Cora, Cohen and Christmas

Having lots of fun around here with two little ones at Christmas.  Cora is going crazy to open a present and it doesn't even have to be hers.  She, Geron and Cohen wrapped a present for me the other day and as soon as I got home, she said "mommy, you want to open your present?"  She and Cohen have been given some gifts from friends already and after opening hers, she's stood by on edge trying to keep her composure while Cohen tears at scrap after scrap of paper.  Christmas morning will be insane for her, I tell you, and not because of what she's getting.  (Though that will certainly play a good part).  

So, some updates and funny moments.  Sunday morning was the children's Christmas program at church.  Cora sang a song with her wet paint class (3 to 5 year olds) called "I'll Give God Me (This Christmas)".  Adorable little number:

     I"ll give God me this Christmas

     Its the best gift I can give

     I'll give God me this Christmas

     And for Him I will live

     I'll give God me this Christmas

     From my head down to my toes

     I'll give God me this Christmas

     Its what He wants the most!

Each little one wore a wrapped box hanging from their shoulders by wide Christmas green ribbon.  THey looked so precious!   Cora had a special part in the program, too.  She memorized most of the announcement that the angel gave to the shepherds in the field the night Jesus was born.  She said "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy.  It is for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.  He is Christ the Lord."  I was so proud of her.   Both Cohen and Cora were in videos in the program as well.  Cora was an angel and Cohen was a sheep.  Too cute! 

Cohen has been admiring the "balls" on the tree for much of the Christmas season.  For such a little guy, he has restrained himself pretty well from pulling ornaments off the tree.  At first, it was "Ball! Ball! Ball!" and grabbing them right and left.  Quickly he learned not to take the ornaments off the tree or mommy would be upset with him.  So,the next thing he did was discover the button to turn the tree lights off and on.  He would press his hand on it continually so the lights would flash.  He eventually got bored of that and today moved on to something new.  It being Geron's birthday, we gave Daddy a present this morning with two bows on it.  After Geron unwrapped the present, Cohen took the two bows and put them on the tree. And has also tried to pull bows off the presents already under the tree to put on the tree as well.  At what point do I just throw in the towel and say "Okay, Cohen. Go to town. " What do you do with a one year old at Christmas?  

Our new favorite tradition involves the kids as well.  We have a nativity scene (2, and both are childen's ones.  One is even Veggie Tales!)  that has a story that goes along with it called "What God Wants for Christmas."  Each night of the seven nights leading up to Christmas we open one little box that has a different person from the Christmas story and we read a little story about their role in the first Christmas when Christ was born.  Cora and Cohen have both enjoyed taking turns opening the boxes and holding the person or the box while Geron reads the story.  At the end of each little story, there's a paragraph that says "What God wants for Christmas is to you a surprise.  In box number 7 it is disguised.  But-no peeking. Be patient! For this you must wait.  Its what you offer him and its really great!"  Tomorrow night we will open the last box which contains a mirror.  I love this time as much as the kids do, I'd say.  

Lastly, I think all the talk of Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus have really gotten to Cora.  Tonight, she came over to me and said "Mommy, I need to go to the hospital. "  "Why?" I asked her.  She said "I'm sick. The baby in my belly needs to come out."  Then she went in the other room and came back holding her doll.  She said "Do you want to hold my baby?  His name is Jesus. And I'm Mary."   Yes, I love having little ones at Christmas.