Archive for 2010

(Clockwise from top left: Me and my guy Cy, the family after the Christmas Eve service, Cora Jane at El Torito Grill after the service in her headband bow I made that morning, the kiddos in front of Rudolph – our car has a nose and antlers thanks to Nonno, Eli in his tie, my boys in their matching ties I made that morning – I wanted cream and black stripes but there was none at the fabric store.)

We got home, put the kiddos in their matching PJs then “made” cookies for Santa.

Try not to be jealous of my mad cookie baking skills…

(Scoop of Pillsbury Cookie Dough with one Pillsbury pre cut Christmas dough squished on top.)

We closed the evening by reading about Jesus’ birth from Luke 2. 

This is probably my favorite Christmas tradition, it’s also the sweetest.

2009

2008

During art time I noticed Eli was doing 2 dots above the belly button…

I asked what they were and he said, “Buttons, like the ones you feed Cyrus with.”

If you aren’t sick of Christmas yet… or you need something to do while the kiddos are on school break, have Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Day!

First, paint on Rudolph noses…

Then grab your art stuff! You’ll need: construction paper in dark brown, light brown & red, black buttons, red pom poms, pen, pipe cleaners, glue and lots of glitter!

Reindeer craft #1:

Trace you lil’ one’s foot (sans individual toes) on the light brown paper.

Trace both their hands on the dark brown paper.

Cut.

Glue the hands (aka antlers) to the top of the foot (aka reindeer head).

Us a red pom pom for the red noes and 2 black buttons for the eyes and let your lil’ ones draw on a mouth.

Add (loads) white or silver glitter to the antlers for snow.

Our reindeer right before we put the snow on the antlers.

Reindeer craft #2:

Trace hands on brown construction paper.

Round out the wrist area while cutting out the hand.

Glue on pipe cleaner antlers and a red nose.

Add a glitter bridal…

Watch this like 20 times…

Then head on over to etsy and fall into the etsy vortex looking at awesome reindeer stuff…

Cute lil’ reindeer toy by MollyChic…

I loved this sweet stitched reindeer hair clip from Felting Mama…

I fell in love with this gold reindeer necklace from Future Fashionista… (don’t you think it can be worn year round??)

(If it wasn’t late it wouldn’t’ be from me)

For candy cane day we made this awesome layered jello treat (thanks for the tutorial Kyla!)…

We also talked about the legend of the candy cane…

Many years ago, a candymaker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus.
He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. The white symbolized the virgin birth and the sinless life of Jesus.
He made the candy hard to symbolize the that Jesus is the solid rock and the foundation of the church. The firmness also represents the promises of God.
The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. He thought it could also represent the staff of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
The candy maker then added red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could be forgiven and have the promise of eternal life.
The flavor of mint is similar to hyssop. In Old Testament times, hyssop was associated with purification and sacrifice. It was also used at the cross as they gave Jesus a drink of vinegar before He gave up the Ghost.

 We love the Candy Cane Legend but like all things Christmas it’s made-up.

Here’s a great Candy Cane Legend book…

Some fun candy cane crafts here.

Happy Christmas Eve!!