As our little’s are getting older, we are trying to incorporate new traditions for the holiday season but also instill what the meaning of Christmas is all about. As much as we love to shop and give presents as well as receive gifts, there is so much more to Christmas. Lately my oldest, Pepin, has been asking about Jesus and when we are driving by a church she says, “That’s Jesus’ house”. We’ve been to church a here and there, we listen online as well. Let’s face it, it’s hard to get to church with two little ones! My kids will not go to the kids room, they refuse so they sit with us. The times we have gone, they actually sit there pretty good but again, it’s only been a few times.
At Christmas time, advent calendars are always a big hit. Little doors filled with chocolaty goodness or little presents, but I wanted to do something different. Another blogger that I follow and love (Intagram: @karlareed), found an amazing advent calendar called The Wonder of the Greatest Gift: An Interactive Family Celebration of Advent by Ann Voskamp. Instead of candy or gifts in a door, each day’s compartment you open has an ornament you place on a paper pop-up tree. Each ornament is associated to a story of God and Jesus coming about. Thankfully, each story is a short read as the kids can only pay attention for a few minutes but it does start that process of them hearing the story as well as understanding the meaning of Christmas.
The girls really seem to enjoy it and look forward to opening a door each day and hanging the ornament on the tree. I hope this is something we will continue to use for each Christmas and pass this on to their families one day.
Leave a comment of which holiday advent calendar you use or new tradition you are doing this year!
