Christmas Is A Season

There are so many Christmas traditions to cram in enjoy!  I really do love it.  As exhausting as it may be, there are so many fun family activities.

 This year Ellie (and Aurora) spent lots of time playing with the sturdy manger scene Aunt Shannon sent us last year.

 We also played in another manger scene.  Typically we just drive through the Journey to the Manger at Simpsonville United Methodist.  It's a drive-thru nativity scene that's really remarkable.  I used to participate when I went to church there.  We took our turn in the manger when John was a baby.  Other years when Eve and Ellie were babies we weren't sure what to do with the others.  This year we decided to spend some time in the manger again.  John, Eve, and Ellie walked around the town of Bethlehem with Mom.  I hate that we couldn't get a picture of them all dressed up.  They did surprisingly well and enjoyed shopping for pottery, fish, and who knows what else.  Jake did a great job as Baby Jesus and perfected his "no crying He makes" part.  It's such a neat (and easy) way to serve as a family and present the Gospel.
As a side note, I doubt I ever mentioned this since I hadn't started blogging when we did this with John.  One of the neatest experiences I've ever had was when we were in the manger with John.  There are two shifts.  Because of the other kids, we served on the early shift this year, but with John we were on the later shift.  At the end of the shift, when the last car came through, all of the participants followed the last car.  As they walked through the story of Jesus' prophesies, Mary and Joseph's trip to Bethlehem, the shepherds in the field, and finally the streets of Bethlehem, they gathered together and began singing.  As all of the participants neared the manger they sang "O Come All Ye Faithful".  To stand in the manger as Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus and watch as people came in worship was the most beautiful and moving experience!  It was a tiny, but incredible glimpse into what Mary and Joseph must have felt.

To completely switch gears, we also went on a carriage ride in Fountain Inn and had a visit with Santa.  It was a sort of last-minute decision, and with Jake being so little I hadn't had time to find matching Christmas clothes for everyone, but I think the pajamas were fun and turned out really cute.  I'll have to post the group pictures later.

 Hmmmm...Think, think, think.  John ended up asking for a motorcycle.  Thankfully Santa said he'd have to ask me first.  When I asked him about it later, he said he knew he was too young for a motorcycle.  He was asking for Daddy.  I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that's really sweet, but I'm not totally convinced.

Eve asked for a pink bow and arrow, some roller skates, and several other things I forgot.

 Ellie warmed up to Santa pretty quickly, but was a little confused about what he was asking and just said, "But...I don't have a costume."  Yep, she was still thinking about Halloween at Christmas.

 We also had fun baking cookies with friends.  They did a really good job with these and didn't make a mess.  BUT, this is what you get when you have a 2 year old and two 4 year olds running QC.

 Daddy took a trip to West Virginia one night during the week.  I'm not sure what got into me, but I decided to take all 4 by myself to the lights at Roper Mountain.  We bundled up, got some hot chocolate in special new Christmas cups, and headed out.  They actually did a FANTASTIC job!  Ellie was happy about it, I promise!

AND, we made gingerbread houses.  I didn't see the need to buy one for everyone, but at the same time, I thought there might be fighting if everyone worked on the same house.  SO, we had a girls house and a boys house.  It turned out to be lots of fun!

 I'm sure there was more we did to get ready for Christmas, but my word, that was exhausting.  It was time to settle down for a long winter's nap.