More Advent-y Adventures

My wonderful DH put up Christmas lights this year! I've been dying to have some of the multicolored icicle-style lights for years. DH was unmoved. But I mentioned that Red had been asking about our house having lights and that got'er done. DH bought the LED style lights. They look different than the incandesent lights because they are more "white" so the red and yellow/orange aren't as red and yellow/orangey. Truthfully, I would have preferred the old style lights but I am thrilled in any case that we now have the lights! DH also wrapped the post on our front porch with red and white stranded lights for a candy cane effect. Plus he finally put out the little lighted train yard decoration that I got on clearance years ago. The boyos are so excited!

This weekend we were really busy. Aside from the excitment of the lights we:

• had photos of the four Littles in the family. Three were very cute and cooperative. One was not (Tig!).
• Had coffee with Jampa and a quick run to Michaels for an angel stamp.
• Picked Magpie up at rehearsal and took her along to a work Christmas party.
• went to JoAnn's with Magpie to buy fabric for superhero capes for the boyos but forgot to get grommets from the planned jack bags.
• put up the Christmas tree and yard decorations at MaaMaa and Jampa's.
• made two trips to the local mega-mart.
• watched the evening Christmas parade.
• went to Red's Christmas pageant at church (complete madhouse!)
• put up our Christmas tree and decorations (I had completely underestimated the THRILL of putting up a tree when you are 3 and 5 years old.)
• lit the second candle on our Advent wreath!
• dressed the boys in their jammy's after dinner last night and went driving around to look at Christmas lights.
• had a visit from St. Nicholas and Black Peter this morning. Red and Tig discovered little Christmas bags with a robot ornament and a chocolate Santa in their shoes this morning.

I felt a little frenetic Saturday due to all the errands/driving around (and around and around) and then yesterday the excitement level was super high beginning at 6:30 am when Tig woke me. I took both excited boyos to Mass and Tig was awful! We had to move out of the church proper before the Eucharist even started and Tig continued to misbehave. I finally gave up and we left to go home for a quick lunch and nap. Tig obviously needed a nap as he did not demure at all and climbed into bed and laid himself down without any discussion. Maybe he was too tired/wound up to behave at Mass? Red did well at the Christmas pageant and my kinders jingled their jingle bells with gusto! I must admit, I was on my last nerve by the time we got home. *I* was overloaded by that point and I still had all the laundry to finish!

Still, I am so happy that we've kept up with our Advent celebrations. The boyos are having a good time and DH and I are still speaking to each other!

Advent!

We are excitedly celebrating Advent this year. We've got our wreath, that we light before dinner each night with prayers. And back again is our cookie bowl count down Advent calendar. This year Tig got to go first! The boyos were very excited. We also have the chocolate Advent calendars-they tried to convince me last night that they could open as many windows as they wanted. It's good for them to learn how to delay gratification, isn't it?

Of course, Advent really started Sunday at Mass. It was fun to remind Red to look and see what was different at church. The first thing he noticed was that it was dark-they kept the lights low until the Mass had begun. He also noticed the big Advent wreath, the purple hangings and the new purple vestments that Father wore. He was very excited to get home to light our wreath!

Catching up

Well, I kinda lost my steam after November but I finally got it in gear for Christmas. The first thing I have to show isn't made by me-one of my staff made it for the Library. She did a really nice job. She actually made two of them and then made ribbons out of old book tape that she spray painted gold. V.v. nice.

Next up I made two Christmas ornmaments for exchanges. In case you can't tell, they are gondolas. One was for the Maud-L exchange and the other was an online crafters exchange. I will try to add a pic of the ornament I received from Melaine also.

I made two little brother waldorf dolls for the boyos-they had clothing by the time Christmas came. I also made two little ticker tape quilts for them.

I also made this Advent Calendar out of a panel I found. The panel wasn't printed straight (big surprise) but DH helped me ease it so that it isn't as noticeable.

I also made a Christmas CD case cover (need to add a pic). And, most importantly of all, after knitting my hands to the bone I finished the two Christmas sweaters for the boyos. They are reversible and Red loved changing his around. The pattern was from Tricoter Calin (Phildar) and I swear that I will translate the pattern in its entirety before I knit another French pattern. Je le jure!