Christmas Activities Continue

I usually like having downtime after a busy day but it has seriously been one busy day to the next.   Busy, but really fun.   It seems that there is so much to squeeze in before Christmas Day that we may need a break after our Christmas break (if that makes sense).    I want to make some notes to myself at the end of this season so I can remember what worked and what didn't for next year.  For example, making Gingerbread cookies was fun for them and they look so adorable but ... no one will eat them.  I'm the only one who likes Gingerbread cookies.  How can that be good?  So here are a few of the highlights from the past several days.

We continue to do a daily devotional with our Jesse Tree.  Daddy usually does it in the evening but if we get behind then I add one in the morning.    This is our first year with a Jesse Tree and it's been a great addition.

This Advent Box is filled with little treats, verses, scavenger hunts, activities and so on.  I usually have them do this in the morning.  Next year I'm going to pre-fill it.  I scramble around sometimes looking for an activity or treat to match what we're doing and then I end up missing a day.  Lesson learned :|

This was our candy cane day.  We read The Legend of the Candy Cane,  made some paper candy canes and then some yummy cookies.

The cookies were more difficult to twist than I had anticipated so I'm glad that I waited until the twins had nap time.  I was able to work more closely with the big girls and it was really nice.

We also had a blast making the sugar cone Christmas Trees.  I got this one from here.   They ate them immediately after creating them.

The next day we went to a friends and made even MORE cookies.  Luckily that night we were going to another friends' house to see Santa so we shared our cookies with them.   But not before Courtney got the red one....her favorite color.

Then on Friday, the much anticipated Christmas Play...The Christmas County Spelling Bee.  We were so proud of the girls for all of their hard work.  They each had a solo and a speaking part.  The play went off beautifully and I can tell they are a little sad now that it's over.

I haven't finished all of the Christmas activities I have planned so we're continuing on each day.   I planned more this year than any other.  It really makes a difference that the little ones aren't babies anymore.  I remember thinking that I'd never be able to do the fun things with the bigger girls and now, here we are!