This Holiday season has been a very busy one for all of us here at home. We had many family gatherings to go to during Christmas week. It was unreal, however we had a great time! I hope all went well with all of you this Christmas season. I wish everyone many blessings this New year!

I have posted videos and pictures of one of our Christmas projects.

My children and I worked hard to put together a Christmas musical for all of our family and friends on Christmas Eve.

The musical was to the song "Walking in a Winter Wonderland."

The children worked very hard in making the scenary and props for thier show. They practiced every day for a week before this day.

I am soooooooooo very proud of them. We had alot of fun putting this together!

Here are the pictures of us working on our scenes and props.

Here are the videos to thier show. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did in putting it together.

This video is the opening! Real brief!

This video starts of slanted. My sister finally corrected the position. Also, please excuse some of my family members ways of trying to encourage someone to "go on with the show." Not every family is perfect! All-in-all, my children performed to the best of thier abilities and did a very great job! I am very, very proud of them for all their hard work and effort they put into making this musical!

Teaching Children to Give

How do you teach children the value of giving when they're bombarded with messages about the joy of getting?

Involve your child in selecting the gift. Don't expect your favorite charity to be meaningful for your child. Help her find a way to give a gift that she feels is important, whether it's baking cookies for a friend or a toy for a needy child.

Be a role model. Gather small-size toiletries, such as toothpaste and shampoo, and pack them in decorated gift bags to take to a homeless shelter. Ask your child if he'll help you baby-sit for a neighbor's toddler so she can do her shopping.

Personalize giving. Writing a check to a charity is faster, but delivering food to a food bank shows your child how people benefit from your family's gift.

Teaching Kids Compassion

Thanks to those of you who shared your ideas for encouraging compassion and generosity. Here are some of your suggestions:

A giving tree: "There is a sharing tree in our little town," writes a mother in Washington. "Every year my son and I pick out two families that need help. It's fun hunting down the gifts on their wish lists and returning to the tree with our arms full of beautifully wrapped presents. I like the idea that we remain anonymous as that teaches the true magic of giving."

Feed the hungry: "Every month, my children help me bake a casserole to drop off at the local homeless shelter," writes a mother of two in New Jersey. "They ask me questions about homelessness, and I try my best to explain why these people don't have what we have. When they help me carry the food to the shelter, I think it shows why we're doing this. It just feels right to feed the hungry."

Parent Advisor GreatSchools 

Halloween is approaching!