Advent

This year we are working hard at our house to observe the weeks of Advent and be present in the days leading up to Christmas! We have been spending time teaching Jack the meaning of Advent and  Christmas. We also have been talking about the importance of our preparation for the special day not being centered around shopping and stress, but Instead around family time, prayer, reading from our Advent book, and playing and learning about the many nativity sets spread around our home! Although Jack may not understand all of this that we are trying to teach him he can definitely feed off our calmness leading up to the holiday. We intentionally keep the gift giving small in our family which allows us to stay away from all the busy stores and just enjoy time together during Advent.

That being said, we do enjoy visiting the sights around town that have decorated for Christmas to get us in the spirit! The zoo lights, the train museum, Christmas story times, Christmas tree lightings, watching the ice skaters downtown, the live nativity at Krohn's Conservatory, decorating our home, and walks around the neighborhood to enjoy the festive decorations! 

That first time Papa turned on the lights! Pure amazement!

Silly nights in the matching Christmas jams!

We even got a special visit from Saint Nicholas (who visited our house and Omi's house!) 

Saint Nicholas brought gingerbread men to Omi's house and we got to spend the afternoon with Henry decorating them!

My favorite part was that the boys didn't know that the gingerbread man's "clothes" were actually edible!

Such a wonderful time of the year - and all these 65 degree days we've been having is making it even better! Happy Advent!