2013 Daily December 21--our nativity sets

I like to document the things we do and also the things we have.  I think it is always fun to look back and say, "Oh yeah, I remember that!"  This year I wanted to document and record our nativity sets.  The focus of Christmas is and should be Christ, and I try to decorate with that in mind.  There is a nativity set in each bedroom and in all the major rooms of the house.  Here is our collection. . .

This one is in our entryway.  It is the first thing you see when you come in our front door. My mom got this for me one Christmas.

This fun playmobil set my sister gave to us years ago.  It is in the family room.

This set is also in the family room on the fireplace mantel.  It is just a simple set I got at Wal-mart several years ago.

This is my favorite, very special set.  It is in the living room in the window seat next to the tree.  I got it at Costco 2 years ago.  I had been eyeing it every Christmas for the last 8 years when they bring out their Christmas stuff and was finally able to get it.  The detail is amazing.  It is so beautiful.

This beautiful set my in-laws brought us from South Africa.  It is also in the living room.

This old Avon set is in the girls' room.  My DeeDee and Grum had this set from when I was a kid. I used to play with it at their house.  I just happen to be there for Christmas one year when my kids were little and DeeDee said--"look through all the toys and see if you can find that nativity set and your kids can have it."  What a treasure!  

This Fisher Price Little People set is Miss A's.  She got it from my in-laws one year for her birthday when she was little.  It is a favorite also.

This set I got at Target a few years ago on their after Christmas sale.  This set is in Mr J's room.  

And this set is in my bedroom on the mantel over my fireplace.  I got it at a local store several years ago.

Fun to document. Fun to remember.

2013 Daily December 12--nativity display

One of the highlights of our Christmas season is our church congregation (our stake center) in the big city does a huge nativity display.  This year was their 6th year, and it just keeps getting better!  They have hundreds and hundreds of different nativities on display plus beautiful music and concerts, a live nativity outside, and yummy refreshments :)  and it is all free.  Mr J is all about the cookies.  When we asked him what his favorite nativity was he said, "the pink peppermint cookies."  Not exactly the answer I was looking for, but anyway.  It is a drive up for us, but we leave right after school and make it up there by dinner. Go out to eat, and then go enjoy one of the concerts and the displays.  It is a wonderful evening together.  I wanted to share some of my favorites.  Enjoy!

The decorations are just beautiful!  It is like 'instant Christmas spirit" when you walk in. They go to so much work!  It is amazing!

I love, love, love Fisher Price Little People.  (What I want for Christmas is the Snow White and Seven dwarfs set :) but anyway, I loved this set.  Miss A got this set only smaller (less buildings, people and animals) when she was a little girl.  She sets it up in her bedroom every year.  

The kids enjoyed looking at all the different kinds.  They focused on South American sets in this area.

I think most of these were from Peru and Columbia. So many cool designs!

Loved this one.

And this Eskimo one was too cute!  Love all the huskies around it and the igloo.

They also focused on handmade sets.  I thought these block ones were cute, and I loved the Christmas tree skirt.  I was seriously tempted to see if I could just borrow it for a few weeks and give it back after Christmas :)

This one was probably the most unique.  Handmade from car parts.  Love the elephant.

If you ever get a chance to go to a nativity display, go!  It is wonderful and so brings to focus the real meaning of Christmas which is Christ.  I am so grateful for our Saviour Jesus Christ and his love for me and for everyone no matter who they are or where they are.  It is so important to keep Christ in Christmas!

Daily December 6: Blue Jeans Week 46

For my Daily December today I am posting my photos of the week.  I normally do this every Tuesday.  Enjoy!

Sunday:  We got the Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving, but because of company and such we didn't get it decorated until today.  Everyone likes to help, and it looks really good.

Monday:  Rarely do I get a shot like this--the whole family at Wal-mart?  Yes, it is crazy, but tonight we were shopping for Sub-4-Santa adopt-a-child, so everyone needed to come and help.  It was crazy, and fun, and I am glad that is a tradition we have to help the kids think of others and realize how blessed they are.

Tuesday:  Miss O on her own decided she wanted to string popcorn for the Christmas tree that Ben and I have in our room.  It is a smaller one, so it shouldn't take her too long.   I was impressed with her desire and diligence in doing it.  It also made the house smell so good making popcorn in the popcorn maker versus the microwave.

Wednesday:  The fruit of Christmas is a pomegranate my girls tell me, and they love them.  I always thought oranges were the fruit of Christmas.  I don't think I knew what a pomegranate was until college or later :)

Thursday:  I got the Christmas countdown chain up and ready to go.  My kids love that tradition.  Everyday they take off a link and it has something to do--sing carols, read a favorite Christmas story, etc.  See Daily December 5 post for more on that.

Friday:  This nativity set is our newest Christmas decoration this year.  I love it.  It is very detailed with jewels on the wise men and such.  I got it as Costco.  My kids are finally old enough I felt confident in buying a really nice nativity set to have out.

Saturday:  It has been tradition for the last 11 years that the first Saturday in December my parents watch the kids all day so Ben and I can head to the city and (hopefully) finish all our Christmas shopping.  So we enjoyed a full day together Saturday and actually did finish all the shopping.  Ben had to try out a few of the things we got just to make sure they worked :)

Hope you are all enjoying the season and be sure and check back often for my Daily December blog posts!  Have a great week!