Advent

Christmas is my VERY FAVORITE time of year. We've started some fun new things this year as Görnandt family traditions. The kids (and we) get a lot of exposure to the "not real meaning" of Christmas, and it's been fun to think of ways to get the focus back on Christmas being about Jesus - His birthday. Don't get me wrong - I love going CRAZY with the Christmas lights, tree, deco., music, Adventcalendars, Nikolaus shoe cleaning, Santa, reindeer, cookie baking, presents, etc. But that's really not what it is all about. And we don't want us or our kids forgetting that for a second.

So, here's what we've started - and it's just SO SPECIAL!!!

First of all, my sweet Christian cut one of these babies out for us.

We call it our Advent Spiral.

There are 25 candle holes (counting down to Jesus Birthday), and every evening starting December 1st we start our evening routine with one of the kids lighting the candles - each day a new candle - and the children taking turns.

Then we eat supper together and enjoy the candles flickering beside us in the kitchen. After supper we stay put at the dinner table and have our Bible time. From December 1 through December 25 we're doing a "Jesse Tree" - each evening reading and talking about a story from the Bible that prophesies or tells something about the lineage of Jesus. Then the kids each color an identical ornament that has a symbol that pictures the story we heard. I downloaded these for free here. Then we tape them back-to-back together and the kids take turns hanging them on our tree branch we have hanging in the kitchen window. 

Then we sing some Christmas songs together (songs the children are working on for their church Christmas program) and practice Martin's lines for the program. Then we pray together, and whoevers turn it is blows out the candles.

SO. On to the "not real meaning of Christmas" fun that we enjoy as a family! :)

Christmas baking. Although talking Martin into eating those cookies he spent so much time on... Well, it just breaks his little heart. Hahaha. Oh, but I was so excited when I stumbled across the Nativity in cookie cutters - so cute - although it is a little disconcerting eating the manger containing baby cookies. ;)

In the evening of Dec. 5th all of the little German children get their shoes and clean them. Then they put them by the front door for St. Nikolaus to fill in the night. 

Neighbors and the Aschara Görnandts had sent lots of goodies with St. Nikolaus for Martin and Olivia's shoes. Here's their spontaneous happy dance. ;)

Ah yes, and the ritual Christmas family photo - which turned out surprisingly well considering that Olivia was not interested in smiling for the photographer in the family picture. ;) Thanks Krischa - we love it!

The living room semi-decorated - complete with cute little feet - courtesy of Mr. Martin.

We decorate the American way - pulling out the Christmas stuff the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

We have already enjoyed snow - definitely a must for Christmastime. Ah yes. This was also on Martin's prayer list. So I'm thankful God chose to say yes - he was a happy little boy - complete with SCREAMS of delight the first time he looked out the window to a light dusting of white. #scaredmetodeath

This is Martin's snowman. He was a LITTLE hindered in the building of it due to cute little puppies bouncing all over it during the building process. So call me biased, but I think it is an excellent snowman. Martin requested 3 carrots - one for the snowman's nose, and 2 for him and his Papa to eat. Hahaha.

So Happy Advent to you all. We are delighting in ours - thanking God for His many blessings.