Advent Garland - Something New

This year Grace is in 8th grade and a lot of Christmas traditions have fallen by the wayside as being too "young" for a teenager to participate. I was doing some research over the past few days and came across a blog that had this idea for an advent garland. Each day has something fun or meaningful to do. I think she might really get in to this one. I included all her favorite things as well as some service for the community. I wish I could remember which blog I got it from and give them credit, sorry. Here is the list of 24 days of activities/service:

• Decorate Christmas cookies and give to a neighbor
• Build a gingerbread house
• Go ice skating
• Ride around and look at Christmas lights
• Get an eggnog milkshake from McDonalds (this is a biggie for us being on Weight Watchers)
• Make a Christmas craft
• Drink Hot Cocoa
• Make a Christmas ornament
• List ten things you are grateful for
• Watch a Christmas movie
• Deliver candy canes with attached scripture to people in town
• Send a card to an elderly friend
• Make a treat with a card to give to the trash man
• Leave a note and a treat for the mail carrier
• Wrap presents for the children's home
• String popcorn for decorating
• Watch The Christmas Story
• Have a special lunch out
• Take a picture in Santa hats
• Paint toenails in Christmas colors
• Make handmade gift tags
• Read the Legend of the Candy Cane
• Make granola bars and give to the pastor's family
• Drink more hot cocoa

Christmas Decorating

Ten years ago when we lived in a large suburb of Atlanta their was no limit to what we decorated. Our home was on a busy corner lot and many cars passed by during the holiday season. Every square inch on the outside of the house and yard was covered in lights and displays. We definitely could have been on the tacky light tour. In another sense though it was great because many a neighbor, etc. would stop if they saw us outside and strike up a conversation with us. Well, fast forward ten years and we are on a gravel road rural road with only 5 homes on the street. No traffic coming through....so we dropped off from the outside decorating business. Also back then we had a larger home and no kidding had 4 Christmas trees that we decorated each year. They were themed trees (Santa, Snowman, Blue and Silver, and Homemade ornaments). It was lots of fun and lots of work. Now we are in a small cabin that will not support 4 trees, we have given away most of the trees to needy families over the years. This year we decided to decorate even more simple with small themed areas and no tree. Can you believe it.....no tree. There is a reason for this - one cat and one ferret. It just wasn't worth the risk. So below I am sharing a few pics of what we accomplished yesterday. We do have an alternative tree that will be going up soon and I will share when it is finished. Completely different than anything we have ever down.

Snowman Lane

A Christmas Village

Santa Central

Advent Garland

Christmas Pic I Forgot to Share

I didn't take many pictures this Christmas. It seems as each year goes by I take less and less, especially now that the kids are getting older. My dad commissioned Scott to paint the above painting for my mom for Christmas. Mom loves folk art and dad wanted something to represent the family. So Scott painted our own version of the family tree with each family member represented by a different breed of chicken. Needless to say it is hanging in my mom's kitchen and she loves it.

Travis and my niece Danielle. They were born three months apart and both turned 21 this year. So proud of both of them.

Grace and Travis. These days it is hard to get a picture with both of them in it.

Opening presents at mom and dad's house.

Advent Tree

Eight years ago my sister bought this for me for Christmas from QVC. Now it is a treasured Christmas tradition. The cabinet contains 24 small compartparts that hold 24 little ornaments. Each day starting on December 1st Grace opens a door and pulls out an ornament to hang on the tiny tree. On the 24th, Christmas Eve, there is a glass star to put on the top.