We had a blessed and busy Advent season this year. We've been trying hard to instill in the kids the real meaning for celebration at Christmas and that the four weeks leading up to December 25 are a time of joyful preparation. To do this, we continued some of the traditions we started last year, including actively using our wooden Advent calendar (they take turns opening a door each night at prayer time and can place the nativity piece they get anywhere in the stable scene they would like....even Henry got really excited to do this and started saying "calendar" right after dinner time in anticipation), lighting our Advent wreath every night at dinner, making paper chains to count down the days till Christmas, having a Little People Nativity scene they can play with all they want, having each child choose a toy of theirs to donate to charity, and last but not least, celebrating St. Nicholas Day with a visit from him leaving some goodies in our stockings. Our advent was also filled with lots of singing of Christmas carols, reading Christmas books, tree decorating, cookie baking, parties, school plays, and a Breakfast With Santa. Admittedly it's hard not to get caught up in the commercialism of the season, but in trying to remain distant from that part of the holiday, we've come to find the Advent season to be filled with more true joy and excitement for Christ's birth!
 |
| Hanging their "My First Christmas Ornaments" on the tree |
 |
| Tree decorating had to be closely supervised this year with breakable ornaments only placed on the higher branches. It went pretty well, only 1 ornament casualty this year :-) |
 |
| Nicholas showing Grace the soccer player ornament he received last year |
 |
| Of course Henry "helped" as well :-) |
 |
| So much fun to decorate our family tree |
 |
| A friend captured this picture of Grace at school, reading a book in her classroom |
 |
| In mid December, Nicholas went with his class to visit St George's Village, a retirement home nearby. They sang "Mary Had a Baby," "5 Little Reindeer," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Then they went around shaking hands and wishing each resident a Merry Christmas. |
 |
| Grace was so excited to get ready to attend her class Christmas Party |
 |
| I baked cookies with Nicholas and Grace this year. They specifically requested gingerbread cookies but we made several others in addition. |
 |
| Grace decorated the Gingerbread Women and Nicholas did the Gingerbread Men |
 |
| They had a lot of fun I think |
 |
| Henry woke up from his nap just in time to enjoy the best part of the baking...the sampling! |
 |
| Nicholas was in his first play ever, where he proudly starred as one of the 3 wise men. |
 |
| He was so excited |
 |
| They also performed several songs again for us |
 |
| He gave us a lovely gift....a canvas painting of his footprint made into the manger for baby Jesus |
|
 |
| Ready and excited for Christmas!!!!! |
No comments:
Post a Comment