The first thing we get out each Christmas are the Advent calendars. Cade was very careful with his this year and he remembered to move one piece each night. Annie re-decorated hers almost every day, and after a mysterious missing piece last year, we now have a complete calendar (we may have moved a wiseman from another craft project and given him a sudden career change to shepherd).
Decorating trees (big and small) is also so fun each year. I love the joy on the kids' faces as they look through their ornaments, and they especially loved having more freedom to decorate exactly how they wanted since I didn't have much use of my right arm at the beginning of December. Things weren't placed exactly where I would have put them, we had no garland on the tree, and the kids convinced us to get a tree with multi-colored lights instead of the elegant white ones I would have chosen. And you know what? I think our tree is fantastic.
I refuse to acknowledge anything related to Christmas before Thanksgiving, but once the turkey and green bean casserole is eaten, I'm ready for the red and green festivities! My family has gone to Santa's Wonderland every year since 1998, and we had a wonderful time visiting the Sunday after Thanksgiving this year. This is the first time that Chance's team has STILL been playing football at this point in the year, so it was a little hard to go without Daddy, but Oma and Opa helped me take great care of Cade and Annie. I love the signs that lead you into the park, so we always take pictures with those. The visit with Santa wasn't quite as traumatic this year, and the snowfall and the hayride were highlights, as always. This really is a magical place.
Two special events at our church also help us get ready for Christmas - the Weekday School Christmas program and the Living Nativity. Annie was so happy to have such a big cheering section at her program and she sang her little heart out. She was also a last-minute addition to the angel choir at the Living Nativity... we must pay better attention to activities for outgoing preschool kids next year!
It's good to be a German on December 5! St. Nick fills our stockings with little treats each year, and I like sharing traditions from my childhood with the kids. St. Nick thought he was pretty funny by bringing me Advil and Chance some coffee this year, but I actually got a new ornament for the tree.
And we are ready for Christmas!
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