Advent

I love "getting into the spirit of things", so I was a little disappointed in myself when I felt like I had left fall pass me by a little.  Not that we did nothing, I just felt like we could have done more.  Luckily, being Catholic presents us with all kinds of other opportunities to celebrate the season.  Our new church year started on Sunday, and with it the Advent season.  I didn't realize until I was gathering everything that we are doing a little bit of everything this year.  We have an advent calendar, the advent wreath, a Jesse Tree (we just did an ornament exchange!) and an advent activity chain.  Whew!  In truth, none of these things is too time intensive, and Anni is at the perfect stage to soak it all up like a little sponge and, as a definite plus, she won't let me forget anything!

The ornament exchange was great annnnnd crazy!  A dozen or so mamas and many, many more kiddos hanging out in our little place eating and picking up their own set of ornaments.  I have to admit, my introverted self was definitely worn out by the end and ready for a break, but it was fun to get to host (and, one of my sweet friends organized it all and everyone else brought food, so I didn't have to do much at all)!       

Here they all are!  We only ended up with one no-show, which is pretty good with 28 sets of ornaments to be made by busy wives and mamas.

We also picked up this Advent calendar this year.  I actually haven't even looked at all of the symbols yet... it's going to be a surprise for me, as well, this year!

We've got our wreath ($5 at my home parish four years ago!  I picked up candles from them again this year since we were in Wichita, buuuuut all four broke when I put them on, so maybe I'll stick with the Hobby Lobby ones next year).  See more wreaths at Catholic Mom!

Last but not least, our Advent Activity Chain.  I picked it up from a lovely fellow blogger while I was in Wichita and it has worked really well with what we're already doing.  

Happy Advent!

Oops, a little update: I realized I hadn't mentioned our nativity set!  Our wise men are traveling from the window-sill and Mary and Joseph are traveling from the piano.