Advent Week #3

We managed to fit most of the activities in this week, even with the busyness.  Jeremy was gone for the first half of the week, so I was flying solo for many of these.  So, here we go…

Day 15 (Monday) – Make homemade pretzels.  Our pretzels did not look like the picture, but no one complained.  They were amazing – especially right out of the oven!  They have a sweet flavor to the dough because of powdered sugar.  Next time, I might up the taste by dipping in butter and cinnamon sugar; but really, they don’t even need it.

Day 16 – Stuff and stamp Christmas cards.  This one was for me to make sure I actually sent my cards before January or February.  It worked!  The side benefit: Madison and Ellie had fun, and I had help putting all the labels and stamps on.  Madison worked on the putting on the address labels. 

    

Ellie worked on putting on the stamps.  Most of these made it on okay, but a few were hanging over the edge.  I think the post office will still accept them.  (Oh, and do you see the pixels where the addresses would otherwise be… I protected the identities of our friends.  Thanks to a super easy to use site – www.photohide.com.  I feel completely tech-y!  Be impressed.)

I was pretty proud of them.  They lasted through at least 60 envelopes!  The letters were mailed by the end of the week; it took awhile to write a little note and assemble them.

Day 17 – Make paper snowflakes to decorate the windows.  Okay, we skipped this one, but we did something way better.  We took the girls to Christian Children’s Home of Ohio.  The youth group was going to wrap presents for all the children CCHO works with.  The girls each paired up with one of the youth to help hold paper or tear of tape.  It was a neat experience for everyone, I think.  The generousity of so many will make for a Christmas where the children at least feel remembered.  I don’t know that presents make you feel loved, but maybe they do that.  It was, I believe, the attempt of those giving to share love in a tangible way. 

Day 18 – Deliver treats to neighbors and friends.  We pulled out the yummy cookies from last week for this one.  We took six plates of cookies to families that we know in the neighborhood.  It took much longer than I anticipated.  I think next year it would be fun to go to only one or two house a night over multiple nights, so that you have time to talk to everyone a little longer. 

Day 19 – Watch a Christmas movie and eat popcorn.  After what felt like many hectic nights, it was nice to be able to just tuck into our own home for this one.  We watched Muppets Christmas, Letters to Santa.  It was a good movie – not too long, and easy to follow.  I think Ellie enjoyed the popcorn as much as the movie… I might have agreed with her. 

Day 20 – Go eat cream sticks at the Das Dutch.  This one we rainchecked for sometime after Christmas.  We just didn’t have time this day.  We planned a service/fundraiser with the youth group to help a man in the church move boxes/items from one office to another.  It took all morning.  The girls were drug along for the ride and never complained once.  Wow!  That night we went to Yoh’s house to meet baby cousin Theo for the first time!  The girls were captivated.  I think Ellie more than Madison.  Theo was very alert (when he was awake), and it was fun to meet the cutie.

Day 21 – Go look at Christmas lights.  This was a big day!  We had church in the morning, as usual.  Then, after naps, we went to Grandma and Papa’s again to be a part of the official Theo party.  Theo took the noise of the party well – not much crying (but maybe not much sleeping either!).  The girls had fun reconnecting with Jeremy’s cousins especially the ones from Texas.  We played Aunt Jane’s version of BINGO – a game where everyone wins and anyone can play.  The girls loved this because they won presents!  Toward the end of the night, Ellie came over and whispered, “Can I hold baby Theo?” in my ear.  She had her chance with permission granted from Jason and NIki.  She did a great job and was so PROUD of herself!

    

    

We left around 8:15.  We stopped by the lights display on Emerson Road before heading home.  They really liked seeing all the character blow ups.  It is a pretty full path of Christmas things. 

Only a few more days left of this calendar.  Then, we move on to birthday parties.  Whew!  I will say (if I haven’t before) that I really enjoyed having a purpose for each day.  It took some planning, but it has been fun.