The most important traditions

More important than giving presents, visiting Santa, spending time with family, or trimming a tree... are the traditions that bring us closest to the true reason for the season... the birth of our Savior.

For our family, one of these traditions that our children look forward to every year is our Christmas Eve birthday party for Jesus.  We decided to have it early this year since we won't be home on Christmas Eve.  It was every bit as fun and meaningful as usual!

 Grandma reading the Christmas story

Another one of these traditions is the Live Nativity.  We have viewed this in the rain, snow, cold, and mild weather... this year we sat with umbrellas in the drizzle.  It was still great!

 When I told Lucas we were going to the Live Nativity, he immediately said, "see baby Jesus!"  He sat on my lap, mesmerized, during most of it.

It's always a big deal when we set up our own outdoor nativity set.  This year Emma decided that she needed to be Mary.

We ended up having to move it to a place in the yard that is visible from the front door.  Lucas sobbed one day because he couldn't get up on Brian's chair high enough to see "the people" and "baby Jesus" over the bushes.  Now he can say hi anytime he desires.
The conversation I overheard:
Lucas was standing at the door crying and wanting to go back outside to see our Nativity figures...
Samuel, "What are you crying about Lucas?"
Lucas, "baby Jesus"
Samuel, "It's okay...  that isn't a reason to cry.  If you hurt something you can cry.  If you sad you cry.
Are you sad?"
Lucas (crying), "baby Jesus...  me see people..."

I thought this was a good place to share a little video of Emma saying her memory verse for this week: