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Advent
Advent is a season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
I love that word expectant. Oftentimes we are willing to wait, and wait, and wait, and we deal with the waiting by staying busy and not thinking about the fact we are waiting for something.
Advent is different. This is a waiting with expectation. That expectation is what makes the waiting exciting. That expectation is what keeps our focus on Christ in the midst of a long season of silence.
So I have tried to instill that expectation, that excitement of what is to come, in my kids this Christmas season. This preschool advent book is helping us in the process.
Every night we are reading and talking about the stories leading up to Christ’s birth. They make an ornament over the story as we discuss. They are always so curious about what the ornament is going to be and excited to sit and make something for our tree.
Every year we try different advent ideas, and this year’s has been my favorite so far. All three kids truly are waiting with expectation for the story and ornament making craft at night.
They’ve even enjoyed acting out a scene or two
The point is, waiting with expectation is fun. In the past I’ve tried to hard to make things serious and prepare their little hearts for more than they could ever possibly understand. This year, I’m focusing on learning to wait with expectation for the incredible things God is about to do.
Christmas Concerts
In an effort to document this Christmas, I will be blog happy for the next couple days. The last few weeks have been full of fun that I don’t want to forget!
Activity #1: Preschool Christmas Concert
Although I’m homeschooling Avery for Kindergarten, the Learning Center has a great Bridge class for older kids that Avery participates in a few days a week. This arrangement of going to the Learning Center a few days a week and homeschooling her the other days has been such a fabulous experience this year. Plus, it means we only have to go to one Christmas concert. Win, Win =)
The girls’ teachers were awesome and rearranged the kids so our girls stood next to each other. I loved it because I could get both girls in the same picture. Avery didn’t like it because she said Elliana kept tickling her between the songs.
On the drive to the church before the concert, Elliana said, “mom, I’m not sure what to feel.” When I asked her what she meant she said, “I think I’m really nervous. This is the first time I’ve ever sung on stage.”
At the end of the concert, I asked her how she felt and she responded, “My favorite part was when everyone cheered for me.” Love that she thinks the applause was just for her!
This may have been my favorite concert to date. Watching both girls sing their hearts out and have a blast on that stage was priceless.
Our Attempt
We attempted to decorate a Gingerbread House tonight
There was a little someone who couldn’t quite grasp why we would glue candy to a house and not just eat the candy.
Pretty sure he ate his fair share of what should have been on the house
Fortunately, my artsy child came through and had a plan and a vision for the house and the willingness to not eat all the decorations.
Thanks to her determination, we finished with this
Beautiful, right?! =)
Too Cute Not to Share
Tonight the little man was insistant that since daddy wasn’t home, Justus needed to lead family worship. It was just too cute not to share.
If you’ve ever been around my husband, you’ll understand why this is just precious. Justus imitates Brent’s legs, hands, voice, even the way he strums the guitar. A little intimidating seeing a picture of how closely the kids watch us and imitate what we do!
Another First
I guess the whole Kindergarten year is full of firsts. First time reading, first time tying her shoes, first loose tooth, and now her first piano recital! This post probably only interests the grandparents and this proud momma, but here is our little Avery at her first piano recital over Thanksgiving break.
If you notice it was a very small recital! The advantages of teaching her myself. The recital was only a few minutes long =)
She also attempted to play her first duet with Nana. Pretty fun!
