Advent merriment

We've had a wonderful week of rest and indulging each other. Cookies, late mornings in pj's, naps and, of course, the magic of Christmas morning. I think I'm almost ready for 2014.

I wanted to share what we managed to squeeze in during our Advent countdown this year. It was such a fun thing to do as Christopher was the perfect age and really looked forward to checking to see what our activity would be every day. In fact, just this morning he realized that it must be over as the pockets had been empty for a few days. Another long year will have to pass before we experience the wind up to Juletiden!

Our list of activities likely doesn't balance out to a perfect 24 since we doubled up on some days and had to abort plans on other days due to illness or life's other unexpected turns. In any case, here's what we were up to:

Take Christmas card picture

Wonderland Express at the Gardens

Ride the CTA Holiday Train

Hang Christmas lights on house

Make fudge with Daddy

Gift shopping for family members

Hang up door wreath

Make Scotch Bread for neighbors

Go for a nature walk

Bring home a Christmas tree

Decorate Christmas tree

Donate to a food or toy drive

Bake gingerbread men

Make peppermint bark presents

Cotton ball snowmen

Color a Christmas picture

Draw a big Xmas tree and decorate with bows and stickers

Have a Christmas Carols dance party

A chocolate kiss/coin/truffle

Drop coins in bell ringer’s bucket

Hot chocolate!

Mail Christmas cards

Make a paper chain garland

Make paper snowflakes

Make gift tags

Write a letter to Santa

December

It's busy around here with two little boys who are so excited for... well, they're not exactly sure what since their memories of last year are fuzzy. We've had fun doing a lot of seasonal things with our Advent calendar messages and have made some fun changes to the house in anticipation of both Christmas and the impending arrival of Baby #3 shortly thereafter. (Oh, 2.5 months may not seem like a long time, but one thing I know for sure after 2 previous babies is that the third trimester leaves a person tired, slow, and uber short on time!)

This week we're packaging up greeting cards, making peppermint bark for teacher gifts, and I need to come to a decision on which cookie to make for the holiday treats exchange I'm hosting this weekend. If you were a cookie, would you prefer to be a Molasses Spice Cookie or a Chewy Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookie? Hmmm. I clearly have a thing for molasses and spices at this time of year.

It's been snowing a lot. Like - A LOT for mid-December. Last year we got our first picture-perfect snowfall on Christmas morning. It was pretty amazing. This year? Well, let's just say we've had the shovels out and working for a couple of weeks already. Christopher really wants to make snow angels and a snowman, but the windchill has prohibited us from being able to stay outside for long. My fingers are crossed that snow angels and snowmen can happen over the winter break, as well as a trip over to the park for some sledding fun.

We're reading a lot, thanks to the cold. Some of the kids' current favorites are:
Snow (PD Eastman)
Snow (Uri Shulevitz)
Are You My Mother? (PD Eastman)
Should I Share My Ice Cream? (Mo Willems)
A Day At The Fire Station (R. Scarry)
and, of course... 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Stay snug and merry! As Christopher reminded me this afternoon, "It's only NINE days until Christmas!!!" Single digits now, folks. :)

Crunch-o-meter

Sorry to keep posting links here, I'll have some real writing... er, tales from the old household, coming up early next week.

But, in the meantime? This is hilarious. HOW CRUNCHY ARE YOU? (Admittedly, this is probably most entertaining for those who are just exiting that first chapter of parenting.)

Raising boys

A good link.

Jane Fonda... who knew?!