Monthly Archives: November 2013

2013 Fall Parties at Homeschool Enrichment!

We love our homeschool enrichment program.  Our boys attend every Tuesday from 9am-3pm.  It’s a Christian program where they go to six different classes throughout the day.  We pay tuition for them to attend.  They get to take a lunch or buy a hot lunch, make friends, and have a fun day of learning.  There are field trips(not on Tuesdays), class parties, birthday treats with friends, 2 music programs each year, grandparents day, field day, kindergarten graduation, and even homeschool 101 support classes for parents.  It’s been really amazing and we’ve loved it.

There is a fall class party and a valentines class party each year.  I’ve volunteered to coordinate or contribute for both of my boy’s classes for all their parties.  I enjoy participating and my boys love me doing it.  This fall I was the coordinator for Z’s party and I did the craft for Jax’s party.  Basically I had to be in two places at once.  I over volunteered this time.  Lol.  😀  It all worked out though.  Next time I will try to hold back and do something more manageable.

Jax’s 1st Grade Class

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Z’s 3rd Grade Class

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Our Jesse Tree Ornaments

We had our swap on November 23rd, 2013 and it was a success!  The mom’s loved it and had an enjoyable evening out.  We all came home with 25 unique and beautiful handmade ornaments!  We even made 3 ornaments at the swap and that was perfect.  It gave our hands something to do while we talked.  I would definitely repeat that for a future small swap.  My children had a blast when they found the bag of Jesse Tree ornaments the next morning.  I’m very excited to share with them the Bible story with coordinating ornament each day in December.  Thank you crafty mamas for signing up and for a wonderful evening of chatting and friendship!

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Baby Jesus                                                     Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors

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Abraham’s camel and tent            Ruth’s wheat and heart            Jonah and the fish

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Samuel’s Oil Lamp                                              Jesse Tree

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Jesse Stump and Elijah’s Altar                       Grapes of Canaan

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First Sin Apples                                    Announcement of the Gentle Shepherd Sheep

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Noah’s Ark Rainbow Cloud                                  Jacob’s Ladder

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Creation’s Globe              Bethlehem Silhouette               Josiah Finding the Law

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Isaac’s Bundle of Sticks                                      Moses Burning Bush

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David’s Sling Shot                            Solomon’s Crown

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Habakkuk Watch Tower                          Isaiah’s Tongs with Hot Coal

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Jesse Tree Ornament Swap

Sign Up Information for this swap is at the bottom of this post. Deadline to sign up is 10pm on Friday, November 11th, 2013.

I’ve been looking at advent calendars for the past couple years.  I’ve been trying to figure out if I wanted to make one or buy one and what was most important to our family in a Christmas advent calendar.  During my search on pinterest I came across these beautiful ornaments sold on Etsy.  They were a collection of Jesse Tree ornaments.  I immediately loved the idea.  My plan is to make something to hold the ornaments and then each day of advent our family will discuss the ornament meaning and hang it on our Christmas tree.  It will be a fun activity for our children and a wonderful reminder from lessons we learned all year.

What is a Jesse Tree?

“The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots.”  It is a vehicle to tell the Story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history. The Branch is a biblical sign of newness out of discouragement, which became a way to talk about the expected messiah (for example, Jer 23:5). It is therefore an appropriate symbol of Jesus the Christ, who is the revelation of the grace and faithfulness of God.”  Source

What are the Daily Themes?

There are several different versions of Jesse Tree daily themes and readings.  One version is in the chart found at this link.  Another version is available in a pdf booklet you can print from Ann Voskamp.  There is also a booklet from the Inspired Traditions Etsy ornaments that I initially found.  At the end of this post are several ideas for the days of advent and suggestions for what to do for an ornament.  The sign up list for the ladies night Jesse Tree ornament swap on November 23rd, 2013 at 7pm hosted in Lee’s Summit, Missouri is listed at the bottom of this post as well.

Samples of Jesse Tree ornaments:

Of course there are tons of ideas on Pinterest but here are a few examples I compiled that I really like the quality of.  Handmade ornaments don’t have to cost very much.  Quality ornaments are the ones that the creator spent time and put lots of love and detail into.

The stump below is personalized with the family’s name.  Very neat.  And the lion and the lamb are on reverse sides of the same ornament representing the peace between lion and lamb.  Cool!

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Jesse Tree Ornament Swap Sign Up!

Join us for a Ladies Night!  Bring a snack or dessert to share, your ornaments in a container, and your wonderful self!  We will swap ornaments in the Lee’s Summit area(TBD) on November 23rd at 7pm.  Message me on Facebook or comment on this blog post to join in the fun!  We need 12 people to sign up and we will each make 12 of 2 different ornaments.  Please tell me your first and second choice when signing up.  The ornament options are listed below.  If the options are crossed out someone has already selected it.  If you have a great idea that isn’t listed here please let me know and I will add it or sign you up for it.  😉

Jesse Tree-Tree, Creation-Globe or Dove, First Sin- Apple Tree or Snake on Apple, Noah-Ark or Rainbow, Abraham- Tent or Camel, Isaac-Ram or Altar or Bundle of Logs, Jacob-Ladder, Joseph-Grain or Coat, Moses-Burning Bush or Staff or Lamb or 10 Commandments, Canaan-Grapes, Ruth-Wheat, Joshua-Horn or Wall, Samuel-Heart or Oil Lamp, David-Shepherd Staff or Lamb or Sling Shot or Harp, Solomon-Crown, Elijah-Altar or Pillar of Fire, Jesse Stump-Stump with Leaf, Daniel-Lion, Jonah-Whale, Bethlehem- City Silhouette with Stars, Esther-Scepter, Josiah-Scroll, Isaiah-Tongs with Hot Coal, Habakkuk-Watch Tower, Elizabeth & Zachariah- Couple or Tablet with Chalk, John-Shell, Mary-Lilly, Joseph-Tools, Travel-Sandals or Donkey, Announcement-Angels or Sheep, Birth of Jesus-Star or Baby Jesus or Manger

Group One

  1. Abraham-Camel: Brookie-Lee(1st Choice)
  2. First Sin-Apple: Brookie-Lee(2nd Choice)
  3. Noah- : Morgan J. (1st Choice)
  4. Announcement-Lamb: Morgan J. (2nd Choice)
  5. Joseph-Coat of Many Colors: Julie G. (1st Choice)
  6. Moses-Burning Bush: Julie G. (2nd Choice)
  7. David-Sling Shot: Amber A. (1st Choice)
  8. Josiah-Note in Bulb: Amber A. (2nd Choice)
  9. Elijah- : Heather B.
  10. Jesse-Stump: Heather B.
  11. Isaac-Bundle of Logs: Rebecca G.
  12. Bethlehem-Silhouette & Stars: Rebecca G.
  13. Creation: Jennifer J (1st Choice)
  14. Jacob: Jennifer J. (2nd Choice)
  15. Jesse Tree-Tree: Melanie D. (1st Choice)
  16. Samuel-Oil Lamp: Melanie D. (2nd Choice)
  17. Solomon-Crown: Teri P. (1st Choice)
  18. Birth of Jesus-Baby Jesus: Teri P. (2nd Choice)
  19. Habakkuk-Watch Tower: Joni R. (1st Choice)
  20. Isaiah-Tongs with Hot Coal: Joni R. (2nd Choice)
  21. Ruth-Wheat: Brookie-Lee(3rd Choice)
  22. Jonah-Large Fish: Brookie-Lee(4th Choice)
  23. John-Shell: GROUP
  24. Canaan-Grapes: GROUP
  25. Joshua-Wall: GROUP