Christmas in Review

Last year I posted a review of Christmas: "Things we didn't get to do that I would like to do next year." I'm so excited to see we did every one of them! So here's what worked this Christmas and what I'll do differently next year.


- We went to a Christmas parade (actually we got to be IN one, even if we didn't SEE it). Next year I'll make more of an effort to take Leah to SEE the rest after we're done on our float.

- Pictures with Santa (still didn't really get ones like I wanted, but at least we got to talk to him this year). Next year I might like to see him in the mall.

- We read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve & opened one gift

- We did an Advent Calendar with family activities. Leah didn't really appreciate it that much this year, but then I didn't really work to build up excitement toward it. I'll probably do it again next year the same way, just add some excitement.

- We saw a Christmas light show AND Leah got to be IN a Christmas play.

- We made a Gingerbread Tree and several different Christmas crafts. Next year I'll plan a few more CRAFTS and a few less SCHOOL activities-- just one thing per day. I tried to plan 3 or 4 school-type activities for every day this year and it just didn't happen, so I wasted a lot of planning time. The crafts are what Leah (and I) both really like anyway, so we'll do more of those and less "work."

- Next year I'd like to add a little more focus on giving. I wasn't sure how Leah would understand something like Operation: Christmas Child or some other donation type thing, so I just skipped it, but I feel like we didn't do much at all this Christmas to give to others. I really want my kids to understand that Christmas isn't just about getting but giving back. Even if we just go out caroling or give gifts to our neighbors, that will be better than this year.

- I'd also like to try to find more crafts and more of a focus on Jesus' birthday. I think we did a good job this year and I think Leah understands a lot, but I'd like to spend more time reading from the Bible and less on Santa.