Someone asked how to fill up the day. I have younger kids still but this can work with older kids just as well. We bake a bunch of cookies, candy, etc... and take them to the Long Term Care unit at the hospital. It is just a nursing home at the hospital. We take them around to the rooms on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and talk with the residents for a bit. After that we head to the Chinese restaurant for lunch or dinner depending on the time of day.
We started doing this because I wanted to teach our kids that it was more important to be giving gifts to Jesus not each other during this time. I tell them that by going and spending some time with these sick, older people who don't have visitors and family we are giving gifts of happiness to Jesus. I'm trying to get our schedule worked out so we can go through out the year.
You can also take gifts to kids who are in the hospital for Christmas. Their families might not have the money to do it if they are paying a hospital bill.
Last year when we were done at the nursing home and finished at the buffet we had the funniest conversation started by my then 4 yr old ds. He was sure God didn't like women because God didn't have a wife :001_smile:
Kelly