A week of preparations...

We usually put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. But this year I decided we would do it a bit early. On Sunday we put our tree up and decorated our home for Christmas. I know some would say that we are losing Thanksgiving in all the hub bub of Christmas decorating. But for me it is all related...Christ's birth is the most important thing I have to be thankful for! We had a fun time decorating, then enjoyed some summer sausage, cheese and crackers for dinner. My 2 year old daughter really had fun this year decorating the tree. I don't think she remembers much from last year, so it was fun to watch her have so much fun.

My 5 year old son had a lot of fun too. Of course, they kept taking ornaments off and moving them around ;). They took great pride in decorating the tree "just right".

My same 5 year old son has been totally taken with the nativity scene. He keeps rearranging the animals, the shepherds, the wise men, Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus. He wants to have his own play nativity set so he can play with them more (I kind of had to limit his "touching" of the figures as they are glass). It has provided some great opportunities to talk with him about Jesus and why He came.

Another fun thing we did this week was cut out paper snowflakes to hang on our big picture window. The kids love them and they look so pretty. Here are a couple pictures of our snowflakes from last year...

You can download these snowflakes here:

MAKE BEAUTIFUL SNOWFLAKES!
Go to these web pages to print out and make some beautiful paper snowflakes! These are so pretty and so easy to make! Do a bunch for your tree and to hang in the window! Once you have cut them out, press between two sheets of paper with an iron on the LOW setting. Beautiful!!!
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/SnowPat/snow2000_13.htm
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/SnowPat/snow11.htm
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/SnowPat/snow2000_14.htm
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/SnowPat/snow105.htm
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/SnowPat/snow106.htm
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/SnowPat/snow27.htm
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/SnowPat/snow141.htm

Today we spent cleaning up the house and doing some baking for our Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow. It has been a fun week as we prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Blessings to each of you as you enjoy these special times with your families!