Yule Log

One of our family's favorite Christmas traditions is what we call "The Yule Log".  My mother started this tradition in my family growing up, and we have enjoyed carrying it on since we have had children!

In the nights leading up to Christmas, each member of the family gets their own "night", on which the family celebrates that person.  The Mr. and I begin (we share a night).  We talk about how we met, fell in love, and were married.  Then we give each child a home made gift, and then we open the family ornament for the year; each year, we get an ornament representing something special we have done as a family.  On subsequent nights, the child whom we are celebrating gifts the items they have made, and then opens their special ornament.  Then we go around the family and each share things we love about that person, and finally, close by singing their favorite Christmas song.

  

This year, I made each child a book about some of the things we've been learning and studying about in home school the past few months.  They were a big hit!  I love how my children devour books! :)  Our family ornament was a Nutcracker, since we saw the Nutcracker together as a family for the first time.  

Angel did a fantastic job coming up with ideas of gifts for the family.  She crafted two tiny bows, quivers, and 10 small arrows out of popsicle sticks for The Mr. and Grins.  She hand stitched the little quivers all by herself; I was so pleased!  She also came up with the idea to sew a shirt for Wiggles' teddy bear, Ted, because he didn't have any clothes.  She did a great job helping me sew that as well!  I was so proud of her creativity, and the love and effort that she put into each gift!  This year, her ornament was a white angel, since she was baptized in white this year.  Things we love about Angel this year:  Her love of reading and her creativity (The Mr), her thoughtfulness and gentleness towards others in need (Mom), so many things it's hard to choose (Grins), and that she gives us presents that go with things we already have (Wiggles).  Angel selected "Silent Night" for her favorite Christmas song. 

Grins' Yule Log Night was a lot of fun!  He put a lot of love and energy into his gifts as well.  Grins surprised me with his sewing skills as he made an organizer for the Mr's wrenches.  He really wanted to make braces for Angel's doll, Izzy, but when that didn't work, he made a special little necklace for her.  He then hand drew a coloring book for Ted, Wiggles' teddy bear, complete with a little set of crayons and everything!  It was very sweet!  Grins got a little baseball ornament, since 2013 was his first year of baseball - and his mom coached his team! :)  This year, we are loving these things about Grins: his love of sports and all things active (The Mr.), his gentle care and concern for his sisters (Mom), his energy (Angel) and how he plays with me (Wiggles).  Grins' favorite Christmas Song this year was "O Holy Night."

Here he is, reading the card to Wiggles.

Wiggles loves the coloring book!

Grins and his sisters with their gifts.

Grins with his baseball ornament (and a very tired Daddy).

Wiggles was SO excited about her Yule Log night by the time her night finally arrived! :)  She like Grins' idea of a tool holder for the Mr. so she decided to make him one as well (he has lots of tools)!  She gave Grins a Star Wars shirt (alas, not home made but she wanted so desperately to give it to him that I couldn't say no.  She did wrap it herself though!).  She hand sewed some gloves and scarves for Angel's American Girl dolls - no small feat, with her attention span and hand-eye coordination! :)  Wiggles got a "Hello Kitty" ornament, since she loves all things Hello Kitty.  She selected "Mary's Lullaby" as her favorite Christmas song.  And things we are loving about Wiggles this year: her cuddles and snuggles (The Mr.), her contagious happiness and laughter (Mom), that she loves to sing (Angel) and that she can always cheer me up (Grins).

Giving The Mr. his tool organizer.

Giving Angel the gloves and scarves.

Giving Grins his card and gift.

Giving me a wax warmer (The kids didn't have the opportunity to make me gifts since the Mr. is never home to help them and they refused to let me help!  So I collected some items around the house for them to wrap for me, and you should have seen it!  They created a little wrapping workshop in my bedroom and were very secretive and hush-hush.  They locked themselves in their for nearly an hour, and wrapped all the gifts completely on their own!  It was adorable to see them so excited about it, and I couldn't believe how independent they were! :)  They are so sweet!

Wiggles with her Hello Kitty ornament.

I love this little tradition!  It is so much fun to see the childrens' creativity, and to watch them learning to enjoy the giving even more than the receiving!