Advent

I've been reminded over and over these last few weeks just how precious this season is. I really wanted to share this with my kids. It is SO easy for them to be overwhelmed by toys and Santa and what "I want". These things are fun too, Santa has never been introduced by us, but oh how to kids love to talk about Santa!
I have been thinking about doing this advent calendar for the past 2 years and I finally pulled it together.
Baby socks, lined up each holding a special piece of Jesus precious story.
That is what I envisioned 2 Christmases ago, I finally had enough mismatched or too small socks from all the kids.
I sewed them to a piece of ribbon and hung them in our home.
Dan and I talked and thought about what we wanted in our calendar, our time of waiting, anticipation and preparation of Jesus birth.
We included prophesy about Jesus, beautiful words about who would come to save his people. Then the story of his birth. The angel visiting Mary, her amazing encounter and her Yes to Jesus. Then I decided to include some of the things Jesus brought when He came to this earth. The Hope, glory, love, joy,and peace.
It has been so sweet to snuggle up with the kids and read and talk about our Hope our Jesus. I love starting new traditions, this one has given us time to rest together and remember.

Winter

When I drove Zeke to school today it said it was 24 degrees out!! I wish it was supposed to rain this week instead of next week! We would actually have snow and it might stay on the ground for longer than a day! Zeke keeps asking every morning is there snow yet??? Dan always says I couldn't handle the snowy really cold weather and I think he is right, but when the weather is like this I really love it! I love bundling the kids up and having an excuse to walk around my house in my warm cozy robe all day. I love seeing them play all morning in their footie jammies and building forts with cozy blankets. I think it has to do with the season as well, having Christmas music on and making gingerbread houses, cutting down our tree, the anticipation of the advent calendar! Sofia and Moses have been playing with our manger scene daily, I heard Sofia tell Moses, "mo mo dis Baby Hesus"! I love it! Zeke has enough enthusiasm for the whole family. Two weeks before Thanksgiving he was asking when we could decorate the house, put the lights up! Even after we were done he kept asking what else can we decorate now! So much excitement and joy! It is hard not to get excited as well! I love the traditions I get to start with my family. My mom every year would bake a birthday cake for Jesus, it is a beautiful red cake. She still makes it every year. I can't wait for the kids to recognize our traditions and hold them dear as well.

lights and MORE lights

Last night we drove around Riverside to pass some time in the evening. Evenings are hard, the kids get restless and poor Sofia's gums are killing her, she had a fever yesterday and is just restless and hurting, so we went for a drive. I am not sure if any of you knew but Zeke LOVES lights! We drove through our old neighborhood and there are a ton of lights around there, it was so pretty and Zeke was so excited! His excitement did not waver from the first lights we saw to the last ones as we drove back into the driveway. He was so cute, he would describe each house we past. "Did you see those mama, look at those green, red, candy canes, snowflakes, flashing ones, santa, etc etc. Each time he would shout there is more, and there is more, MORE and MORE!! It was so sweet the way his amazement did not end after the first 10 houses! I was just so blessed by his love and wonder of lights. Something so simple fills him with joy and excitement, it made me cry a little, just because I do that, and it is Christmas and things are changing and hard. But it was a good cry because there was so much joy in the car! Sofia didn't cry until the end when she was so tired and feverish, but the whole time I think she just watched Zeke! Yay for simple pleasures like Christmas lights!