Advent: Week 4

Day 22: Keep on Driving!! It's a long way from the desert to the Midwest.

Day 23: Marshmallow Snowmen (L was more interested in eating than in building). Sorry L & N are sideways -- I can't get them to stand upright.

Day 24: Make Birdseed Ornaments -- the boys didn't really like MAKING these this year, but they loved putting them up on the tree outside!

Day 25: Make Wrapping Paper Collages. In the aftermath of family Christmas #2 and opening presents, we were reminded of the gifts that the 3 Wise Men brought to Jesus (the true reason we give presents at this time of year).

What a fun-filled Advent Season it has been! Now on to the 12 Days of Christmas!!

Advent - Week 3

It's been another busy week around our house, getting ready for Christmas:

Day 15: Bake Christmas cookies (it was hard to be patient for them to come out!)

Day 16: We put on our party hats to wish a very Happy Birthday to Jesus

L-R: W, L, N enjoying birthday cupcakes

Day 17: Donate food to a local food bank

Day 18: Family Christmas #1 - open presents. The boys were SO excited when they read the card with Daddy!

Day 19: Learn about the wise men who followed a (toothpick) star to bring gifts to Jesus

Day 20: Make Christmas garland to celebrate and welcome Jesus

Day 21: Road Trip! Headed to the Midwest to see friends and family.

Advent - Week 2

It's been an amazing week. Here we go...

Day 8: Auntie Jo's Birthday...this is always part of our advent celebration, even when we can't be with her. We like cake. And birthdays. And Auntie Jo.

Day 9: Learn about the birth of Jesus and make manger pictures (they kept requesting more animals & people the surround the manger)

 Day 10: See Zoo Lights (L-R: N loved the monkeys in the trees, the whole fam, W was a little afraid of the dancing trees)

 Day 11: Watch White Christmas in Mommy and Daddy's bed

Day 12: Make shepherd scenes and learn how they worshiped Jesus and told everyone that "Jesus is born!"

 Day 13: Everybody say "gingerbread house!"

 Day 14: Choose some of our old toys to give away to charity (here they are going through their toys & giving me a "thumbs up" for helping kids in need)

 I have to say that they were super sweet with this activity. When we opened the door and read it, they both thought it was a great idea. W then announced that he "would like to give away his sleeping toy, Woody, to another boy or girl." This is a precious toy to him. When I reminded him that he wouldn't have Woody any more, he said, "I know. But I will still be happy."

In the end, we decided that maybe Woody should stay at our house. But we have boxes and boxes of other great things to give away.

Advent: Week 1

We have one of those fun advent calendars with doors to open. We don't put candy inside. We put activities to do together as a family. This is a quick photo summary of the first week.

Day 1: Decorate the house for Christmas. L-R The kids' tree; the "family" tree; our pesebre

Day 2: Hot chocolate with whipped cream, marshmallows, and sprinkles followed by a sleeping bag camp out on the bedroom floor.

Day 3: Go to the theater to see The Muppets (best movie I've seen in ages)

Day 3: Paint special Christmas ornaments (I think they look amazing)

Day 5: Bust out Jazz -- our Elf on the Shelf

Day 6: Make Christmas cards for some special friends we miss

Day 7: Learn about the (paper plate) angel that told Mary the good news of Jesus' upcoming birth