Getting Ready for Christmas

We spent last Saturday getting ready for the holiday season by going to some festive events. We signed the kids up for a "Breakfast with Santa" at the community center here sponsored by Chick-fillet- hence the elf cows. I think the kids liked the cows better than Santa.

I can't say I blame them though. This Santa was a little rough around the edges. I worried when I saw him that the kids would see right through him. But despite the fact that his beard hung under his chin instead of his nose and that the parents had to keep putting his hat back on, and that his voice quivered when he spoke (if you can't tell from this picture, he was really really old)...in the end the kids just remember the big belly and the red suit and the pushes and bribes from excited parents to go sit in this strangers lap.

I love this picture. Eden is helping Fox remember his Christmas list- not that she would have anything to do with him herself.

Yeah, that's Mrs. Clause.

After that we headed to a puppet show about how Mrs. Clause saves Christmas and did a little Christmas shopping while we were at the toy store. Then I headed to the church for the rest of the day to help decorate for the "Night in Bethlehem." We were a little worried at first that it wouldn't come together in time but in the end, it was all so beautiful. The children went to 6 different rooms, each featuring a different aspect of Christ's birth. Here is the room with the manger. The children were so reverent while they stared at Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. The room was complete with a starry night sky and the sound of crickets and goats.

I wish I had more pictures. There was a tent with the three wise men where they touched real frankincense and myrrh and got little gold chocolate coins to take with them. Then on to Joseph's workshop to make a special ornament. Later they got to swing by my room- the Bethlehem Bazaar where they got to enjoy a snack of pita, hummus and grapes under Christmas lights with a view of the city. And perhaps there favorites were the shepherds and animals.

When our friend (who put this whole night together) called this place for some animals, she initially requested sheep, goats and a donkey. The man said, "the sheep is dead and the donkey bites...but the alpaca sure do look a lot like camels." Sold. Two alpacas please and some miniature goats (that, by the way, were the most adorable little baby miniature goats I have ever seen). They topped it off with a play and dessert. It was a great night where the kids got to see and touch and taste and create and think about the Saviour and the true meaning of Christmas. It was a great way to start this holiday season.