25 Days Closer to Christ

One of my favorite traditions is our 25 Days Closer to Christ Advent Calendar.

Every morning the kids get to open a door and find a little typed up paper telling them what we get to do that day.  Some days it's some fun activity, some days it's just saying we get to go to their performances and get a treat, and some days it's something spiritual.

Whatever it is, the activity helps us spend time as a family and helps us focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  It helps us to remember that receiving isn't what's important.

The kids were excited to find gifts were included in this days activities.

I found some cheap wise man costumes.  So I figured why not get them….we'll be able to use them for years to come.  Plus then I don't have to track down and borrow some.

So years I've made all kind of authentic food for our Jerusalem dinner.  But I have learned that just having a selection of meats and cheeses, with nuts, olives, flat bread with hummus and a couple of juices to drink is really what the kids enjoy.  Plus it's so much easier for me!

The kids walk through out the house with flash lights looking for the star to show them where to find the baby Jesus.  Justin and I are Joseph and Mary.

This year Kiersten and Hunter thought it would be cool if they each brought a gift for Jesus just like the wise men did.  It was pretty special!  They came in and presented us with the gifts by kneeling and everything.  I think it really showed the respect they have for their Savior even in a pretend setting.

This is one of our most favorite Christmas traditions for sure.

It was so cute while we ate dinner Justin read the Christmas story from the Bible to us.  We then discussed what it might have been like to have been there on that very special night.  And while we were doing this, Grant was so excited to hold the "baby Jesus."  It was super cute!

He just held "baby Jesus" and would look at it.  He told me he "tant wait for yo baby to tum!"

He is going to be a wonderful Big Brother! 

Look at how cool the kids decorated for our ELF party!

Hunter learned how to make these 3D snowflakes from Mrs. Kim Skinner.  He taught Kiersten and then they made a ton to hang up.  I love them!

Instead of eating cotton balls, like Buddy the Elf, we saw who could stuff the most large marshmallows in their mouths.

Grant was a trooper…I believe he got 2!

Logan did awesome…..he got 4!

Hunter was turning red as he tried to stuff #6 marshmallow in his mouth.

Kiersten has so serious skills!

She stuffed 11 marshmallows in her mouth!  It was crazy!

Then once Justin did 14 I realized Kiersten got her skills from her dad!

I seriously only got 4  and I was gagging :)

Don't the kids look cute in their Elf hats we made last year!

Yes we did it………..we ate cookie dough and the kids loved it!  Maybe not as much as Justin did though!

I picked up the scrap paper at Justin's office to have our own snowball fight!

Hey when you live in Arizona you have to improvise.

We had such a fun time running around in the basement throwing "snowballs" at each other.

The kids teased me that I wouldn't be able to run after them since I am 9 months pregnant.  But they were pretty surprised when I was running around pelting them with the "snowballs".

I was so much fun!

Christmas Eve day we made cookies for Santa!

Now doesn't this picture show Grant for sure had a good time making the cookies.

I think he got just as much flour on him as we actually put in the cookies!

The cookie decorating was a big hit with Kiersten, Hunter and Logan!

Here is our list of 

25 Days Closer to Christ

1.  Go to Grammy Cluff's for dinner and play with cousins.

2.  Go to Kiersten's and Hunter's piano recital and get ice cream afterwards!

3.  Read "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and have a treat.

4.  Learn of Jesus and begin our "Gift's for Jesus."

5.  Family Fun Night….meet at the temple to watch the Live Nativity then come home to enjoy hot chocolate and make smokes by the fire maybe play a game or two!

6.  Learn of Mary.  Decorate our "Uncle Doyle Tree."

7.  Go watch Kiersten dance before the Light Parade.  Get hot chocolate and then watch the Light Parade.  Then go to dinner with Tif and kids!

8.  Decorate gingerbread houses while watching the Christmas devotional on TV.

9.  Learn of the Angel and make an ornament.

10.  Learn of the Lamb.

11.  Go to the Strings and Choir Concert.  Afterwards get dinner or a treat.

12.  Learn of Joseph and start our "Large Jingle Bell Tradition."

13.  Watch a Christmas movie, like Home Alone, while having a yummy treat!

14.  Go to the dance recitals.  Eat dinner or dessert afterwards!

15.  Make a yummy treat and take it to our secret service, Sister Nettie Cluff and plan something else to do for her.

16.  Read Christmas stories while coddled up in mom's bed.

17.  Learn about the Innkeeper missing out on the chance of a lifetime.  Talked about how we are all like the Innkeepers and need to make room for Christ.

18.  Learn of the shepherds and make a its blanket for Sister Nettie Cluff.

19.  Caroling with violins and then learn of the Angels.

20.  Learn of the Wise men and boys make smores by the fire pit (Kiersten and I might not be back from Gilbert).

21.  Do a secret service for Nettie Cluff……rake leaves or something.

22.  Open the special gifts we have for each of you.  Have our Jerusalem Dinner!

23.  Have a  Buddy the Elf Party, watch the movie ELF!

24.  Go look at Christmas lights and deliver a few gifts to Nettie Cluff and make cookies for Santa, then watch a Christmas Movie.

25.  Give everyone in your family a hug and tell them one thing you love about them.  Show your appreciation for your Christmas gifts!  Remember to thank Heavenly Father for all you've been blessed with both physically and spiritually!

Notice the jingle bell above the 3D snowflake?

Our tradition of is called our Jingle Bell Tradition.  We have a this large jingle bell, we start by giving the jingle bell to someone.  They then perform a secret act of service for someone else in our family and leave the jingle bell for them to find.  I saw this one morning and just had to take a picture.  

Hunter had made a small #D snowflake for Kiersten!

And any tradition that gets your 8 year old son to make his older brothers bed is a tradition worth keeping.  Logan made Hunter's bed while Hunter was eating breakfast before school.

This is one of my favorite traditions!  I love hearing and seeing the sweet things my kids do for each other and Justin and myself.