Adventin’ it up

So far in my stellar career as a mother, I haven’t yet done anything super-special to lead up to Christmas.  But this year, I got bit by the Advent bug.  I think part of it has to do with Sophie’s being fully excited and involved in the holiday thing this year.  Because of her speech language delay, last year was the first year she really “got” Christmas, and this year she really is beginning to understand the WHY of Christmas.  About eight times a day she says, “This is going to be the BEST…CHRISTMAS…EVER!”  It’s so cute! She and Joshua are bouncing off the walls excited, and part of the reason is because this year, I decided to get my ADVENT on.  I started thinking,  “Do I really wanna do this?  It might get to be too much for me…” but then I remembered Emily’s advice from last year’s Advent season: Just do it So, I did.  And I am!

May I present, the Advent section of our dining room:

From left to right, we have: Little People Nativity (minus two wise men, this is what happens when you leave it out all year and let your kids play with it!), Hal the Moose from Build-a-Bear, who you know, has everything to do with Jesus’  birth, our Christmas tree calendar that has an advent activity that we will do as a family every day leading up to Christmas, our chocolate advent calendar which combines two of my favorite things, Scripture verses & chocolate, a random puppy dog dressed for Christmas, and finally, the ol’ mouse advent calendar that was in my house as a child.

WHEW!

We are having great fun doing each of our three calendars each day.  The kids are sharing the chocolate really well, we are learning from the Bible verses, and we are having a great time with the activities.  Most of the activities I just made up, like today’s “read the Christmas story from the Bible”, and some I have found online, like “make and play Christmas tic tac toe.”  They range from watching a Christmas movie, to reading a Christmas book, to making Christmas cookies.

I must confess, I am loving it!  I am loving doing these things with my kids, teaching them about Jesus’ birth, and adding some purpose and fun to the anticipation of Christmas morning.

I’m practically a fun mom!! Eek!  Well, ’tis the season!  What are you doing to celebrate this season with your kids?