The Beginning of Advent

Our family started the tradition of celebrating Advent last year (read more about it in this post) and since it was a highlight for us, there was little question about us doing it again this year! 

Even though I don't regret starting this tradition, it did remind me that one should always be careful what one starts, for children are good at holding you to it and often remember nitty, gritty details and want to do them, too!

Last year we decorated our little paper milk cartons on the day before Thanksgiving, and that was one thing in particular that the children remembered and thought we should repeat, and so we did! The only difference was that last year Wesley was at a meeting and this year he was home- albeit peeling 10 pounds of potatoes for the next day's festivities- so I think I liked this year's version better!!!

It takes a surprising amount of time to decorate 24 cardboard boxes, but the children stuck with it to the end and kept their creative juices running!

Gavin got into "tractor mode" and began drawing machinery, and then was disappointed when some of them were upside down once the boxes were folded, but all in all everything turned out quite well!

This evening the whole family helped to decorate the mantle for the season, and now it boasts a long line of boxes all full of little goodies and ready to be opened!

Some of the boxes hold candy, and some have other little things (think modeling clay, small stained glass kits for painting, little cars, the occasional personal gift for the one opening the box.)

We are using The Jesus Storybook Bible, just as we did last year, since there is a very nice Advent reading plan for the book, and this year we are also using a book called Joy to the World! An Advent Devotional Journey Through the Songs of Christmas, by Ray Pritchard (it is free for Kindle at the moment if you're interested!) This book has a song for each day and tells the story behind the song. The readings aren't very long or complicated, so even though it may be more for the adults, I think the children can benefit from it, too...especially when we sing the featured song!

Parker, as the youngest, was once again elected for the honor of opening our first box!

This year we are also doing something extra that will not necessarily become a tradition...

I have always thought it would be neat to have a manger scene that the children could play with, so this year (after some research into the matter!) we purchased a Playmobil Nativity Stable with Manger, as well as a set of three wise men and a camel, and we are giving it to the children piece by piece, with the final addition to be baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.

The manger scene was a complete surprise tonight when we gave them the stable part and explained that the rest of it would added each night as we opened the boxes. Needless to say, they were very pleased and I can tell that it is going to be a highlight for the year! Parker immediately got his little miniature Johnny tractor and wagon, and parked it in the stable, apparently thinking that he finally had a barn for his farm equipment!

We never had any Playmobil toys before, but I must say that so far, I am very impressed! The set is durable and there was a lot of  attention given to detail, with quite a few different pieces that will make it fun to play with- hopefully for many years to come!

And with that, another Advent season has begun! My hope for my family and for all of you is that it can be a blessed season of thinking of the birth of Jesus as well as the second coming, for which we still wait.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.