since my last post, my husband and i have been completely swept off our feet by a little bundle of sweetness. her name is bay, and she is 5 weeks old.
bay has been the impetus for many new traditions that we have already begun to make, and hope to continue to make as we grow our little family. this year i wanted to make an advent that we would be able to use for years to come. it will be a surprise for my husband and i just can't wait to show him.
using
this photo as inspiration, i made a trip to the Ikea salvage room where i picked up this old shelf piece for just $3.00. with some clothespins, a red paint pen, and some hot glue, it was a snap to put together.
if you are looking for a little advent inspiration of your own, here are the 25 ideas tucked inside each of our envelopes (not necessarily in order):
1. Go and
light all the candles you can find in the house, and then sing together “Go
Tell It on the Mountain”.
2. Whoever
has gone the longest since brushing their teeth must sing “All I Want for
Christmas is my Two Front Teeth”
3. Put
this cinnamon in some water on the stove, and let the house fill with the
Christmas aroma.
4. Slice
up this orange to make sweet-smelling ornaments: Slice orange
thinly, blot dry, place on parchment paper on baking sheet, sprinkle both sides
with 10x sugar, and bake at 200F for 2-3 hours, flipping halfway. Once cool, string on ribbon!
5. Roast
these chestnuts over an “open fire” (or in the oven ;o) ). As you put them in the oven sing “The
Christmas Song”.
6. Make
yourselves piping hot mugs of hot cocoa, and tell each other the best part of
your day.
7. Pop up
some kernels of corn and string them to hang around the Christmas tree!
8. Get out
some fluffy marshmallows and roast them to perfection over the stovetop.
9. Get in
the car and drive around to look at Christmas lights.
10. Pick
out one favorite book and curl up on the couch for daddy to read it aloud.
11. Go
outside and find the prettiest leaf that you can. At the count of 3, everyone throw your leaf
in the air and say “goodbye” to Fall.
12. Hop in
the car and head to John James Audobon’s farm for their Holiday Openhouse! Sunday, December 2nd, 1-4pm. The
house and museum will be decorated for the holidays inside and out. Events
include:
live
owl presentations, live music, workshops, and a scavenger hunt! Enjoy cookies
and cider.
13. Snuggle
up in a mountain of blankets and watch a favorite Christmas movie.
14. Make a
batch of delicious Christmas cookies and take them to our neighbors.
15. Curl up
around the Christmas tree and turn off all lights except for the tree. Have daddy read the story of Jesus’ birth
aloud.
16. Call Great-Grandpa
Bill/Grandma Sally and Great-Grandma Elsie and sing them a favorite Christmas
carol.
17. Call Great-Grandpa/Grandma
Berger and Bee-Bee/Pop-Pop and sing them a favorite Christmas carol.
18. Grab some
paper and scissors and make paper snowflakes to hang in the doorways!
19. Bundle
up and walk downtown to the Firebird Festival! Saturday, December 8th, events all
day. Firebird Burning starting at 8pm.
20. Open
stockings as a family, starting with the youngest person first.
21. Read
Philippians 4:6, and take time to pray for those around the world who may be
hurting, in need, or who don’t know Jesus.
22. Read
these verses and talk about all that was accomplished through Jesus coming to
earth:
John
3:17 Matthew 18:11
John
12:46 John 10:10
1 John
3:8 1 John 4:9
23. Go on a
“midnight” walk in the dark before bedtime.
24. This
one’s just for mommy and daddy:
Grab
this mistletoe and head to the closest doorway.
Hold the branch over your heads and give each other a big ole kiss. ;o)
25. MERRY
CHRISTMAS! Celebrate with food, family,
fellowship, and gifts, and remember the reason for it all. Jesus came so that we may have ABUNDANT life
in Him.
-- jessie
