Christmas Part 2

 I am clearly having issues with the new blogger format.  If anyone can give me any tips on dragging pictures, I would appreciate the help!!  Here are a few pictures of early December to backtrack.  We made a cardboard castle while studying castles.  We started advent with our doughnut advent wreath tradition.  We started the Jesse Tree telling the family history of Jesus from Adam and Eve through the Bible to the coming of Jesus.  We had snacks for some of the ornaments we put on the tree like Adam's sparkling cider for the story of Adam and Eve.

 We celebrated St. Nicholas day and started our Nativity with just animals this year.  For St. Nicholas day, the kids got gold coins (because St. Nicholas left gold in secret for people who needed money), candy canes for the bishop's crozier (because he was a bishop in the 500's).   They also got notes, sticker nativities, and a little play nativity.

We celebrated early with my family this year.  Here is Grace opening her gift from us which was a small diaper bag my talented friend made for her. My brother and his wife from San Diego were there, my brother and his wife from Charleston, and my sister's family.  One brother that just moved from Chicago to Seattle was not there but we skyped while opening presents.

These pictures are of the nativity at church which is too big to get a picture of.  Brianna is in front of the elephant and wise men.  The castle is slowly getting colored.  The girls were angels and Sam was a sheep at the Christmas pageant at church.  They always enjoy that. Before going to church, we went to Heath's parents for a Christmas Eve dinner and presents.  The kids have so much fun with their cousins.