Moore Christmas 2015

The Nutcracker:

I love that the kids now recognize the music from The Nutcracker.  Edison even remembers which part of the ballet the music was played!  

The Tree:

Making the Tree:

The Gingerbread Houses:

The Advent Spiral:

I wanted something like an Advent wreath that we could light each day before Christmas.  This year I really wanted to do my best to remind my kids of the focus of this season, and I really think we did.  Each day we would light an additional candle and do a devotion or read a version of the nativity story or let the kids tell the nativity story to me.  Mary and Joseph moved around the wreath on their journey to the birth.  We talked often about their journey and how they must have felt.  I really, really loved it.  

When the kids woke on Christmas morning, baby Jesus was with Mary and Joseph.  

Fred Loya House Lights and Santa:

We like our fun hats!  Wearing them is a Moore family winter tradition.  We missed our annual Noche de Luminarias at NMSU, so we wore our hats to this amazing light show extravaganza.  I can't believe we have lived here for 5 years without ever going before!  We can see why this house won the national light show award last year.  It was amazing.

Christmas Eve:

Brishen looked mighty handsome, too, but he was working at church when I took the pictures.  Jon preached services at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11pm.  Brishen worked for most of the services.  Our family got to light the Advent candles for the 3pm service, and it was a special moment.  Brishen did the reading, and Jon lifted some of the kids to light candles while Basia lit the final Christ candle.  We have more kids than candles, so Edison wasn't able to light one.  He took advantage of having connections in the pulpit and was allowed to say "Merry Christmas" into the microphone as his part.  The youth group made NUDGE fudge, so Basia was able to join her friends to pass out fudge to each person after our service.  

As soon as it was dark, the kids got excited (AKA wild).  I put on Christmas shows for them to watch, hoping we could make it 3 more hours until Jon got a little break between his final two services and could read them 'Twas the Night Before Christmas after we lit the final candle on our Advent spiral.  We made a Merry Christmas cake to remind us again why we were celebrating, and we cut the first piece for Santa after the kids added sprinkles.  

You can see the photos from the Christmas pajama wildness on my last post.

Christmas Morning:

We did gifts from us a little differently this year.  Each child was given 5 gifts, each one part of a theme.  

1.  a stuffed animal (Brishen got a squawking, flying chicken)

2.  a puzzle

3.  a puppet (with a puppet stage and extra puppets to share)

4.  a book

5.  a gift unique to them

There were no big joint gifts or assembly required, which was appreciated by Jon and Brishen.  Each theme of gift was wrapped in a different kind of paper, and I handed each of that kind of gift out at the same time to be opened by all at the same time, so, for example, they each were given their stuffed animal gift to open at the same time.  I thought it worked really well for us, and it helped keep the budget pretty low. (Shh. I bought quality, in-great-condition used when possible and was given the puppet theater and some great puppets by a wonderful family.)

Yes, that's a puppet!

Christmas Feast and Fellowship with Family:

I brought my camera.  I really did.  I just forgot to ever take it out of my purse.  We went to my mom's house in the afternoon.  We played games, built with magnets, held my sister's baby, watched some basketball, and enjoyed each other's company.  We also had a Christmas FEAST that made me glad that we are a New Mexico family:  enchiladas, tamales, beans, rice, nachos with red and green tortilla chips, guacamole, salad, and a wide variety of delicious desserts.  Feliz Navidad to all of us!

This Christmas:

We tried to keep the hustle and bustle of the season to a minimum.  We only attended one Christmas party early in the month.  Most of my shopping was done before the month began, and even the wrapping was done weeks ago.  I wanted a calm, quiet season with a focus on the journey of Mary and Joseph and our own never-ending journey toward what is most important.  There were things I missed doing (and eating!), and I would have liked more time with close friends and family, but I am pleased with the more relaxed atmosphere of our month.  Christmas 2015 brought our family closer to where we want to be, and we are thankful.