The 24 day WAIT

Trying to focus small children on the meaning behind Christmas can be challenging, at best!  The Christmas season brings candy, presents, cookies, bright lights, no school, friends and rarely seen family members, and tons of extra special activities all squeezed into one month!!  No wonder it's the favorite season of children!  No wonder it's my favorite season!  

Our family has lots of ways that we enjoy the long 24 day wait, or advent.  Most of them are geared specifically toward teaching and re-enforcing the birth of our risen SAVIOR.  Instilling the excitement of the wait - as the world waited for the prophesied Messiah

Micah 5:2

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Through you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."

and as we wait for the return of Jesus

Acts 1:11

"who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

The Advent calendar

behind each door is a nativity ornament we talk about and hang on a small wire tree.  

A small treat also awaits the children each night.

We started this last year

Adorenaments from Family Life

A set of 12 ornaments that highlight the names of God.  

We do these the 12 days leading up to Christmas.  The kids love to see each new ornament and take turns adorning the tree.

This is an idea I got from Life as Mom that we are doing this year and I am so excited!!  This is a "fun" countdown.  THIS is how I am squeezing in all the extra special activities into our month!

Each day of  December has an envelope that encloses a top-secret family activity.  Life as Mom has a whole list of activities and cards ready to print here, but I decided to make up my own activities that are "must haves" at the Smith house.  I made sure their were lots of outings balanced with lots of at home activities (with a few "bail out/ we're pooped/ can't muster the energy" activity cards that Ben and I can swap out at will)

I just printed out our FUN on card stock and cut them to fit into envelopes.

Made a master plan list (in pencil, of course), numbered and stuffed the envelopes.

Kate and I made a chain out of our scraps to add to our decor.

 Can't wait to open that envelope tonight!!

Enjoy your advent season!!

I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

snapshots of a few of 

our many blessings

Birthday!

(someone turned 32 yesterday...and it was NOT me!  :)

This is Ben's favorite cake...ever!  Chocolate, raspberry, cream...can't go wrong there!

 (one day I will make sure the family is dressed appropriately at dinner table...espcially when we're taking pictures...one day)

Happy birthday, my love!  I hope your day stood out a little from all the rest and that your family made you feel special!  We love you and are thankful for a daddy who loves the Lord and leads us in love!

FESTIVITIES!!

PUMPKINS

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS...mmmmm!

MEATLOAF HAND & MUMMIES FOR HALLOWEEN DINNER - CREEPY!

NINJAS

CANDY GIRL AND PUMPKIN

LOOT!!

FUN!!

 C-O-L-O-R-A-D-O

A few months back, Ben had this idea that I should take Noel and go see my family in Colorado.  My grandparents had never met Noel and I had not seen them in a long time!  So, after I made sure Ben knew that  -  I leaving with 1 kid = HIM staying home with 3 kids  -  I bought a ticket!

Noel on her first plane ride!

The fist day of our trip was spent catching up with Jamey, Autumn, and Rachel...but I guess I was too busy gabbing (and eating OREOS) to take any pictures.  You will have to imagine us girls comfy on Autumn's couch sipping tea, catching up, and watching Noel and Axel, who are just 1 day apart, bang on each other's heads.  It was wonderful.

Jamey dropped me off to spend a few days at Granny Stutz's house the next morning.  We stayed the nights with my Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill.  (THANK YOU, OH SO MUCH)

Noel and Great Grandma  and Grandpa Stutz

spending some time with Pops!

Grandma and I decided to spend one of our days puzzling...whew...what a doozy!

Aunt Hannah and Uncle Isaac picked us up from my grandma's house on their way from Nebraska and we traveled over the mountains and through the woods (no woods) to grandmother's house!

Great Grandma Ehmann loved Noel.  It was fun to see how much joy a baby brings to an older person! 

 (Relax, mom and dad!  I'm talking about Grandma not you guys...hee hee)

notice a little 10 inches of me gone??

yeah, Hannah got ahold of me!  

Gotta love new hair!

What a great trip!  Thank you, Ben for the great idea and encouragement to go.  3 kids - alone - 10 days - WHAT A GUY!!

Oh, my BABY...

a sweet Noel update

-nothing cuter than baby flip flops.  

Now, these sweet little things are just like all baby shoes...they go on, you take a picture, they fall off.  

c.u.t.e

 c-u-t-e

c*u*t*e

First food...a little startled with the stuff!

CHUB-O

I guess it was all the food!

Good-bye bassinet.  

She was 7 months old, after all.

This was a huge deal to me... very, very huge.  Don't know why, but it was really hard.  This old, beat up, re-covered heap is the best bassinet ever made.  It folds up and travels great, it rolls wherever you need it to go (closet naps), and it held my babies.  I don't know if I will ever find the umpf to give it away.  I love it!  *sniff

 Hello crib and new room - 

Noel officially kicked Kate out of the "girls room" because of her horrible night time behavior (so, very NOT lady-like, Noel).  Kate now graces the floor of the boy's room.  Repeat to self: this is just a season, just a season!  Soon the girls will be telling secrets and sharing clothes behind that "girl" door.  

I hope they let me in every so often.

sitting

crawling

standing

teething

and sweet...just plain sweet!!