November 26: Coloring Christmas Pictures & Setting Up the CHRISTMAS TREE!!!

I asked the boys if they wanted to do a Christmas project with me today, and after a resounding "yes!" I asked if they had any ideas or if they wanted me to find something to make.  Koen pulled out the Christmas coloring/activity book Grandma had giving them and suggested we color pictures.  Simple, but perfect.  We each tore out a picture to color and began using the new crayons, also from Grandma.  We spent 20 minutes or more sitting at the kitchen table just coloring, talking, and laughing together. 

It had been a long time since I'd colored with crayons; I'd forgotten how relaxing it can be.  I tried to research online to see if there was anything about stress relief and coloring, or something of that sort, but the only things that popped up were specific calming colors or coloring mandalas -- pictures meant to focus your thoughts.  I'm pretty sure the kid's Christmas pictures I was coloring weren't designed to focus my attention and calm my spirit, but in a way, they did.  I supposed just slowing down to sit and color something that can be completed in a short time frame (as opposed to never-ending laundry or even my scrapbook which is 3 1/2 years behind our current life) was the perfect relaxing activity.  We (or maybe just I) may need to do this activity more often.

Later that evening we hauled out the fake tree (I've never had a real one...maybe some day I'll be brave enough) and all the Christmas decor.  The boys were beyond excited about setting up the tree and couldn't wait to hang the ornaments...really, they couldn't wait.  They began unpacking them before I could do it in my organized fashion.  Praise the Lord for an excited Christmas spirit!