Christmas all wrapped up 2012

Last year I made this video of the girls during Christmas time.

So this year, I did another, celebrating our advent and Christmas 2012, enjoy!
christmas 2012 from Brett and Jenni Goodlin on Vimeo.

24 names of Jesus

Along with the advent Calendar this year, I wanted to do something else a little more Christ centered on a daily basis, but easy and not beyond what a toddler could do.  So I thought, 24 days of advent, there are surely 24 names of Jesus we could do a of Jesus name each day!  Brilliant idea! So I googled "names of Jesus" and found about a million.  Then I looked on pinterest and apparently I wasn't the first person with this idea.  So I picked 24 names that I thought were more Christmas like, or that I better new what they meant so I could explain them to the girls.

It took a few runs, at first I did a name when they did the advent calendar in the morning, but there was so much excitement about the calendar the name got lost in the mix, so I thought "how about when we eat dinner with daddy, we can pick out a new name then."  That was actually a much better idea, and a good way to get dad involved regularly during the advent season.  Only problem is that there is a lot going on during Christmas time, which meant many nights we weren't home for dinner...... so we forgot a few times. SO maybe next year, at bed time?  The girls were sure the remind me if we  did forget to pick a name of Jesus and we would try to make up for it the next night.

Maya's favorite name of Jesus is Emmanuel, because there is a boy in her class with that name

All I did was print out names of Jesus in a black & red circle, cut them out and put them in a jar.  Each day the girls would take turns drawing a new name, we would explain the meaning of the name, and then we would put it on display.

Merry Christmas!

Advent Days 17-20 {2012}

Part of me is sad this time of the year is ending, each day is so special and fun and a great way to celebrate Jesus.  The other part of me is glad, that I don't have to worry about forgetting to filling the advent calendar with treats late every night and move the elf to a new place, when there simply aren't 24 places in our home.  But mostly I am sad it is coming to an end... I don't like January. 

Day 17:

Maya  & Norah had a mini Christmas performance at Ballet class.  And Norah.... she made us laugh the entire time and I am not sure any of that time she actually spent dancing.  She mostly was just holding up her skirt, looking at the ceiling and humming.  Kind of like what you picture in the movies, the kid who is totally distracted and not paying attention

Watch this short video and see for yourself (maya is right next to her)

oh norah...

Day 18: Open a special gift

Brett had the idea to get these special tumblers for the girls so they could have special drinks in their own coffee cup.  They were so cute, from Starbucks, and they got to decorate them!  They are kid size..... can you guys what one of our follow up advent activities is going to be?

Day 19:

Our City has a tour you can do to see all of the Christmas light, we did the half of the tour closer to our house and it was so much better than aimlesly driving around.  We like the houses with the "dancing" Christmas lights, that is the one that are synchronized with music,  basic extravagant lights on a house just don't cut it anymore

He's the perfect dad for 3 daughters

Day 20:

We didn't get to do this last year because it was snowing, but I was so glad we got to this year.  It is always so fun to have an excuse to see daddy!  The girls wore their Christmas dresses and brought treats for all.  They even handed treats to people we didn't know at all.  They brought a lot of joy to the office

 

If any of you are doing something like this, let me know!

 I would love to know some of the activities you are doing!