Taneal's Homemade Christmas
Why do I love the holidays so much? Growing up, holidays were truly a magical time. When I look back on my memories they are filled with love, happiness, and hope. As a mother of three young children, holidays for me are all about making magical memories for them to hold dear for a lifetime.
We are all in need of an extra special Christmas this year. Along with the many impactful changes and challenges this year has brought, we also lost a loved one to COVID. In searching for a way to celebrate her this Christmas, I have read and thought significantly about Angels. The nativity scene that kept coming to mind was that of the Shepherds and Angels - Luke 2:7-20; the night of Christ’s birth is my Christmas theme this year.
There is one more factor that played a roll in the selection of decorations for our cottage. Wynsor, my youngest, is 2-years-old, which means this is a very hands-on Christmas for her. I learned very quickly with my first child that having babies and toddlers around breakable ornaments is not a good idea. Decorations shouldn’t make life harder and if they do, it’s time to change them!
I had my older two children help me make all the decorations that are hanging on our tree this year. Below is a list of our homemade ornaments and a few details about them:
Salt Dough Sheep - These ornaments are basically like making sugar cookies, but they won’t want to eat the dough. After the salt dough was baked and had hardened we wrapped each sheep in wool.
Wool Ball Ornaments - We took plastic ornament balls and went to town wrapping them in colorful wool yarn until they were giant balls of fluff.
Angels - These were so fun to make! The only materials for this ornament was a wooden bead and doilies.
Wooden Bead Ornaments - Capri, my 6-years-old made all of these ornaments by herself. I gave her a pattern and she was able to follow it. As a first-grader they are learning about patterns right now, so what a great opportunity to sneak in some math skills!
My children are thrilled by their accomplishments and love the finished result. We are spending more time in our home than ever before and I’m grateful for the constant joy we feel being surrounded by our homemade Christmas.
Love, Taneal Rochelle
Our homemade ornaments.
