Happy Birthday, Jesus!

On Sunday our church had its annual Birthday party for Jesus for the kids. I volunteered to help with set-up and clean-up. Somehow I got in charge of leading singing and keeping the thing running. (but I didn't have to do the puppet show or anything, thankfully!).

There were so many kids (We planned for 80, but not sure if that counts parents or not!) and they really seemed to enjoy it. (This would be where AK told everyone we were going to the 'cracker afterwards. :) ).





Yesterday, was our birthday party for Jesus (let's just say, cake consumption is at an all time high right now in our house). I co-hosted with 2 of my good friends at another friends' house (who is so patient and much more laid back than me and didn't even sweat the ground in cake in her rug. A Christmas miracle?) This year, for the most part, the children we chose to invite are not believers. Since I was co-hosting, we had to be careful for numbers, so I opted to mostly invite those who I pray will hear and receive the Gospel one day. Unfortunatley, a lot of families are already out of town, so many couldn't be there.

Heather read a story to the kids who all got to hold a stuffed (animal like) part of the Nativity story and add it when their "part" came around.



Anna-Kate and Emma with their cow and donkey, respectively (and Lydia trying to be one of the girls and listen, but about to join the little ones and play).



The littles:



At the end of the story, Heather did something really special. She gave a crown to Lauren, Adam and Anna-Kate, those children who have asked Jesus to live in their hearts this year and talked about how they are children, princes and princesses, of the King because of what Jesus has done in their hearts.

Our newest royalty:



Next came our craft, a huge sticker thing of the nativity and the kids got to put it on the paper wherever they wanted (unless they were Ryan and were seeking help from their type-A mom in which case I gently directed him where to put them "correctly").



Next came lunch, grilled cheese, fruit and pretzels (soon to be followed by cake, which upon arrival was promptly taste tested for quality assurance. Evidently, it passed muster):





After the meal we had our second craft...decorating cookies for our favor/to take home to daddy. Well, that was the specification. I asked each of the kids who they were going to make their cookies for and all kindly offered up various family members names. Of all of the children who were there, only 3 actually took some home (and of those, only 1 didn't eat a cookie). Sugar high anyone? (and, you're welcome other moms!)




A sweet Christmas tradition.