The Season of Advent: Week 1

This year, I am making a point of keeping Christ in Christmas. I want my girls to grow up knowing what it means when we celebrate Christmas, that it is about doing for others, and not ourselves.

I picked up this advent wreath at Cokesbury. It is more beautiful than you can tell in the picture. It has scripture from the Bible of the Christmas story on it.  "I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." I absolutely adore the scriptures found throughout the Bible announcing the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

You can see the scripture in this photo.

We made hearts as an activity to prepare our hearts for Jesus and to invite Jesus "to come" (advent) into our hearts.

This photo was taken on Day 2 of Advent. Beatrix is wearing her Advent Wreath hat we made in Sunday School, with one flame up for the first week of Advent.

On day 3, we smoothed out paths with salt to prepare a road for the Lord.

Beatrix turned her paths into a pattern of a sun.

We wrapped gifts for a child we chose to provide for this Christmas.

On day 6, we made a star out of tissue paper to hang in the window so that the sun can shine through it. Our task this night was to find Orion, a series of 3 bright stars. Beatrix was able to see it out of our back window with the help of Daddy and Omi.

O Christmas Tree

The girls worked together to decorate the little Christmas tree that Omi bought for them. I found wooden and fabric ornaments at Michael's for a $1 each. Perfect for those little hands that like to take them off and see what happens when they fall to the ground.

It didn't take long before Charlotte pulled the little tree over and water was all over the floor. We haven't had an incident since, so hoping we are in the clear for an accident free Christmas.

Tantrum Turned Nap

Beatrix and I had run to Michael's and Cokesbury the morning of November 27th. It was a Saturday. We had planned on staying home most of the day until going over to Goosey and Popsey's to celebrate Popsey's birthday.

Shortly after we left, Charlotte threw a major tantrum on Steven. She was laying in front of the fireplace. You know how tantrums go, you just have to leave them be to work it out. She had such a tantrum that she put herself to sleep on the cold travertine in front of the fireplace. I suppose the fire may have made it a cozy spot, despite how hard it was.

Mary and Baby Jesus

I have always read the Christmas Story to Beatrix, but this year, she seems to really get it more than ever. She is loving her Playmobile Nativity set. She has been playing with it each night. She loves drawing pictures, and after trying to get her to draw a specific picture, the manger scene, a few weeks ago to no avail, she turned this out the day before Thanksgiving. There are 6 mangers, and I'm not sure why. I did not ask her at the time what she was thinking about when she drew the picture. Nevertheless, I think it is a beautiful picture depicting the birth of the Christ child.

Thanksgiving Day

What a day full of blessings! We all have so much to be thankful for. My family is pretty high on my list of what I'm thankful for! We had a wonderful time at Goosey's house celebrating this day set aside to give thanks. We started it off by making turkey day hats (pilgrims, turkeys, indians).

The guys cooked.

The women visited.

I read a special Thanksgiving Day prayer.

Something is definitely missing in this picture. I can't quite put my finger on it.

Beatrix talked to Bella on the phone since she couldn't be with us due to a surgery she had a little over a week ago.

Beatrix and Charlotte sit briefly on Omi's lap. Long enough to get a picture!

Here we are showing off our hats.

Hayley celebrated her 8th birthday.

I read a few Thanksgiving books.

There was lounging.

There were photos being taken.

And, more photos being taken.

We made some pilgrim hats that Beatrix and Nathan chowed down on while the others ate sweet pot...er...I mean pumpkin pie.

Wortham Theatre Tree Lighting

The mice came down the escalators at precisely 11 o'clock to lead us upstairs to the cookies & punch, Christmas tree, the Christmas music, and the waiting characters from The Nutcracker Ballet.

The mice were very playful.

Beatrix and Charlotte settled in with their cousins for some treats.

 

They had their photos taken with some of the Nutcracker Ballet dancers.

The girls enjoyed dancing with the mice and other kids.

Beatrix danced along to the Mariachi band.

An attempt at a group shot. My two aren't cooperating in the photo taking department these days.

Waiting for the tree to light up.

Another attempt at a group shot.

At Jones Plaza waiting for the Santa Claus and other Christmas characters to arrive.

Getting closer to Santa.

A glimpse into Christmas theatre.

One last photo in front of the Wortham Theatre with downtown in the background. A perfect, day before Thanksgiving, activity to get you in the spirit for Christmas.

Teddy Bear Thanksgiving Feast

 

A day filled with thanks and good food in the Teddy Bear Classroom.  More Indians turned out for this feast than Pilgrims.

Beatrix says Steven and I will eat bacon for Thanksgiving and she will eat turkey. Steven did make a smokey bacon dressing that is always a hit, so I guess she was somewhat correct.