Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Answer?
I think the important thing is that you tell the Christmas story each year, not that you act it out. But if you still want to act it out here are a few suggestions.
1. Keep it short.
2. Use lots of music to tell the story.
3. Let the children tell as much as possible. (You may get some interesting insights into their thoughts)
4. Use costumes that are reserved for t the nativity.
5. Rotate the parts, so that one person doesn't get the same part each year.
6. Take lots of pictures.
7. Don't force anyone to participate.
8. Have patience and remember why you're doing this.
9 (This should be #1) PRAY
I'm glad this is a tradition that you'd like to continue with your children. It was something I always looked forward to and I'm sure they weren't perfect. If you look back through the pictures you'll notice that we acted it out with Speedy's family when you were too little for us to do it on our own. We always had a special retelling of the nativity when I was growing up. We didn't always act it out, but often did. It's what you do on Christmas Eve. Hope this helps.
Sunday, December 09, 2012
some more and a question
I remember one year of caroling - I think Eric and I were in high school, and when we were in the van between stops, we whistled the whole thing of "Sleigh Bells."
This isn't a memory ... one thing I would like to know is how on earth Mom and Dad kept us all corralled and attentive enough to act out the Nativity every year on Christmas Eve, even when we were all tiny, and as we kept adding more kids to the family so there were always little kids as long as I was home. Clarissa was 4 when I went to Ricks, and 7 when I left on my mission - there were ALWAYS little kids at our house as long as I was there. Anyway, I can't get my kids to pay attention for 5 seconds on Christmas Eve to anything at all about the Nativity, no matter how much I've talked it up ahead of time and avoided any mention of the present-fest the next morning. So what was it? Or are we just not remembering any Christmas Eve disasters or fights? We keep trying to do something - ANYTHING - about the Nativity on Christmas Eve, but we haven't had much luck. We got a really nice book of paintings with scriptures from a friend when we lived in DC (her brother was the artist - look up Joseph Brickey), and we go through that on Christmas Eve instead of trying to act everything out.
Oh, and speaking of the Nativity - there's one that makes me smile ... the year Eric and Laurel got married, I think they spent Christmas with us. (Or was it the next year, also with Jared and Michelle?) Anyway, it was Laurel's first Christmas with us, and she was the angel for the Nativity pageant. She wore a dress that fit Mindy as a 10-year-old and it was a little small but she could totally get into it. Crazy. She put gold garland in her hair and stood on a chair for her lines. Good initiation into that Palmer tradition for her, I thought.
This isn't a memory ... one thing I would like to know is how on earth Mom and Dad kept us all corralled and attentive enough to act out the Nativity every year on Christmas Eve, even when we were all tiny, and as we kept adding more kids to the family so there were always little kids as long as I was home. Clarissa was 4 when I went to Ricks, and 7 when I left on my mission - there were ALWAYS little kids at our house as long as I was there. Anyway, I can't get my kids to pay attention for 5 seconds on Christmas Eve to anything at all about the Nativity, no matter how much I've talked it up ahead of time and avoided any mention of the present-fest the next morning. So what was it? Or are we just not remembering any Christmas Eve disasters or fights? We keep trying to do something - ANYTHING - about the Nativity on Christmas Eve, but we haven't had much luck. We got a really nice book of paintings with scriptures from a friend when we lived in DC (her brother was the artist - look up Joseph Brickey), and we go through that on Christmas Eve instead of trying to act everything out.
Oh, and speaking of the Nativity - there's one that makes me smile ... the year Eric and Laurel got married, I think they spent Christmas with us. (Or was it the next year, also with Jared and Michelle?) Anyway, it was Laurel's first Christmas with us, and she was the angel for the Nativity pageant. She wore a dress that fit Mindy as a 10-year-old and it was a little small but she could totally get into it. Crazy. She put gold garland in her hair and stood on a chair for her lines. Good initiation into that Palmer tradition for her, I thought.
Friday, December 07, 2012
More Christmas Memories
Other than all of the things that Mindy mentioned, my favorite Christmas memories are as follows:
1. Caroling to George. Last year Emily, Clarissa, and I still went caroling even though it was just the three of us. And we went to George, the Belnaps, and the Hubers. I think the Albertsons were out of town. My other favorite caroling memory is when we would sing silly songs in the van between stops... or sing them in silly ways. "Oh Tidings of Comfort And Joy", "I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas" and "Chipmunks Roasting on an open pyre" good memories.
2. Acting out the Nativity. Remember the year that Eric and I were the shepherds and watched over our flocks at night? Or what about when we made the movie as kids. Watching that movie still cracks me up and I can remember making it.
3. I loved the Christmases when we slept by the tree and giggled and talked until late at night when we finally fell asleep... after the stockings had been stuffed.
4. Mindy may love the pumpkin pie, but I love the apple pie.... even when it boils over. Thinking of that makes me miss the double oven.
5. I remember the year that the boys got the Nerf swords and we had a tournament. I think that was one of the years that Mom decided to number the gifts and Jared still knew which present was the Nerf swords. I even wrote about that one in my journal.
Such good memories. I'm grateful that we have such an awesome family that I continue to make memories with.
1. Caroling to George. Last year Emily, Clarissa, and I still went caroling even though it was just the three of us. And we went to George, the Belnaps, and the Hubers. I think the Albertsons were out of town. My other favorite caroling memory is when we would sing silly songs in the van between stops... or sing them in silly ways. "Oh Tidings of Comfort And Joy", "I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas" and "Chipmunks Roasting on an open pyre" good memories.
2. Acting out the Nativity. Remember the year that Eric and I were the shepherds and watched over our flocks at night? Or what about when we made the movie as kids. Watching that movie still cracks me up and I can remember making it.
3. I loved the Christmases when we slept by the tree and giggled and talked until late at night when we finally fell asleep... after the stockings had been stuffed.
4. Mindy may love the pumpkin pie, but I love the apple pie.... even when it boils over. Thinking of that makes me miss the double oven.
5. I remember the year that the boys got the Nerf swords and we had a tournament. I think that was one of the years that Mom decided to number the gifts and Jared still knew which present was the Nerf swords. I even wrote about that one in my journal.
Such good memories. I'm grateful that we have such an awesome family that I continue to make memories with.
Christmas memories
I got to chat with Tawnia today. Me on my laptop at home in Calgary, while Tawnia was on her phone at a grocery store somewhere in Utah. Emily and Clarissa got to see Aria through Skype. I was able to share a photo for all my family to see, without having to get it developed, and mailed to everyone individually. Technology is amazing, and allows me to stay connected to my family spread across thousands of miles. But even with all that, I miss my family.
It is always around this time of year that I get a bit homesick. I have a wonderful family here in Canada, especially now with my beautiful baby girl. But I miss all the special moments of childhood Christmases spent with my parents and brothers and sisters. I miss the smell of the Christmas trunk that held all the decorations - especially Mom's handmade angel. There would be Christmas music playing in the background, and someone baking in the kitchen. Sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, lots of sprinkles, and amazing fudge. And although Aaron has come close, no one can replace Mom's pumpkin pie. Everyone loading up in the van to carol to our neighbors and friends - the Albertsons, the Hubers, the Belnaps. Playing games together, sleeping under the Christmas tree, gathering in Mom and Dad's room before marching out to retrieve our stockings from off the mantel. And then playing with all our new games and toys for the rest of the day, not bothering to change out of our pajamas. I miss all of that.
This is the first year that I get to be a parent; that I get to fill a child's stocking and create traditions for a new little person to remember. I sincerely hope that she will look back someday with a smile on her face and wish to relive all the wonderful moments with her family.
One other thing I miss is the Christmas memory letters that we've written a few times. Sadly I came up with this idea after my cards had already been mailed, but I'm hoping that maybe we can share some family memories here on this forgotten blog.
It is always around this time of year that I get a bit homesick. I have a wonderful family here in Canada, especially now with my beautiful baby girl. But I miss all the special moments of childhood Christmases spent with my parents and brothers and sisters. I miss the smell of the Christmas trunk that held all the decorations - especially Mom's handmade angel. There would be Christmas music playing in the background, and someone baking in the kitchen. Sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, lots of sprinkles, and amazing fudge. And although Aaron has come close, no one can replace Mom's pumpkin pie. Everyone loading up in the van to carol to our neighbors and friends - the Albertsons, the Hubers, the Belnaps. Playing games together, sleeping under the Christmas tree, gathering in Mom and Dad's room before marching out to retrieve our stockings from off the mantel. And then playing with all our new games and toys for the rest of the day, not bothering to change out of our pajamas. I miss all of that.
This is the first year that I get to be a parent; that I get to fill a child's stocking and create traditions for a new little person to remember. I sincerely hope that she will look back someday with a smile on her face and wish to relive all the wonderful moments with her family.
One other thing I miss is the Christmas memory letters that we've written a few times. Sadly I came up with this idea after my cards had already been mailed, but I'm hoping that maybe we can share some family memories here on this forgotten blog.
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