Christmas Kindness & a few mommy notes

I set up my favorite nativity today, or gave it a new home I should say.  This is the nativity that my mom made over easily more than a years' time.  It's a treasure.  I remember seeing her working on it many a night when I went in to say good-night.  She loved it.  I get to love it now.  I would really like to find an appropriate setting for it though.  My mom displayed it in a basket with pieces of pine, but I don't have a basket the right size.  This IKEA tin bin will do for this year, but I'm still on the look out for something "just right."

My friend taught junior sharing time in primary last Sunday and sent a bag of straw home with Caroline.  Attached to the bag of straw was the note I place in front of my nativity.....

A Bed for The Baby Jesus

Each time this month as you do or say something kind, take a piece of straw and add it to the bed for Baby Jesus.  See how full and comfortable you can make his bed by December 24th.

The girls were excited to see the straw set up and know which baby Jesus (of our several nativities) they'd be making comfortable.  Note: The girls have added a couple of straw blades...the light fake straw at the base of the nativity was already there.

More on the home front....

• Kids continue to rearrange the ornaments on the tree.  Ornaments found hanging from garland are a dead give away.
  
• I realized I didn't get the '07 ornaments done last year.  They were small oval frames (I think I found them on clearance at Exposures AFTER Christmas...some years are like that:)).   I checked that off my list today.
  
• As Thomas whipped together a Thanksgiving graph that was due last Wednesday and Christina finished research for a report due in 2 weeks, I was reminded how different our children are.  One's strength may be the others' weakness.  As their mother, their unique needs keep me humble.  I love them each individually more than I can say.  
• We may look like adults, but to Wesley, if we lay down we are much like a jungle gym.  Tonight I was laying down on my back by the Christmas tree and Wesley ran over, climbed on me, and counted, "Uh, Oo....EEEE!" as he jumped off to the carpet below.  I looked away and he grabbed my face, looked me in the eye and babbled, probably something to the effect of, "You missed my jump, mom!  Watch this time!"  I love this age.  I love this boy!

I dropped by Trader Joe's today and bought myself a treat...Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe Joe's.  I'll share with Wayne, but that's it.  (Thanks, Robisons for getting me hooked:))  Shay, I think we should get a free box for advertising!

Merry Christmas!