Happy Birthday Jesus!

I absolutely LOVE the responsibility I have as a mother to teach Lauren about the true meaning of Christmas. This year Lauren actually remembers a lot of what we've learned and it makes me so happy to know that she is retaining some of the important stuff!!! We were so excited when we got an invitation to a Happy Birthday Jesus Party from Mandie, Kyler, and Dylan!!!

Mandie did such a great job planning and putting this party on. The girl is totally creative and such a blast to be around!

One of the first things we did was to use a little nativity set to talk about everyone in the manger. At the very end, we noticed that the baby Jesus hadn't arrived yet. Mandie used the coolest light up star to lead the kids around to find Jesus and put him in the manger. He was found under the couch!!!

Lauren had a blast driving baby Jesus around in the trailer. I commented that it was interesting that baby Jesus was using a cart without any animals, and Carissa said, "well he is God....he can do anything!" I thought that was great!!!

Throughout the party when Mandie spotted a super helper or a quiet listener they were called on to pick a special gift for their mommy! It was such a precious idea and I got the softest pair of Christmas socks ever!!! Thanks, Mandie for that unexpected and so thoughtful gift!!!

Mandie had a cute little tub full of dress up items for the kids to use to act out the Christmas story. Darling I tell you!!! Preston made the most adorable shepherd!

Lauren was really shy and didn't want to be any of the cool characters Mandie offered her. So, I talked her into being the little pig!!! I was Mary but I don't have a good picture of it. =) The kids did a really good job of acting out the play and we all laughed and said we should have got it on camera and pulled it out next year! I can't imagine what our Christmas party will look like then!

 Mandie had the coolest ornament for the kids to make. She had cut out of foam the main parts of the Christmas story and we strung each of them (great for fine motor!!!) on a pipe cleaner while talking through the story. I love that this can be used year after year to talk about baby Jesus' birth!!!

Preston and Leslie checking out the pieces for their ornament. 

 I was trying to get both Lauren and Kendall to look at the camera, but no such luck! They sure are cute though!

Kelly and Ryan getting ready to make their ornament.

Lauren wanted to wear her ornament as a bracelet!

What birthday party would be complete without cupcakes!!!  How adorable is this? I so need a cupcake stand!

The balloons were a huge hit! It was too funny how silly our kids became when the balloons came out! Precious!!!

We had a $1 gift exchange and the kids were so cute and polite as they waited their turn and picked out a present from under the tree. 

One of my favorite moments was when we gave a gift to Jesus. Lauren and I got together and I asked her what she wanted to give Jesus this Christmas. I was really coaching her to say something like being nice to others or being kind or something, but nope...my little girl wanted to give Jesus oatmeal. Yep. Oatmeal. So, that's what we wrote down. Honestly, Leslie and I got the hugest kick out it and she helped me realize how cute it really was!

Another really cool thing Mandie did was to give each of the kids a glow in the dark star they could take home with them. Each star had the word Jesus printed on it. She told the kids they could put them in their rooms for a reminder to shine bright for Jesus! How adorable is that?!?!

 

That's my girl...shining bright for Jesus!!!

This was such a fun day and I am so thankful for friends who want to get together and teach their kids about Jesus as well. Mandie blogged about the day here too so you can check it out!!! Thanks again, Mandie!!!