One of the few family projects we have planned for our 2 week Christmas break was to build a manger for baby Jesus. One day a few weeks ago I was saddened by my children's lack of desire to learn "real" Christmas carols. They know and love Jingle Bells, but don't care to go beyond that. During a period of insomnia (pregnancy is great!) I came up with the idea of singing "lullabies" to baby Jesus each night of the twelve days of Christmas. (Christmas to Epiphany). My vision is sitting around the lit up tree with the rest of the lights out singing to a doll in a manger (representing Jesus of course) and teaching the boys Away in a Manger and Silent Night. Hopefully we'll do this at least Christmas night. I'll let you know how it goes. I am hopeful because this week we have started singing the "O Antiphons" (O Come O Come Emmanuel) before lighting our Advent Wreath at dinner and they like that, so maybe just maybe they will like singing to baby Jesus as well. A mother can hope.
So we built a manger yesterday afternoon. Its rough, and we decided to leave it leg-less, but I think it will work for our family. I'm sure the manger baby Jesus was laid in was not perfect either. The boys had fun helping daddy, and they love putting the doll in and out of the manger right now. Next advent I am steeling an idea from a friend of mine and having the boys put straw in the manger for each good deed that they do, hopefully adding enough that baby Jesus has a soft place to lay his head by the time Christmas comes along. We have lots planned for this manger. Hopefully all our hard work will pay off. Enjoy the pictures!
4 comments:
What a GREAT idea! I might have Dave and the kids do this next year. My kids like all christmas songs, but I like the idea of singing one each night. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thats so cute, its a special memory they will always have now.
How cute!! Jeffrey's favorite song is The Little Drummer Boy, which although not a church carol, is a nice song about Jesus, plus with all the pa rum pum pum pums, its easy to join in.
Beautiful ideas!! We might have to borrow some of those. I love the idea of carrying them over for the 12 days of Christmas too...
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