24 unplanned advent days

Each year, I find myself rushing around after Thanksgiving to put together a new and wonderful Advent activity for my kids.  Having a planned activity for counting down the days of Advent is such fun for kids.  One year, I wrapped up Christmas books for the kids to open each day and read, another year, I planned a special activity each day, and a few years back my kids had little chocolate calendars to count the days.  

This year, there was no time!  I think it had something to do with Thanksgiving being so late.  Before I knew it, December was in full swing and I had absolutely nothing planned.  I felt so bad that I had let this special time of year fall by the wayside.  When I sat scrolling through photos on my phone and camera, I realized that we had been celebrating the season daily.  It was all unplanned but it was all in preparation of December 25th.

So, if you were at all like me this year, take heart and know that your kids are enjoying the Advent season daily!  Even if it is just putting up lights, having a special treat, or driving around looking at Christmas lights after dark, the kids love it.

Happy Unplanned Advent Season!

1. decorating the house after dark is always fun

2. homemade decorations on the mantel are best

3. decorating sugar cookies with green frosting and special treats at a holiday party

4. visiting the big tree of lights downtown with old friends

5. decorating the tree in our home

6. horseback riding in the freezing rain at a mother-daughter Christmas camping weekend

7. decorating with woodsy decorations that remind us of our heritage and a cozy place we all love "up north"

8. Toot and Puddle Christmas stories on the couch before bed with Grandma

 

9. little ornament helpers get the tree ready at church

10.  walking our reindeer to the mailbox to mail and collect Christmas cards

11.  discovering snow nearby one sunny afternoon

12. a special trip downtown to see The Nutcracker with your dear aunt

13. fancy new hairdos for fancy big girl outings 

14. a cozy cabin on a blustery cold weekend

15. breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus

16. dressed in PJs and singing on stage for the preschool Christmas Sing-a-long

17. singing with the choir at church dressed as an angel

I will never forget the way you sang, "the wittle Word Jesus asweep on the hay,"  all your "Ls" sounded like "Ws" this year.

18. wearing a sparkly halo made just for you during choir practice

19. making cookies on a lazy winter morning

20. burning our wishes for Santa (an old family tradition)

21. a winter dance recital

22. bundled up, chasing the evening sun

23. finding and giving special gifts

24. taking time to write a little letter on a very special night

have you washed your hair?

Yesterday, my daughter woke up and promptly asked me if I had washed my hair.  In her arms, she carefully carried a large mirror, brush and a dish full of hair accessories.  Like any young girl, my girls love to play hair salon.  They know that if my hair is dirty, they can do anything they want to it.  Freshly washed curly hair does not get brushed -- mostly because it takes too long to fix.  I had to laugh when my girl knew to ask about the condition of my hair before she asked to play hair salon.  Thankfully, 2 of my girls have straight hair and can brush it all the time without frizzy consequence.

it's time

As their little silhouettes appear at the door to marvel at the lights, I can't help but feel warmth and delight inside my chest.  There is something so incredibly magical about this time of year with children.  They are filled with indescribable wonder that fills this season with so much hope and joy.  

May the light of this season find its way to you too!  Happy holiday season preparing!

time for s'mores

Yep!  It is time for campfires at dusk, the woodsy smell of Pinon wood, curious on-seekers, sticky fingers and sloppy S'mores.  The cooler weather has finally set in and Friday nights are the perfect time for S'more treats around an outdoor campfire in the backyard.

My big kids enjoy holding their marshmallows over the coals to achieve a perfectly roasted marshmallow for their s'more sandwich.  Most of the time, they get a lot of help from their Daddy to find just the right spot for their marshmallow to roast without catching fire.

Little sandwiches are made out of the roasted marshmallow, a Hershey's chocolate square and 2 graham crackers.

It is the perfect Autumn treat!

a pirate, pochantas and a mermaid

This year, there was no coaxing everyone to dress the same or within the same theme...they all had their own distinct ideas of what they wanted to be for Halloween (except the baby).  The costumes were fashioned by their Grandmother who can make anything their hearts desire.  Thankfully, no one changed their mind the week of Halloween!  They dashed from house to house with their little cousin in tow and a herd of neighbor kids.  The buckets were full quickly which meant the counting and sorting lasted far too long for a school night.  Nevertheless, it was a memorable night for a mermaid, pirate and Pochantas!  Hope your Halloween was fun!

almost time...

It is almost time for my excited little ghosts and goblins to dress-up in their homemade costumes and parade around the streets long after their normal bedtimes.  They found the calendar this morning and anxiously counted the days.  

We've done all our usual autumn activities at home and around town to learn about this beautiful time of year.  Homemade applesauce has filled the crockpot on the few cool days we've encountered and one of our pumpkins was prematurely carved on a warm sunny afternoon.

They all tried the pumpkin seeds that Mommy burned in the oven because they know how much I love pumpkin seeds.
Sugar cookies have been cut into bats and pumpkin by little helpers in the kitchen.

Flowers were harvested from a local pumpkin patch.

Autumn adventures have been fun but they are all awaiting the big night to come!

Happy Halloween Week!

a walk in the woods

I have to admit, sometimes I feel like me third spends most of her days in the carseat.  We drive here and there dropping off and picking up her sisters.  This past week I felt so bad.  Each time I went to put her in her carseat, she arched her back and screamed with frustration.  {I know this is most likely a phase but I felt horrible about it all week.}

I decided when we had a free hour together that we would go for a woodsy walk near our home.  We would enjoy the morning sun, fresh autumn air, sounds of nature and the abundant growth {from all the recent rain!}.

We took that walk on a chilly morning and enjoyed the time together listening and discovering the outdoors.  It was a refreshing change from our daily driving, napping and eating routines at home.  I have vowed to make it part of our weekly plans.

After our walk in the woods, she was happy to get into her carseat for our afternoon pick-up rounds.  I was extremely grateful.

A little fresh air does wonders for us all!