Reading Christmas Stories

Last night we read Christmas stories by the light of our Christmas tree. We usually start this tradition at the beginning of December and try to read every night until Christmas. Sometimes we light a candle and the children watch the flame as I read. I bought a new book called, A Christmas Dress for Ellen, written by Thomas S. Monson. I love this book. I could hardly read the book outloud. I had to stop several times to compose my cracking voice. I think the best part of the story is that it is a true story. This book is going to be an annual tradition.

Encourage, Guide & Love

“Too frequently, women underestimate their influence for good. Well could you follow the formula given by the Lord: ‘Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God’ (D&C 88:119).“In such a house will be found happy, smiling children who have been taught, by precept and example, the truth. In a Latter-day Saint home, children are not simply tolerated, but welcomed; not commanded, but encouraged; not driven, but guided; not neglected, but loved.”
Thomas S. Monson, “The Spirit of Relief Society,” Ensign, May 1992, 101-102

I just had to post this statement by President Monson. I believe as mothers we can have such a great influence for good with our children. I like the words he used about children: encouraged, guided and loved. These are mothering words. I have tried to come up with a consise family motto. This is my rough draft: "Encourage, Lift & Inspire".

Gingerbread Houses or Christmas Boxes

After years of experience making gingerbread houses with my family I have added a few short cuts to the preparation and execution of this annual tradition. I now buy multiple boxes of graham crackers, and more cans of premade frosting. We use paper plates for the foundation and plastic knives for the spreading of frosting. I buy about 10 different kinds of small candies.

This tradition has become more of a competition about who can have the biggest house with the most candy used. We should really call it Christmas Boxes. Each house is built more like a fortress with a hollow center where the candy is hidden. Who ever has the most candy with out the house collapsing is the winner. Our houses are not for decoration but for consumption within a day.

This year we had a couple extra guests who went about buliding the traditional houses. They were frustrated because the frosting wouldn't harden and hold their candies in place. No one told them the "rules". Even with frosting difficulties their houses were the beautiful.

St. Nicholas Day - December 6th

Saturday we found wooden shoes filled with small treats, a candy cane and an ornament. The wooden shoes represent our dutch ancestry and the custom followed by many in central europe. St. Nicholas brings candies to good little children and coal to the rest. For our Saturday fun activity we made chocolates in molds. I love my big table! We all fit comfortably around with plenty of room for the chocolate stuff. I noticed that some children took their time and made beautifully detailed chocolates while others made a mess and smeared chocolate on each other. I had to create some rules like, no licking the molds with your tongue. You would think that I had little children that wouldn't understand the importance on not licking public things. But no, it was a 14 year old who couldn't figure out why licking was not allowed.

December 1st

It's December 1st! I love the Christmas holiday! Over the weekend we put up the Christmas tree and put lights on it. The children are excited to begin reading stories around the tree tonight. A tradition we began when they were tiny. We read short stories and a few longer stories like "A Christmas Carol". I like to add to our collection every year.

Every year, I look for ways to bring "Christ" into our Christmas celebration. For this reason I am irritated by the "greedy gimmies" that seem to infect our family. I try to encourage the children to think of others (like their siblings) and what they would like to do for them, rather than what they want for themselves.