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You are here: Home / Archives for Christmas

Decorating: Our Nativity Scenes

December 3, 2012 by Tracy

Wooden Manger Scene
Nativity Scene

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Excitement is in the air at my house. My oldest daughter is 5 years old, and she awoke this morning asking to turn on the Christmas tree lights. Sometimes I think she eats, sleeps, and breaths decorating. She is very creative and in her element when we decorate together.

Bombarded with lights, sparkles, and advertisements aimed at squashing our contentment, Paul and I emphasize the Christ of Christmas. He is the reason for Christmas though we, myself included, can quickly get caught up in the wrapping, purchasing, and wanting mentality.

To focus our hearts and minds on Christ, our family follows a daily advent calendar beginning December 1, and we place nativity scenes around our home. We currently have 5 scenes: crystal set in living room, vinyl cling set on wall in hallway, 2nd grade son’s plaster set, kindergarten daughter’s ceramic set, and toddler daughter’s plastic scene.

Nativity Scene Tradition

Our manger scene tradition began with receiving our first one in our first year of marriage. I love crystal items and am blessed to have beautiful pieces which currently are stored away.

Tracy’s choice: Though I would love to display my beautiful crystal items, my children need freedom to play in our home without fear of breaking these items. As they grow older, I will get to  incorporate my things more and more. After all, the crystal is just a thing. For me, building relationships with my children is a higher priority than the decor of my home.

Our first nativity scene consists of 6 crystal figures that rest on a circular mirror. This Christmas decoration has become my favorite. Resting in the middle of our mantel, this manger scene resides at the center of our decorations and our celebrations. Though we have had a few other nativity scenes, I have pared down and only keep this one for our family. I also keep a vinyl cling nativity set that we place on the wall in our hallway.

Nativity Scene Choices

My 7-year-old Son

When my son turned 2, his grandparents presented him with a manger scene. He carefully played with the characters and continues to care for his manger scene.

Wooden Manger Scene

As our oldest daughter grew more inquisitive, she kept sneaking over to play with her brother’s set. Of course, my son protected his plaster-made manger scene, and we knew it was time to get her a set of her own.

My 5-year-old Daughter

For Christmas that year, my daughter was gifted a Precious Moments nativity scene from a dear friend. Though ceramic, my daughter carefully lines them up and moves them around.

Glass manger scene

A few figurines have been broken, but all breaks have been mended without noticeable errors. Her set still looks new, and she protects her figurines from harm (i.e., little sister.)

My 2-year-old Daughter

Yep, my toddler is now 2 years old, and she desired her own set. In watching the deals, I found the Little People Manger scene on sale at Family Christian. Using a promotional code, I purchased her set for $24 which was a bargain. Excited to have a manger scene of her own, my toddler plays with her plastic characters and all the animals.

Plastic manger scene

In keeping Christ at the center of our Christmas traditions, Paul and I encourage our children with manger scenes of their own. From plaster, ceramic, and plastic, the nativity scenes are different for each child, but portray the reason for the season.

As we continue our 25 Days ‘til Christmas, our family includes the gifts, Santa visits, reindeer food, Christmas movies, and stockings, but we keep our focus on the Christ of Christmas.

You can follow along as I document our journey this season. I post the result of each day on Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page.

My 25 Days 'til Christmas - Day 1

Day 1 – Visited a museum for a Russian Christmas celebration

My 25 Days 'til Christmas - Day 2

Day 2 – Decorated our home with nativity scenes

Please join me in the comments or on Facebook sharing your progress in celebrating this holiday season. Happy decorating!

Question: How is your holiday decorating coming along? 

Filed Under: Decorating, Household Tagged With: Christmas, decorations

Christmas in November

November 28, 2012 by Tracy

Christmas in November
Christmas in November

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Getting started a little early on my 25 Days ‘til Christmas list brought a few calm and precious moments today.

After dinner, our family crowded into the master bedroom. With all 5 of us snuggled into our queen-sized bed, we began our celebration of Christmas in November.

Surprisingly, we all fit. With our son in the middle, Paul held our oldest daughter on his side of the bed while I held the toddler on my side of the bed. We watched and giggled through Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

It was a wonder that their attention was captured for the full 20-minute or so program. Enjoying it so much, we plan to repeat this activity tomorrow with the airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Though not expecting to watch our Christmas movie until December 7, I’m ahead of the plan. In using time wisely and snuggling with my family, we are celebrating Christmas in November. Seizing these moments!

Question: Are your holiday celebrations starting early? 

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Christmas

My 25 Days ’til Christmas

November 27, 2012 by Tracy

25 Days 'til Christmas
25 Days 'til Christmas

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

I don’t know about you, but each year I have such good intentions of doing so many fun things for Christmas that never end up happening.

My problem is that I think of fun things, but I don’t make a plan. Well, this year is going to be different. I may not get everything accomplished, but I will have a plan. 😉

Since most of our Christmas traditions begin on December 1, I will highlight one item per day for my 25 Days ’til Christmas.

My 25 Days ’til Christmas

1 – Take a Christmas museum tour.

2 – Decorate our home for Christmas.

3 – Read the Christmas story.

4 – Start making gifts for my children’s classmates and teachers.

5 – Begin wrapping gifts.

6 – Place remaining on-line orders for gifts.

7 – Watch a Christmas movie.

8 – Assist with Sunday School Christmas Party.

9 – Prepare packages for mailing.

10 – Continue working on gifts for teachers and classmates.

11 – Mail all Christmas presents to friends and relatives.

12 – Bake Christmas cookies for school friends.

13 – Package gifts for my children’s classes.

14 – Deliver packages to school.

15 – Wrap more presents.

16 – Drive through town looking at Christmas lights with our Wendy’s Jr. Frosty desserts.

17 – Finish shopping for stocking stuffers.

18 – Wrap stocking stuffers.

19 – Bake Christmas cookies.

20 – Bake Christmas goodies.

21 – Wrap Christmas goodies for delivery.

22 – Deliver Christmas goodies to neighbors.

23 – Attend Bethlehem Revisited – a reenactment of Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth.

24 – Distribute the “Reindeer food” in our front yard.

25 – Read the Christmas story and celebrate the birth of Jesus, my Savior.

With a list of only one item per day, I am excited at crossing these items off my Christmas list. As some of these items occur multiple times, our family can adjust this list as needed. Now, I shouldn’t forget to mail the packages or send the goodies to school. 😉

As you prepare for the holiday season, consider writing down your Christmas list. With one item per day, you can accomplish your list leading to 25 Days ‘til Christmas. Happy planning and deciding!

Question: What’s on your 25 Days ‘til Christmas list?

Filed Under: Holiday, Christmas, Event Planning Tagged With: Christmas

Family Activity: Christmas Around the World

November 23, 2012 by Tracy

Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World

Photograph Credit: Living Life Intentionally

Beginning today, Living Live Intentionally kicks off Christmas Around the World!

From November 23 – December 24, follow Beth to a new country to experience holiday traditions, try a recipe, make a craft, and learn some geography along the way.

Beth has included a free e-book filled with links, worksheets, and coloring pages for your children ages 2 to 12. This book is your companion guide for each day’s destination.

Enjoy your travels as you follow Beth for the next 32 days on her tour –  Christmas Around the World. Happy discovering!

Filed Under: Staying at Home, Family Activities Tagged With: Christmas

Christmas Traditions: Santa’s Reindeer and Personalized Call

November 23, 2012 by Tracy

Christmas Traditions
Christmas Traditions

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

With Thanksgiving festivities coming to a close, I am ready to focus from the fall season to our Christmas traditions. In our home, Santa Claus is fun. My children understand who the real Santa and Mrs. Claus are, but we still have fun pretending.

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is putting out the reindeer food because the reindeer need energy while Santa is stopping by. 😉 With baggies of oatmeal and glitter (so Santa can find our house from a distance), we scatter the contents in our front yard.

If your family enjoys the Santa traditions, then you may like the reindeer cam where one can watch Santa’s reindeer while daily feedings occur at 11:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. (EST).

For another fun opportunity, schedule a personalized phone call from Santa to your child for free. You get to choose the message and the time to call.

In kicking off the holiday season, enjoy these fun activities while using time wisely. Happy planning!

Filed Under: Staying at Home, Family Activities Tagged With: Christmas

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