December 6th

Today was fun! Carl hid a letter under each child's pillow last night while they were sleeping.  This morning, they had to find their letter and work together to figure out what surprise Carl had in store for them.

 

Today was also the annual Watkinsville Christmas Parade and the Pennington family Christmas party.  Unfortunately, the weather was yucky!  It was down pouring all morning, but we braved the yucky weather thanks to our big beach umbrella and enjoyed the parade rain and all.

Emily brought along a friend

You can see from Kate's expression that the weather was wet and chilly!  Not ideal for a parade, but it only happens once a year, so the kids didn't want to miss it.

No small down parade is complete without a bunch of tractors.  The first year we attended, we were a bit skeptical of all the tractors that made up the parade.  But, we have grown to love the simple life of our small town and the traditions it has.

Our high school's marching band

Just thought this little bug was cute with a simple Christmas tree tied on top!

Of course it wouldn't be a Christmas parade without Santa himself.

 

December 5th

Carl brought us some treats to share with him while watching a holiday movie while Luke took his afternoon nap.



December 4th

Carl was missing all the fun they have at the North Pole this time of year.  Since there is no snow in Georgia, Carl got creative and made marshmellow snowmen!  He also left a note for the kids to sing Christmas carols, then record themselves singing their favorite one.

Some of our favorites this year.....

Away in the Manager

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Silent Night

The 12 Days of Christmas

On a side note, it is hilarious to hear your younger ones singing their versions of these songs.  Last night I heard Caroline singing about 5 golden ducks...aka 5 golden rings.

December 3rd

Carl hid candy canes in our house for the kids to find.

 

Here's a look at our sweet new friends....the kindness elves

 

"O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful, and sure."

Isaiah 25:1

 



December 2nd

 

 

 

 

 

Carl and the kindness elves were waiting for us in our car!  They got to ride along to bible study this morning and then had a restful afternoon.

This afternoon, the girls spent time painting a nativity that my mom bought for them.  They loved it and were very careful to paint them to match the pictures on the box.

 

"Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; Preserve my life according to your word."

Psalm 119:35-37

 

 

 



December 1st

My kids having been asking about our beloved elf Carl for weeks!  Today his long anticipated arrival was met with very excited children.  Emily made this card and gift for Carl and left it on the table.

Carl arrived during the night after his long trip home from the North Pole.  He hand carried a note from Santa to introduce our family to two new friends this year.

Carl brought two kindness elves with him along with a calendar of ideas of ways our family can show extra measures of kindness this month.

We are also beginning our advent reading today.  This year we are reading a book called, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift." 

These are two books I borrowed from the library to read during our read aloud time every afternoon.  I am looking forward to the down time while Luke naps and the kids listen/color.

Finally, in an attempt to be more intentional about doing fun holiday related activities with the kids throughout the month, I wrote down an activity for us to do together everyday until Christmas.  Our first activity was to write our letter to Santa.  I found an idea several years ago that I loved because it was so simple and have been trying to implement ever since.  This year, I also found the idea written in letter format to Santa, so we used it as our template.

Our kids will get four presents

Something they want

Something they need

Something to play with

Something to read

 

My hearts desire is to spend time enjoying my children this Christmas season.  While all these activities are fun, meaningful, and create memories, I really want my children to know and embrace the reason we celebrate Christmas.  I want them to imagine that sweet baby boy born in a manager to Mary and Joseph.  I want their heart to love that baby.  I want their life to reflect that baby. 

 

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  And the virgin's name was Mary."

Luke 1:26-27

 

 

 

 

 

 



It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Our tradition is to decorate our Christmas tree the weekend following Thanksgiving.  I love that each of the kids has favorite ornaments that they look forward to finding among the boxes each year and carefully placing on the tree.  With the number of small kids in our house, our tree always is bottom heavy with ornaments!

My sister-in-law captured these precious pictures of the kids each putting their own special touch on our tree this year.  I love them!

 

On Monday, we look forward to starting our advent tradition.  I am reading a devotion that spoke into the meaning of Advent.  It comes from Latin word adventus, meaning arrival or coming.  The Hebrews were expectantly waiting for the Messiah the first Christmas.