thought about it and it was a perfect gift for her.  He also got Maria another version of the game of Memory.  Maria is the queen of Memory.  All in all, three of the presents ended up in the Goodwill bag, one in the garbage and a few I don't have any idea where they are, but I was pleasantly surprised with the joy they had in watching each other open their gifts, and how much fun they had with it all. I am a self proclaimed hater of Christmas.  I find it all to be very stressful, very expensive, and way too commercialized. I like the music, the snow, the lights and the story, but that's about it.  I'm a pretty good grinch - I even have a stuffed one.  But I did genuinely enjoy spending that time as a family. And, thankfully, no one has asked me where the Santa hand towel is!

Christmas (and birthdays) at Papa and Mimi's

Anika and Jessica in their new sweater dresses

The weekend before Christmas we headed a bit south to Illinois to celebrate Anika and Jessica's birthdays with Matt's parents and Christmas with his parents and brother and sister-in-law's family.  We enjoyed the visit and of course the kids loved papa and mimi time, cousin time and presents.

We played some wii, played a rousing game of fox and geese out in the dusting of snow, and stayed warm by the wood stove.

We ate supper with some of Matt's extended family (uncles/aunts/cousins) before heading back to Muskegon for Sunday morning worship.  

It was a short trip, but a good one!

cousins and presents, what more could you ask for?

Christmas at Meijer Garden

We headed to Grand Rapids another evening during Christmas break before Christmas.  We headed to Meijer Garden to view their Christmas around the world.  There are many Christmas trees all decorated for a different country with an explanation of the decorations.  We had fun finding the pickle on the German tree and going over memories about the Spanish tree.  Aunt Kathy and Mary met us there and we spent some time running around outside - the kids love the children's garden even in the dark and cold - and while we were out there the horse and wagon came by so they all took a turn petting the horse!  We got to see some of the Art Prize art work and spent a long time looking at a 'Where's Waldo' sort of art project made out of different articles of household supplies.  Another room had an electric train running through several rooms and buildings found in Grand Rapids made out of all natural elements.  Mushrooms for roof tops, acorn tops for chimneys, flower petals for shingles, etc.  Very well done.  Another great adventure!

Strange - maybe creepy - Santa sighting

The kids were outside playing one day before Christmas and I was inside doing who knows what, but I'm sure it was important.  Brandon came in to tell me that Santa was outside and wanted to take a picture with them but I had to come out to make sure it was ok.  I was a bit confused, so I asked a few questions.  Brandon again informed me that Santa was outside and told him to come inside to get his mom and the camera so that we could have a picture with Santa.  I obeyed and this is what I found when I got outside!  The guys car is even decorated with reindeer ears.  He has the real beard.  He drives around town offering up his picture services free so that parents don't have to go to the mall and pay for a picture.  At first, it was cute.  Then as he was driving away and turning around in several people's driveways, I realized how creepy it was and I wondered how easily someone like him could have wandered off with one of my kiddos.  I made sure he left the neighborhood before I went inside and I had a talk with my kids about never getting in the car with someone like that. Maybe he's just a nice old man doing something nice for the neighborhood, but I didn't pass up the teachable moment!

Church Christmas Program

Celebration church is linked with Calvin Church for our youth programs.  This is where all four kids go on Wednesday evenings.  Maria to a group called 'Little Peeps', Jessica to GEMS, Brandon to Cadets, and Anika to Middle School Youth Group.
We were asked to attend their Christmas program.  There were two practices, held during morning church service and then the performance was another morning service, so we didn't see the people of Celebration very much.
I enjoyed watching the kids and I think they enjoyed being a part of it.  They definitely enjoyed all the treats after each service!
Maria's group sang a song called 'ring the bells' and then each child said who they wanted to tell about Christmas.  Many said Grandpa or Grandma or mom and dad, but our little princess said she wanted to tell everybody who didn't know about Jesus.
Brandon and Jessica were a part of a handbell choir.  They held a certain color of bell and when the conductor raised their card color, they rang the bell.  A song was playing in the background and they were the accompaniment.  Brandon was rather disappointed that he didn't get to play his bell very often and Jessica had two bells that she played LOTS.  I could tell it was an issue, but I also pointed out to him that when he played his bell, very few others were playing, so even though it wasn't often, it was important.
Anika and three others read parts of Luke 2.
The overall story of the program was telling the Grinch about the real meaning of Christmas and each of these groups was just a part of it.
All in all a good day.

ring the bells

colored hand bell choir

reading Luke 2

Christmas traditions

painting the front door

The finished product

painting an ornament

cut out cookies

decorating the cut out cookies

The indoor light show

Christmas is the ideal season for traditions, although the kids remember just about everything we do on every holiday and inform us if we do them wrong the next year!
Every year (thanks spot for the idea) we paint our front door with powder paint mixed with dish soap.  Its fun to paint and it is fairly easily removed (by Anika and a friend).
We paint the kids' hand prints on the tree skirt and paint the year next to it.
Each kid chooses a ceramic ornament and paints it.  Matt paints an identical one for them so they have their own version and Matt's version of how it should be painted.
Sinter Klaas leaves an ornament and a candy cane in their wooden shoes under their beds.
We bake and decorate cut out cookies.
We attend light shows.  This year it was moved inside and wasn't nearly as fascinating as when it is on 14 different houses, but it was still pretty fun.  The mini golf course also does a light show which was quite enjoyable.
Usually, I print out a calendar with suggestions for what we should do every day.  This year, I just printed a huge list of possibilities and crossed off what we accomplished.  Quite a few!

Gingerbread houses

Brandon's class made gingerbread houses in class.  Graham crackers frosted around an empty milk carton then covered in candy. Parents were asked to join in the fun, so Matt went and made his own creation.

Jessica made a gingerbread house at GEMS.  These were serious gingerbread houses - made a day earlier with the true gingerbread cement like frosting.  Jessica decorated each piece of roof (both sides) with a different candy with every intention of eating each piece of candy during the remainder of the week.  She did pretty well, but at times a knife was needed to pry the candy off!