I can’t believe we’re already a week into December!!! One month until our little munchkin arrives. I am so not mentally (or any other way) prepared for him, but I like to think about his soft cheeks, its going to be wonderful.
We had a fun first December weekend. On Friday the kids took a walk through Lantana in the dark to see the lights with their flashlights with Daddy. They LOVED it. When they came home we made hot chocolate and cookies. We read the Polar Express and then watched the movie together. It is so much fun to have children old enough to be enthusiastic about Christmas!
On Saturday night we attended a live nativity put on by a Baptist church in the area. We had to wait 2 hours!! to get in, but it really was worth it. They put us in groups of 2 people and we started in Nazareth and walked to Bethlehem. It was outdoors, but we stopped at the “home” of a Jewish family, were stopped by Roman soldiers on real horses, demanding to see our passports, and finally ended up at a created “City of Bethlehem” complete with a city wall and a city market inside. Just outside the city we found a stable with Mary, Joseph and the Baby. The walk took about 45 minutes. They children loved it. OK, Anslie cried when the Roman soldiers came, but other than that it was a hit. There was one bright star in the sky that night, and Tyler said to me “Mom, we’re following the star! We’re going to Bethlehem, we’re going to find baby Jesus!” It was a fantastically real portrayal of the Christmas story that the kids will remember for a long time.
We’ve started a fun nightly tradition. I made an advent calendar out of felt that has the nativity backdrop and a pocket for each night of December. Each night one of the children pulls out a character in the nativity from a pocket and sticks it to the backdrop, then we read a scripture about that character. Then they choose a present from under the tree (they are all Christmas books from the library!) and we read a book and drink hot chocolate before going to bed. Kids are so fun at Christmastime!
On Sunday we had planned to have a family over for dinner, but our plans fell through, and we ended up enjoying dinner at Mom and Dad Linton’s with all the cousins. After dinner we all enjoyed the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Their home felt so warm and full of family. I thought as I sat on the soft couch, surrounded by family that I enjoy, how lucky I am to be a part of a family when so many people are lonely this time of year. Heavenly Father really does know what brings true happiness, he knows that every human heart needs and wants to enjoy a family.
