Tonight Lydia and I snuggled up in her bed for a story. I also had the computer and two gift cards.

Why?

Because tonight we read The King’s Christmas List. It was our new favorite book last year and started a fabulous tradition for us–giving gifts to Jesus. Asa and Lydia picked out gifts from the World Vision catalog to give to Jesus. Lydia chose bunnies and Asa a goat. We talked about those bunnies and that goat all month long. Asa knew he had given a gift to Jesus and was excited about that goat!

In our Advent activities we made a giant box that stayed under our tree for all of December. Inside were hidden two scriptures. And on Christmas morning we opened the box first to read them. As the kids opened this special box Asa said, “Is it a goat?” His two-year old self couldn’t understand giving a goat to Jesus, but I loved seeing his sweet little face ask that question because it showed me how real that gift to Jesus was to him.

 

This year we have yet to sit down and pick out our gifts. Lydia looks through the World Vision and Compassion catalogs all the time and when Samartian’s Purse catalog came full of QR codes she scanned every single one to watch the videos about each gift. I think she’s leaning toward honey bees and Asa will probably get a cow. (He’s all about the milk!)

But let’s get back to the giftcards and the story tonight. Razoo, an online fundraising site sent Lydia and Asa a $10 gift card to give to an organization of their choice. After reading the book, we searched for our favorite organizations, watched their videos, read their descriptions. Lydia chose Square Peg ministries here in metro Atlanta (which is also run by my mom, my brother and sister-in-law and my best friend, Kristen). They work with at-risk kids in Atlanta providing homework help, summer camps and Bible clubs. She was so excited to give to these kids, her family and to Jesus.

I can’t wait to show Asa his card tomorrow and see which organization he chooses. He’ll probably want to find one that gives milk to babies! This Christmas, take a few minutes away from the mall and the stores to give the best present of all: a gift to Jesus. A gift that really and truly GIVES. You could even skip the mall all together and buy a Giving Card from Razoo–that way your friends and family could have their own experience in giving to Jesus! It’s giving and receiving in one small gift!

Check out my Pinterest board for Gifts That Give More!

source: nkronberg

***Impress Your Kids has some new digs at ohAmanda.com! Come visit us there for all the Impress Your Kids archives and all our new posts–including our Easter newsblast with fabulous tips for celebrating a meaningful Easter with your kids!***

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And not just for yummy food, gifts and parties. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for parents to teach their children about Jesus! Kids have been looking forward to Christmas all year. Stores, media and school talk about it every day. It’s the easiest time to focus on Jesus!

I’m not opposed to singing Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer or making stocking-shaped cookies at home. But I am opposed to making these things the center of our Christmas celebration when the story of Jesus can be just as fun, exciting and “magical”!

{Read my full post at the Tommy Mommy blog…}

source: alys in wonderland

***Impress Your Kids has some new digs at ohAmanda.com! Come visit us there for all the Impress Your Kids archives and all our new posts–including our Easter newsblast with fabulous tips for celebrating a meaningful Easter with your kids!***

Every year I like to do a Christmas party-playdate for Lydia and Asa’s friends. One year we did a Gingerbread Party. This year we did an Operation Christmas Child Party. I just saw an awesome idea for a Christmas Playdate from my friends at When You Rise. I was trying to think of other non-Santa, semi-faith-centered themes I could use for a playdate and that’s when it hit me: Veggie Tales! Their new Little Drummer Boy movie would be perfect for a Christmas party. Or even a December birthday for a little boy!

I’m so excited to show you my…

TOP TEN IDEAS FOR A LITTLE DRUMMER BOY PARTY

1. Drum Cake

Source: google.com via ohAmanda {impress your kids} on Pinterest

You can’t go wrong with a drum cake. And it’s pretty easy, too!

2. Drum Craft

Source: minieco.co.uk via ohAmanda {impress your kids} on Pinterest

There are tons of make-your-own drum crafts online. But I like this one that’s made out of a balloon because, honestly? It seems the quietest!

3. And Another Drum Craft

Source: alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.com via ohAmanda {impress your kids} on Pinterest

And even though this one is loud, I like it because you can hang it around your neck. And it has drum sticks. Which are just fun.

4. Little Drummer Boy Coloring Sheets

Print these off from the Veggie Tales’ website and let your kids have at ‘em!

5. Watch The Little Drummer Boy

Sit down with your drum cake or some popcorn and let the kids chill with their Veggie friends!

6. Mr. Lunt’s Hat

Mr. Lunt wore the best hat in the movie–and I’m tellin’ you the whole time I was watching the movie, I was thinking about these cookies:

Right?!

7. Play “Follow the Dancing Leader”

Grab your drum (preferably, a Veggie Tales drum!) and let the kids follow you around the room dancing like Aaron and his animals!

8. Gift: Stand Up Puzzle

Source: store.veggietales.com via ohAmanda {impress your kids} on Pinterest

OK. I did not even know these existed! A stand up puzzle?! I want one.

9. Salt Dough Ornaments

I’ve linked to this post like 12 times, but I love it! You know I love being purposeful and active in helping my kids GIVE and do something HARD even when they are little. And this idea from Vanessa at Silly Eagle Books to make salt dough ornaments in the shape of animals, in order to sell and buy an actual animal for a needy family is just brilliant!

And since The Little Drummer Boy is partnering with World Vision to encourage families to give their best this Christmas, this is a perfect tie in. How fun would it be to let the kids make and paint ornaments together? And then set up a stand at the end of the driveway to sell? Or put them on Facebook for friends and family to gobble up? I totally want to do this.

10. Cupcake Toppers

Look! I made something for you! If you’d like to have your own Little Drummer Boy party—for your friends or just with your kids, what’s more fun than cupcake toppers? (Not much, based on how excited I am about these!) Just print them off, cut them out and attach to a stick!

Pin It

I (sadly) didn’t have any cupcakes. So, I wedged them into some ornaments. Cute, huh? Download your free cupcake toppers here! (There are 4 different designs!)

Oh,  I also made a Little Drummer Boy Pinterest board with more fun ideas!

What would you do at a Little Drummer Boy Party?

linked to ohAmanda‘s Top Ten {Tuesday}

disclosure: Veggie Tales sponsored me to the Relevant Conference.

 

***Impress Your Kids has some new digs at ohAmanda.com! Come visit us there for all the Impress Your Kids archives and all our new posts–including our Easter newsblast with fabulous tips for celebrating a meaningful Easter with your kids!***