Christmas Traditions

This is the first year that Claire has been really excited about Christmas and seemed to begin to grasp what it was all about.  We decided not to put up a big tree this year (Will isn't walking but is pulling up on everything), and the idea of trying to keep Will away from a tree and presents just seemed a little exhausting.  I did want to have some fun activities with Claire that would get her excited and help teach her what Christmas is about, so we did a Jesse Tree and a nativity advent calendar.  The Jesse Tree was so fun - I'd never heard about one until this year.  Each day you color an ornament and read a scripture about the lineage of Christ.  I read about it here and printed out the ornaments and scripture references.  Every night after Will went to bed, we would read the story while Claire colored the ornament and then hung it on a small tree.

Then we would pull a figure from the appropriate day on the Advent calendar and put it on the nativity scene.

I really enjoyed doing these things with her and further developing our family's Christmas decorations.  I look forward to Will being old enough to participate next year!