Christmas Traditions- Nativity



Well, it's finally time!... Time that is to begin our own family traditions!  I am SO excited and have been waiting all year (last year, Caylee was no where near old enough).  This year, even though she's super young it's definitely time.  There are so many things she understands and so many things I'm sure we don't even know she understands. 

 

One thing Matt and I talked about was making sure Jesus stays center to Christmas.  In doing this, we felt that seeing a live nativity each year (or something like it) would be a fun thing to start.  I looked and looked and found this one Christmas tree light path that claimed to be a live nativity.  The one problem was that this was only offered this past weekend... the one and only time Matt has had to be out of town working!  Bummer.... but Caylee and I went anyways :)  I have plenty of other Christmas things planned this month that he'll be able to join us for.

 

 

I bathed Caylee before we left and put her in Christmas pj's... we went to McDonald's and had a yogurt parfait and then headed over to the nativity.  It was not at all what I expected.... I guess I had a very grand image in my mind and this was VERY small..... AND, to my disappointment, no animals!  I thought at this point in her life she would have enjoyed the animals very much because at home we can say, "What does a cow say?" and she says "Mooooo" and then we can say "What does a sheep say?" and she says "BaBaBaBa"...... she even recognizes cows on tv and will moo when she sees them. 

 

Anyways, no animals.... this was a brief walking path and the actors told the story along the way-- great for kids a little older who understand lots of words, not great for little ones who only recognize animals at this point :) But, she DID hear the birth of Christ and they DID end with the cross, so they didn't leave the story unfinished-- a very nice way of reaching out to people and telling them the entire gospel in a fun way. 



 

Mary and Joseph at the stable with the shepherds worshipping baby Jesus....

 Ending with the story of the cross and Jesus' death and resurrection for our sins....

 Church it was at with the Christmas tree lighted path... (they donate the trees to families after the event who can't afford trees)

 Our picture of the night!  She is holding her baby doll.... :)  

Even without the animals it was a fun night and I'm glad we were able to go.  Matt has a client who hosts a live nativity later in the month that we may try to go to... I think he has real animals!... The next few weeks and weekends will be tons of fun as we get to do more things as a family and start these traditions with our kids!