Each morning, the kids unwrap a numbered "present" that tells them what our activity, song, and scripture for the day are going to be. Some days there is a Christmas story or video as well. It has been really fun so far. Hallie wakes up each morning asking when we can open that day's present. I also love that we are combining both the fun/Santa Clause aspect of Christmas and the spiritual/Christ-centered aspect.
I am going to update this post as we go along with pictures of each of our activities, but I thought I would post the whole outline now.
Day One, Saturday
12.1.12
Song: Away In a Manger (# 42, Children’s Song Book)
Scripture: Luke 1:11-17
View the Video “Christmas Spirit”
Activity: Print Christmas coloring pages online and color (ours found here)
Day Two, Sunday
12.2.12
Song: Oh Come All Ye Faithful (#202 hymn book)
Scripture: Malachi 3:1
“Wise Men Still Seek Him” Coloring page
Activity: Bake and Decorate Sugar Cookies (try this recipe--mmmm delicious)
Day Three, Monday
12.3.12
Song: Samuel tells of the Baby Jesus (Children’s #36)
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7
Read the story, "Christmas Family"
Activity: Do a Christmas craft (we did this)
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| Flor's snowman: Just a coloring page (can't trust her to not eat the marshmallows, you know), Hallie's and Hannah's (the neighbor) looking stupendous, and Jace's? Well Jace's is nothing but glue marks as he consumed his whole snowman before we could even get a picture. |
Day Four, Tuesday
12.4.12
Song: Silent Night (#204)
Scripture: Luke 1:26-33
Activity: Write letters to Santa
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| Flor drew Santa a picture of what she wants. I am going to go with, "I want some rice, chicken, bread, loud toys, and signing time videos. Love, Flor." |
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| Just FYI: Jace's new favorite thing to say is "Bye Kim" Or "Bye Kimmie", which is simultaneously hilarious and bewildering...I mean, where did he learn this?? So I was happy that he at least passed his hello for me on through Santa...Also, Devin was concerned that he said "doll" so often, but he is certain that Jace actually means "action figure" |
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Day Five, Wednesday
12.5.12
Song: Picture a Christmas (Children’s #50)
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-19
Listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing “What Child is This”
Activity: Buy a star for our tree
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| Yes, we know that Flor is not the best picture taker ever. Just rest assured, she really wasn't as mad as she looks. Getting her to smile in a picture is a real chore...so instead we have this gem to help us remember her first Christmas in the US! |
Day Six, Thursday 12.6.12
Song: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (#209)
Scripture: Isaiah 7:14
Activity: Go to the Dollar Store and buy Christmas coloring
books
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| Ohhhh, nothing better than brand, spankin' new coloring books! |
Day Seven, Friday 12.7.12
Song: Have a Very Merry Christmas (Children’s #51)
Scripture: Matthew 1: 20-25
Video: “Look to the Light”
Activity: Make cookies and take them to someone
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| Nothing better than sharing the beaters when making cookies! (Please don't mind Hallie's seriously clashing clothing...what do you do when your 4 year old insists upon wearing whatever she insists upon wearing??) |
Day Eight, Saturday
12.8.12
Song: Far, Far, Away on Judea’s Plain (# 212)
Scripture: Luke 1:39-56
Coloring and mount Jesus Christ was Born in a Manger (found at the bottom of the lesson)
Activity: Attend Ward Christmas party
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| Ward party=success. Especially the 15 member folk ensemble group from BYU. Amazing music. We are lucky to have some really talented individuals in our ward (including the professor of this group--thus the performance for us). Can't say I have ever had a bag pipe player at a ward Christmas party before tonight! :) |
Day Nine, Sunday
12.9.12
Song: The Shepherd’s Carol (Children’s #40b)
Scripture: Luke 2:1-7
Listen to the MOTAB “Christmas Processional”
Activity: Go see the lights at Temple Square
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Day Ten, Monday
12.10.12
Song: Joy to the World (#201)
Scripture: Luke 2:8-14
Read “What is Christmas?” by President Monson
Activity: have hot chocolate and toast before bed
Day Eleven, Tuesday
12.11.12
Song: Stars were Gleaming (Children’s #37)
Scripture: Luke 2:15-20
Activity: Sort through old toys and donate them to someone in need
Day Twelve, Wednesday
12.12.12
Song: With Wondering Awe (#210)
Scripture: Exodus 13:2
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| Add caption |
Day Thirteen,
Thursday 12.13.12
Song: The Nativity Song (Children’s Songbook #52)
Scripture: Luke 2:21-24
Activity: Read Christmas books
Day Fourteen, Friday
12.14.12
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| Okay, this isn't a picture of reading Christmas books, but we have also enjoyed watching Santa's reindeer cam and seeing him feed his reindeer. |
Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem (#208)
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-5
Watch “Kids and Christmas”
Activity:Go to the store to buy a new ornament for our tree Visit Santa Clause!
Activity:
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| (Uncle Lynn and Barb as Santa and Mrs. Clause) |
Day Fifteen, Saturday
12.15.12
Song: Mary’s Lullaby (Children’s #44)
Scripture: Luke 2:25-35
Activity: Help the kids draw names and shop for each other’s gifts
Day Sixteen, Sunday
12.16.12
Song: Angels We have Heard on High (#203)
Scripture: Luke 2:36-38
Listen to MOTAB's “Bring A Torch Jeanette, Isabella”
Activity: Watch a Christmas movie/Deliver Sub for Santa gifts
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| We delivered some Sub for Santa gifts to a family and as we left the mom slipped these pictures into our hands. Such sweet notes of gratitude. This is what the season is all about. |
Day Seventeen, Monday
12.17.12
Song: When Joseph Went to Bethlehem (Children’s #38)
Scripture: Hosea 11:1
Activity: Dance to Christmas music
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| Apparently Hallie was really into that dancing... |
Day Eighteen, Tuesday
12.18.12
Song: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (#207)
Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15
Activity: Build a snowman (pray for snow!)
Insert picture here...if Devin had taken any :) (I was at work)
Insert picture here...if Devin had taken any :) (I was at work)
Day Nineteen,
Wednesday 12.19.12
Song: Once Within a Lowly Stable (Children’s #41)
Scripture: Matthew 25:40
Watch: "Shepherd’s Learn of Christ’s Birth"
Activity: Distribute neighborhood gifts (so sorry neighbors, we totally meant to get around to this this year, but have just not had time!)
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| How about a picture of Flor's cute Christmas program instead? |
Day Twenty, Thursday 12.20.12
Song: The First Noel (#213)
Scripture: Matthew 2:16-18
Day Twenty One,
Friday 12.21.12
Song: Little Jesus (Children’s #39)
Scripture: Micah 5:2
Watch MOTAB's “Rejoice and be Merry”
Activity: Be a "Secret Santa" for someone
Day Twenty Two,
Saturday 12.22.12
Song: Away in a Manger (#206)
Scripture: Matthew 2:19-23
Watch the video “What Shall We Give?”
Activity: Watch a Christmas Movie
Day Twenty Three,
Sunday 12.23.12
Song: Who is the Child (Children’s #46)
Scripture: Luke 2:39-40
Activity: Sing Christmas songs together
Day Twenty Four,
Monday 12.24.12
Song: Silent Night
Scripture/Activity: Act out the Nativity
Watch: MOTAB's “Hallelujah Chorus”
2 comments:
I love it! Thanks for the awesome ideas. We are also following the scripture and videos from the first blog. Then I have put activities in our advent calendar for the kids to do each day. I just love Christmas!! Your pictures are so cute! I love how Hallie's letter to Santa is really long. That girl cracks me up!
One more thing- I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea and post what we're doing each day on my blog. :)
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