Advent: Week One

Well, week one is done...and it's already Tuesday of week two...here are some memories from our first week of Advent this year.  Enjoy!

This year, I didn't get the beautiful Advent wreath, instead opting for a homemade construction paper wreath we have used in the past with our hand prints as the leaves.  The kids love it.

 The also love decorating Gingerbread houses!!!

A first this year, we let the house dry while we ate dinner...it made decorating so so much easier.  It is so amazing what happens when we follow directions...Ahem...

Daddy even helped this year!  I am not sure his nerves have recovered from all the little beads that scattered the table and floor at one point...but he sure was a trooper and the kids really loved having him help this year!

My little goonies.  Of course I let them eat some!

And I sniffed a bit as I remembered these pictures from 2008 and 2010.

 Next stop...the Santa Train with the Smiths!!  This is our 5th Annual trip!!!!

And the first year Lindsay Jane may remember.  :)

She loved the "ice skating" ring...

Zachie insisted that barefoot was the way to go...

 Lindsay Jane truly enjoyed sliding back and forth...future skater???

She was PUMPED for the train.  She saw it all lit up and was bouncing around, "like Christmas", as they say...

These guys were also excited and so much so, it was just too much to pose for a picture, mom!

Of course there was hot chocolate!

And making of reindeer food!

My three paused for a quick look at mommy.

Silly Connor and Emmie.  These two and their camera poses...

Landon playing shy with Santa???  What???

Connor giving the jolly (pretty authentic) guy a big five.

Connor was so spellbound that he could not remember what he wanted...

Zachary was just precious looking at Santa in sheer wonder.  It was priceless.

Ron and Helen joined us again for the 2nd year in a row!  It was so wonderful having them join in the fun as well.  ;)

These two started it all...5 years ago...so hard to believe Janise and I took just the two of them when they were three...and now, they are 8!

This was one of my favorites...back in 2010.

I love this little one so much.  What a gift she is, the sweetest little thing.  She snuggled close between Janise and I and I got a picture with my girl...thanks to Janise!

Of course, Rudolph noses!

Daddy arrived late this year due to traffic, missing the train.  :(  Lindsay Jane was pretty much attached to him once she saw him when the train stopped.  A girl and her daddy...nothing like it.

Our family photos...always a treat...

Beautiful princesses!!

Landon admiring himself, all "grinched up" for the night...

Grinch, Princess, Gingerbread man, Princess...all posing for a picture.  How precious...how big!

I love this...all checking themselves out in the mirror. ;)

 Mom, do we have to leave???  I just got another cup of hot cocoa???

 So this picture is from when Stan and I went out to our dear friends' Christmas party, the night after we hosted Stan's work party at our house!  It went really well and everyone was so kind...considering I found out we were hosting on Tuesday...but, it all came together.  Kay kept the boys, Katie and Tori kept LJ for a princess party, Stan's co-workers were awesome, as usual...and I think I should now buy stock in magic erasers...

Gingerbread man decorating time!

Lindsay Jane was ecstatic that these were her Pop and Mommom.  So cute.

She was more than happy to pose several times for this picture...

And this is her Nanny.

Lindsay Jane is so sweet.  She wanted to make her grandparents before we even made our family of Gingerbread people.  It was such a fun time and I am so delighted to still have a little baker and cookie decorator in the house...

The whole family...

After she finished helping with the cookies, she went outside for some quick romping around with her BFF Rachel.  Then, the two sweet girls came to my front door, knocking, asking if LJ could show her the tree.  How could I say no?

She then decided it was time to play pediatric nurse practitioner...thanks to Tori and Katie who surprised her with an early Christmas gift that I LOVE!!  And so does she!

Then...it was time to eat the Gingerbread men...after dinner, of course...

Always a treat to do these family traditions with my littles.  This year we added a fun outing.  After the kids finished their cookies, we loaded everyone in the car in their pajamas with mugs of hot cocoa and went to go see neighborhood Christmas lights.  The kids loved it and Connor very excitedly exclaimed, "Wow, these people are BIG fans of Christmas."

That got us talking about Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas.  Tied with our Jesse tree and the teachings of our Advent wreath at church and at home, the weaving of the truth of Christmas is setting in my kids' hearts.  As I pause and reflect on the fun traditions, I also reflect on the lights that live in this house, the lights of God's love that remind me every day of the simple truth that God is real and he is alive.  May we all take time to pause, even in the middle of crazy Christmas light shows to let Christ shine, let his story shine and let our lives be a reflection of his vast and deep love.

Happy first week of Advent!!