It's December already!!! The holiday music is on, our house is decorated and we are loving this season. Thank you for join us to see what we are doing to celebrate advent this year.
On the weekend we set up our advent table. You can read more about that here.
After we set up our table, MJ took most of the items off to use for his farm. TJ got out his cardboard nativity scene he was given a few years ago... MJ became jealous that everyone had a nativity set except him. So I suggested he make one. Isn't his baby Jesus adorable! All the people are toilet rolls and the sheep are egg cartons.
MJ's farm has been out all week and has seen much action. First he had all our nature table decorations on it with rocks and cards. He added some peg people to make a nativity along with many animals. The top right photo is God and Jesus in the clouds that he added in. I just love to hear his stories. I think we need to bring that back to our rhythm.
Our advent activities this week went well. Day 1 was to set up our Christmas tree, Day 2 was to decorate glass ornaments, Day 3 was to make cardboard Christmas trees, Day 4 was to write a letter to Santa and Day 5 was to visit Santa and the Train display.
The boys filled glass ornaments with coloured sand, feathers, paint and glitter. My plan for the trees was to use recycling or paint chips. TJ had a larger tree in mind which we were able to accommodate. Our playroom/homeschool room is the first room you walk into at our house. We set it up this way because it is the most used room. Now it is the only festive area in the house. We have at least 4 Christmas trees in here and a few nativities!
I needed a quick distraction at some point during the week. I remembered I had bought some things for provocations (invitations to play/learn). A very simple geoboard made of a cork board, push pins and elastics has kept the boys enthralled for a few days. I hope to demonstrate a few more ideas to show the to keep the idea going.
I noticed once MJ was playing with his Thomas alphabet cards. He was putting them into his train bucket. When I inquired he showed me that he had put all the cards with train tracks on them into the train bucket. The rest remain in the original box. Later he made a track to play with out of his alphabet cards (only the ones with tracks on them).
Only a few days into the month and our family Christmas tree has lost half of it's decorations. We only have glass balls and a few special ornaments left. MJ has been decorating his small tree with everything he could, including a few new ones that he made.
Oh TJ I love your creative imagination!! He came to us all excited and invited MJ and I to a party he planed in his bedroom. We followed the sign to the party, which was for his pillow! TJ had a special toy area for the babies (our stuffed friends) that were being cared for by another toy. His large frog was helping man the snack area. TJ even made us each a pinata. We played games, sang to his pillow and open gifts which he had wrapped up for the occasion. It was an adorable fun time.
This week the weather was nicer and we were all feeling better. I was thankful for some lovely walks in the forrest. I am looking forward to inviting some friends next week to join us.
At the end of the week we joined one of TJ's friends at the local garden/nature centre. They have a great train display and crafts set up. In the evening you could visit Santa's Cabin at the end of a nicely lit path. The boys wrote a quick note to Santa while they lined up. This is our first year meeting Santa as the boys were not interested before. TJ was more reserved but joined in when he saw how friendly Santa was with MJ. Santa asked what they'd like this year and then asked if he would also bering a few surprises.
MJ's note:
Dear Santa,
I love you. You're the best.
TJ's note:
Dear Santa,
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Next week as more fun planed. Please share what you've been up to......
Oh I love all the Christmassy stuff!
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