O Christmas Tree! (to decorate and color)

Have all kinds of family fun decorating your own trees.

Gift Tags Galore!

Copy and paste these gift tags in color, or color your own.

Almond Roca Recipe

A favorite treat at our house!

Almond Roca

Combine the following four  

ingredients in a large buttered pot

and cook to 283 degrees F. (Hard crack)

1 lb. real butter

2 cups sugar

2 tsp. white Karo Syrup

1/3 cup water

(Cover pot for 3 minutes to help

sugar crystals melt, then uncover.)

While the above candy is cooking,

spread over a buttered sheet pan:

2 cups chopped almonds

When candy has reached the right

temperature, pour and spread it over

the nuts in the sheet pan.

Cool briefly and sprinkle over the

Candy the following: 

2 cups chocolate chips

Let chocolate chips melt on the hot

candy, then spread over the top in an

 even layer.  Cool in the refrigerator 

or in a cold place.  Cut or break into

pieces and enjoy!

Come Let Us Adore Him

Owl Pillow Box

  “Owl Wish You A Merry Christmas!”

Here is a sweet little idea for gift giving for your visiting teaching friends.

(This box is perfect as a glove gift box.)

Cut out and score all folds. Glue the side, fill with a treasure, then fold over top and bottom flaps.  He's such a cheery little owl! 


And if you'd like to color your own and do a coordinated set, Here it is in black and white.

Santa Gift Tags

Nativity Coloring Book Page

If you want, you may use this coloring book page in conjunction with the Christmas FHE.

Baby Jesus in a Manger

"Baby Jesus in a Manger" 

 a Family activity 

and a craft. 

 After making the Baby Jesus in a Manger, each child or member of the family can participate in the activity each day by performing a good deed and presenting it to the Savior as a gift--either spoken or left as a chip. (Chips shown below.) Each family member can put his or her name on the chips or leave them off.  Watch the good deeds pile up like gold from truly "wise men and women."

What fun for each child to have his or her own little Baby Jesus all through Christmas.

Here is the Baby Jesus and Manger in black and white for coloring.

Christmas Shadow Box Ornament

Make a tree full of meaningful ornaments featuring family or themed pictures. Choose from the red, blue, or pink picture frame patterns, or color your own little frames. Add matching ribbon or a touch of glitter if you like.

Santa Treat Box

Here is a fun Santa Box in the shape of a pyramid. Put it together, and from the back, fill Santa's bag with treats.

Copy and paste the pattern below, and assemble as a family or school activity.

Or here is the box in black and white to color yourself.

Inspiration: Hope

Winter Food for Thought

Nativity Advent Calendar

 Here is a Nativity advent calendar to help the children count down to Christmas.

You can laminate the calendar and stars to make them sturdier.

 

Nativity Figures

If you want some pictures to go with the Christmas Family Home Evening lesson, here are some that should work.  Put them on the carpet to tell the story, or on sticks, or back them with flannel for a flannel board or arrange them on colored paper as I did here.

Here they are in black and white if you’d like to color them.

December 2013

Christ, the Lord is Born!

FHE Christmas Program

This is a basic scripted program that tells the Christmas story from Luke and Matthew in the New Testament, and includes the use of some of our beloved Christmas carols, as well as a new song, “Shepherd Boy,” by Marie Scott. (The program may be illustrated and made more memorable by assigning your children to dress up and act out the parts of the main characters, or by using pictures or cutouts .)

Christ, the Lord is Born!

by Marie Scott, December 2013

Narrator:

Though He is our Mighty King, the Savior of the world was born in wondrously humble circumstances as a sign of who He was. This is the story of His holy birth, according to the scriptures:

Scripture Reader:

Luke 2: 4-7

            And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

            To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

            And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

            And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Song/s: “ O Little Town of Bethlehem,”  and/or  “Once in Royal David’s City”

Narrator:

To celebrate the Savior’s birth is to celebrate His very existence. He was indeed born on this earth, in the meridian of time, and fulfilled His pivotal mission to save all people from their sins.

Who were the good people God surrounded with His glory and told about the Savior’s birth? They were the humble shepherds going about their nightly work on a hillside. Those shepherds, common to man, were not common to God, who loved and knew each by name. He honored them with a wonderful manifestation.

Scripture Reader:

Luke 2: 8-10

            And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

            And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

            And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

           

Song: “Shepherd Boy” (Optional).

Narrator:             (Skip this piece of narration if you don’t use the above song.)

The angel spoke to the shepherds saying:

Scripture Reader:

Luke 2: 10-14

            For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

            And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

            And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

            Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Song/s:  “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,”  and/or  “Angels We Have Heard on High,”  and/or  “Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains”

Narrator:

The shepherds took action after learning of the wonderful news of the Savior’s birth. They saw the truth for themselves, then spread the joyous word.

Scripture Reader:

Luke 2: 15-17

            And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

            And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

            And when they had see it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Scripture Reader:

Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-11

            Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

            Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

            When they had heard [Herod,] the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

            When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Song:  “With Wondering Awe”

Narrator:

They were joyful because they knew who the Savior was, and that the new star in the sky would lead them to Him. The wise men also had gifts to give the Christ child that would help Mary and Joseph protect Him. To this very day, we carry on the tradition of giving gifts as the wise men did, and as the Savior continues to do.

Scripture Reader:

Matthew 2: 11

            And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Narrator:

As we give simple gifts of kindness, let us remember to Whom our gifts are really given. For as Matthew said, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25: 40)

What joy all creation had, and still has, at the beautiful and humble birth of our Lord on that holy night.

 Song:   “Silent Night”

Copyright 2013 by Marie L. Scott.     Making copies for non-commercial use is permitted.

  Pumpkin Soup

                       by Jay Andrus

Ingredients:

1  Tbs. butter

1  Large onion, chopped

3 Stalks celery and leaves, chopped

2 Large potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 ½ Cups chicken stock (broth)

1 ½ Cups milk

1  15 oz. Can of Pumpkin

1 Cup cooked kidney beans

1 Tbs. sugar

Garlic salt, pepper, and seasoning

salt

Directions:

Prepare vegetables and sauté in

butter in frying pan. Pour stock

in with vegetables and cook until

tender. Add pumpkin and bring to

a boil.. Liquidize the soup, return

to the pan and add the milk, kidney

beans, and sugar. Reheat without

boiling, and season with garlic salt,

pepper and seasoning salt. Garnish

as desired.  Serves 4 - 6      

Turkey Shoot Game

Here's an exciting game for Thanksgiving Day 

that everyone will love!

Turkey Shoot!

 Here's what you'll need:

-Straws

-Q-tips

-Turkey Targets

What to do:

Print out the turkey targets on card stock at the bottom of this post. (I also laminated mine)

Cut them out and tape the long strips together together  as shown above.

How to play:

Set up the targets along a shelf or a bench.

Pick two people to go first and give each a pile of Q-tips and a straw.

Have them sit or stand 3-6 feet away from the targets depending on age.

 Have each player insert a Q-tip into the unbent end of the straw and aim at the targets.

Someone yell GO, and the shooting begins!

 Shoot until all the turkeys are down, keeping score while you go. 

After everyone has had a turn, have the winners of each round face each other until there is

a grand champion!

Some of variations to the game would be to set a time limit, or have a family free for all shoot.  You can adapt the game to fit your family.

This is a high energy game that is sure to have everyone 

smiling and laughing!