Christmas Book Tradition

We are starting a new tradition this year.  As part of Advent we are going to read Christmas books everyday as we count down to Christmas.  I think I first saw this idea on Pinterest.  Since we are Christians, we want to emphasize the true meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth.  As far as Santa Claus goes, I think knowing about St. Nick is great and carrying on his legacy for secretly leaving gifts is a fun idea, but I don't want Santa to get in the way of focusing on what is most important, Christ.  Therefore, most the books are more about Christ than Santa and some are just about the Christmas holiday in general and fun.

With Blue Rock's help, we wrapped 25 books.  Starting today, Dec. 1st., everyday Blue Rock will choose one package to unwrap and read.  Then we can read that book and any other books that he has already unwrapped.  Christmas morning we will read Luke 2 from the Bible.  I always seem to go overboard with books.  So finding just 24 books was difficult, especially since we have a few Christmas books from previous years and I found lots of new ones that looked so neat.  So I wrapped a few books together, especially if they seem to go together.  After this year I'm hoping to comb through the books and only have ones that Blue Rock and any future siblings would enjoy year after year.  One friend recommended Elf on the Shelf.  That seems like a cute idea and I know a lot of people have fun with it but after spending so much on all these books, we're going to wait until maybe next year to purchase it.  Here are our books in no particular order:

1. The Parable Series: The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Higgs



2. Mary's First Christmas by Walter Wangerin Jr.



3. A Fruitcake Christmas by Max Lucado

 

4. Story of Baby Jesus by Alice J. Davidson



5. The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans



6. Santa, Are You For Real? by Harold Myra, Jane Kurisu












7. Jacob's Gift by Max Lucado



8. The Legend of the Three Trees by Catherine McCafferty



9. The Twelve Bugs of Christmas by Max Lucado and The 12 Bugs of Christmas by David A. Carter

         

10. The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado



11. If You're Missing Baby Jesus by Jean Gietzen



12. Merry Christmas Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer and Christmas Stocking by Dawn Sirett

   

13. The Twelve Days of Christmas Illustrated by Caroline Pedler



14. A Letter to Santa by Barnes and Noble

 

15. A Night in Santa's Great Big Bag by Kristin Kladstrup



16. This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotton



17. The Night Before Christmas two books by Jan Brett and Moore

  

18. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg



19. God Gave us Christmas by Lisa Bergren



20. Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo



21. Who is Coming to Our House? By Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolff and Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell and Jason Cockcroft

   

22. The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg



23. Llama Llam Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney



24. The Usborne Advent Nativity Book



25. Good News of Great Joy by C. Michael Dudash - will probably be read on Christmas Day because it's taken directly from Luke 2



 

St. Nikolaus Day in Germany

Christmas in Germany is a lot of fun.  There are so many traditions and activities to do during the month of December.  On December 6th, Germans celebrate St. Nikolaus Tag (St. Nicholas Day).  The night before, children leave their boot outside the front door or outside their bedroom door.  While they are asleep, St. Nikolaus comes and leaves goodies in their boot if they were good.  If they have been bad they he leaves sticks.

Blue Rock left his rain boots out.  Thankfully he has been very good so he got a few goodies in each boot.

What's in my boot?

It's Gummy Bears!

Emptying the boot is fun!

Fun bendable track to go with my train set!

Our Town's Christmas Market

You can see the rain falling

This past weekend we got a lot of rain.  Friday evening I volunteered at an event called Holiday Magic, where my MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group sold soup, bread, and gently used children's clothes. Santa Claus comes to this event, children from the schools sing Christmas songs, and different organizations set up booths to raise money.  It was raining and I had Blue Rock with me so I didn't take any pictures at Holiday Magic.

This weekend was also our town's Christmas market.  We went with our next door neighbors last year and we decided to go again with them this year.  We truly are super blessed to have such fantastic neighbors on both sides of us.  I brought my camera with me to this market and took pictures, even though it was still raining.

Our neighbors made pork sandwiches and European beans (kind of like baked beans but not really sweet) for dinner.  Then we walked downtown to the market with them.  Thankfully Saturday night it was just sprinkling.  Sunday, when Santa was suppose to be there, it was pouring rain.  So we didn't even attempt to go back to the market.  One difference between Germany and say Texas is, typically things you do in your town you walk to.  There is limited parking downtown and it's really only about a 5 minute walk.  Even though Santa was going to be inside the concert hall, we decided not to go.  Santa doesn't bring that much to our house but he is coming for St. Nikolaus Tag (St. Nicholas Day) tonight.  We'll put out a boot and see what he brings Blue Rock.  If you want to participate, leave your child's boot outside the door tonight and he will leave a treat, usually something sweet, in the boot if they have been good.  If they have not been good, he will leave twigs.

Here are a few pictures from our town's Christmas market.

Blue Rock enjoying the swing ride

My cute husband standing with our neighbors cheering Blue Rock on as he flies by on the swing

Me and our town's lovely Christmas tree

Jana and I enjoying a hot drink

Mannheim Christmas Market

Christmas in Germany is really nice.  There are a lot of Christmas markets.  After the visit to the specialist in Mannheim the other day, we went to our first Christmas Market this year.  Mannheim is a large city and their Christmas market takes place downtown next to the water tower.  It was a really nice Christmas market with lots of vendors, rides for the children, and food to eat.  We're going to try and go to several Christmas markets this year and I'll post more pictures as the Christmas season continues.

Beautiful water tower in Mannheim

Daddy showing Blue Rock his hat

Lots of people and lots of vendors

One of the toy vendors

Lots of stands to look at

Look at that sad face!

Riding the ICE train ride

Candy vendor

This time our family rode the carousel together

Mannheim Christmas Market

Easy Greek Salad

Greece is one of my favorite countries.  One of my friend's mom lived in Greece for a long time.  She made a salad similar to this.  I love the fact it does not include lettuce.

Ingredients:

1 cucumber
1 quart cherry tomatoes
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs olive oil 
feta cheese

Directions:

Wash and dice cucumber, put in bowl.  Wash tomatoes and add to the cucumber. Add feta cheese (however much you like).  Top with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.


Options:
Add bell peppers, olives, purple onions, or any other none lettuce veggie you like.