For this month, I like to make school work lighter and have some extra “fun” activities  for the children to do.  This month we focused on the getting the basics—reading, writing, and arithmetic done and then next month we will back into our regular schedule.  I like to be able to allow the children extra time creating memories doing things that are fun.

One thing that was enjoyable to do this year was salt dough ornaments.  I have done this before when we had more little ones and it was stressful worrying about the little ones not getting paint on everything.  This year they were much better about keeping the mess contained on the table- so it was good:)

I made the ornaments about a week ago and that allowed them to dry and  be ready to paint.  I gave each child a piece of paper to paint the ornaments on.  I filled their own plates with a squirt of each paint color.  Then I put a large rag towel in between two children along with a container of water.   This allowed them to rinse and dry their brushes easily. 

For the most part, it went well.  I have only one spot that pink paint got on the table and had to be scrubbed off.  Thank goodness for acrylic washable paints:)  Even the 3 year old did a good job.  His paint plate was a swirly mess by the time he was done, but he had fun and made his own ornament. 

I set them out to dry overnight and then wrote their names on the back along with the year.  I strung a ribbon through the hole—don’t forget to make the hole before you bake them.I am going to have my husband spray them with clear coat and we just might get to keep these ornaments for the years to come.  As much as I enjoy buying really nice looking ornaments, in our household the tree becomes a playing station which results in multiple times of moving the ornaments throughout the time the tree is up and   I am okay with that.  I don’t idolize my tree at all, it has become something fun to play with:)  One day it will sit all nicely decorated, but for now, I enjoy them playing and putting “their” ornaments that they have made in a special spot.

I put the lights up this year and then I sit down and get all the ornaments ready for the children to let loose on the tree.

It takes all of about ten minutes for them to decorate the tree.

For the most part, the top of the tree is where we keep any special ornaments

It is a fun time, I stood back and took a look after they were done and was just about the “rearrange” some of the ornaments and then I thought, “no, I will leave them.”  It is just a tree, the children had fun, that is all that matters.    The recipe that we used for the salt dough ornaments is here.

Now for some fun pages.  You can click and print off this pack of Christmas fun pages for you to occupy your child if you need a moment or two to get things done.  Completely free, no need to do multiple searches throughout the internet.  Enjoy and be blessed.

Click here to download them.

photo courtesy of artur84@@freedigitalphotos.net

With the Christmas season fast approaching and lots added to our “to do” lists, I wanted to take a moment and help you reflect upon this season.  We as women can get so wrapped up in the “doing” that we forget the “being” part of Christmas time.  I wanted to write this devotional to help us identify with each of the nativity people.  This will be presented in a 10 part series–each day signifying a different person.  You can download it here for the complete devotional to use in your ladies group–includes all scripture NKJV.  Or you can enjoy a new person each day through my blog.  Be blessed as we go about remembering the reason for this season.

Day 9:Magi or wise men

Read scripture: Matthew 2:7-12

The bible says that the star guided the wise men to the baby, but it took some time. We have been taught that they arrived at the stable to see the baby Jesus, but that is not what the bible says. Also we don’t know if it was three men. The bible says “men” which means plural of one. It could have been 50, or 10 or 2. Tradition teaches us that it was three because they brought three gifts to Jesus.
These men picked out three gifts to give to the Savior. They chose:
• Gold—–representative of a King
• Frankincense—-used by priests and represents prayer
• Myrrh—used in embalming bodies—prophetic of his death

These three things represents all that Jesus stood for as a man:
Prophet Priest King

Are you so particular that you are careful to pick out presents for everyone this season but you forget to offer gifts to Jesus? The Bible says whatever you do, do it in my name. Is there someone this season that you can offer the gift of Jesus to? Maybe it will be to really listen to what someone wants this holiday season. Ask the Lord to reveal to you a way that you can help someone by giving the “perfect” gift.

Summary:
We shouldn’t get too wrapped up and idolize the birth of Jesus. That is not what Christmas time is about. It is about sharing with unbelievers this gift of what Jesus is. Who He is and what He stands for is what is going to change people. We have learned that when these biblical people believed what the Lord had told them, that is when they received what God said. We as believers need to not doubt all that God can do. If He tells you something or you read the scriptures, we need to believe that it will come to pass.

The bible says in Luke 1:4-5:
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Be blessed as you remember what the Christmas season is truly about.