1. Gingerbread (graham cracker) House Decorating
2. Milkshakes!
3. Reading Together
4. Thank you Martha Stewart for This Idea (Sorry, can't find this on her site.)
5. Jumping
6. Some kind of baking together. :)
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Welcoming in the Season
With much joy I might add (besides the colds that began for all sometime this past week).
Timothy loves Christmas. Whether he was helping dad put up the tree or driving around viewing lights with mom, he loves everything about it. It's hard to know where to begin, because I've been so surprised and filled with happiness throughout the little moments.
We started out setting up the tree following Thanksgiving. Eric and Tim set up the tree while I "hung the stockings with care" (and set up the greenery, cherries, and lights along the banister). Our tree is mostly kid friendly, apparently excluding the wooden train ornaments from my Papa - Tim's pulled off all the wheels...And since then, we've turned on the lights every morning; I think it's making the mornings a bit brighter. :)
Somewhere along the way, I've made some holiday cookies - green rice crispy wreaths and Gma B's ginger snaps. Timothy decorated a graham cracker house and couldn't stop licking the frosting. Up for this week are the candy cane suger cookies and cutting out vanilla bean sugar cookies.
I (hmm...this is becoming a lot about me, sorry), also, attended the annual Women's Christmas Brunch where we spoke about Advent and celebrating the time leading up to Christmas. For those unfamiliar, Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration Jesus at Christmas (defined well by wikipedia). This is one of my most favorite events from our Church not only because of the potluck brunch foods, but because of the fellowship and songs. This year there was an added treat - putting together an Advent wreath. I've loved bringing this home and sharing it with my family. Here is one of the helpful resources they sent home with us: Four Sundays of Advent. Timothy has mostly enjoyed blowing out the candles rather than their meaning.
But he has loved our Advent book; a very special gift from my family for my family. The Advent Book has brought much joy and clearer understanding of Christmas from a child's perspective. Timothy loves opening one door (like a lift-the-flap book) to see what the day's picture and couple sentences are. He's becoming so familiar that he can fill in the words if I leave them out. Very sweet. We just want him to know why we believe what we believe. We pray that he too will believe and choose them for himself in the future. There's such hope, love, joy, and peace in Jesus.
Today we had a small celebration at home with gifts - Timothy was beyond excited. Our sweet little Cayden was just taking it all in. Initially, he wanted to just eat the paper until he was given the soft, squeaky blocks we gave him! Timothy had so much fun opening gifts and jumped around saying "Thank you, Thank you!" :) He's bringing so much joy to this time of year.
Whenever he sees lights, he yells, "Stop the car, stop the car!" and then giggles. And Cayden just chats and chats and laughs at Timothy. Very sweet to see that brother love bond.
And it's always a happy treat when we receive a Christmas/Holiday card in the mail. They are being put up in our house!
Once I get back into the swing of pictures, I'll be sure to post a trip to the Chicago Botanic Gardens for their model train exhibit with "snow." Timothy could not contain himself there. Literally, he was running circles around them.
Upcoming: Holiday Train on the CTA and a couple family Christmas parties and Christmas with the Bucks!!
Merry Christmas if I don't post again before then!
Timothy loves Christmas. Whether he was helping dad put up the tree or driving around viewing lights with mom, he loves everything about it. It's hard to know where to begin, because I've been so surprised and filled with happiness throughout the little moments.
We started out setting up the tree following Thanksgiving. Eric and Tim set up the tree while I "hung the stockings with care" (and set up the greenery, cherries, and lights along the banister). Our tree is mostly kid friendly, apparently excluding the wooden train ornaments from my Papa - Tim's pulled off all the wheels...And since then, we've turned on the lights every morning; I think it's making the mornings a bit brighter. :)
Somewhere along the way, I've made some holiday cookies - green rice crispy wreaths and Gma B's ginger snaps. Timothy decorated a graham cracker house and couldn't stop licking the frosting. Up for this week are the candy cane suger cookies and cutting out vanilla bean sugar cookies.
I (hmm...this is becoming a lot about me, sorry), also, attended the annual Women's Christmas Brunch where we spoke about Advent and celebrating the time leading up to Christmas. For those unfamiliar, Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration Jesus at Christmas (defined well by wikipedia). This is one of my most favorite events from our Church not only because of the potluck brunch foods, but because of the fellowship and songs. This year there was an added treat - putting together an Advent wreath. I've loved bringing this home and sharing it with my family. Here is one of the helpful resources they sent home with us: Four Sundays of Advent. Timothy has mostly enjoyed blowing out the candles rather than their meaning.
But he has loved our Advent book; a very special gift from my family for my family. The Advent Book has brought much joy and clearer understanding of Christmas from a child's perspective. Timothy loves opening one door (like a lift-the-flap book) to see what the day's picture and couple sentences are. He's becoming so familiar that he can fill in the words if I leave them out. Very sweet. We just want him to know why we believe what we believe. We pray that he too will believe and choose them for himself in the future. There's such hope, love, joy, and peace in Jesus.
Today we had a small celebration at home with gifts - Timothy was beyond excited. Our sweet little Cayden was just taking it all in. Initially, he wanted to just eat the paper until he was given the soft, squeaky blocks we gave him! Timothy had so much fun opening gifts and jumped around saying "Thank you, Thank you!" :) He's bringing so much joy to this time of year.
Whenever he sees lights, he yells, "Stop the car, stop the car!" and then giggles. And Cayden just chats and chats and laughs at Timothy. Very sweet to see that brother love bond.
And it's always a happy treat when we receive a Christmas/Holiday card in the mail. They are being put up in our house!
Once I get back into the swing of pictures, I'll be sure to post a trip to the Chicago Botanic Gardens for their model train exhibit with "snow." Timothy could not contain himself there. Literally, he was running circles around them.
Upcoming: Holiday Train on the CTA and a couple family Christmas parties and Christmas with the Bucks!!
Merry Christmas if I don't post again before then!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)