Makinzee asked in my last advent post if the advent was a struggle or if I was enjoying it. The answer is, both! I love it, but it is one more thing on the plate and some days I am amazed when we actually make it happen. But this season is so busy and I am afraid that without the advent I might let it get away from me completely and later regret not making more time for holiday fun. I always wish I had planned further in advance though so that the kids could do more service. I would love to make it more about reaching out.
Anyway, on to...
Day 14- Special Delivery
The kids received video e-mails from Santa. You know I am anti-Santa, but when my sister sent me the messages her kids got, I knew I had to do it. They are customized with your kids pictures and highlights from the year. So cute. They only took about 5 minutes to make and it was free, so it made for a super easy advent day. I wish I knew how to get them to post here, but since I don't, just go make your own here. Your kids will flip!
My inbox
Alex was so nervous, but all 3 made the nice list. Phew!
Alyssa clammed up for the camera, but she was screaming...Santa is real. Santa is real. I have told her about Santa, but I think she will choose to believe forever.
This day I planned to make a snowflake craft and six sided snowflakes, which my niece Aspen taught me how to make, but then I remembered that Chloe had her preschool Christmas program that night. I have always had them wear Christmas clothes for the program. Of course I hadn't bought any yet, so I dropped Chloe off at school and hightailed it to Gymboree. They had exactly two pairs of Christmas tights left, thankfully in my girls sizes. Most of the Christmas stuff was gone, but I went picking through the Clearance racks and found this season's leftovers. Alex usually hates church clothes so he got a sweater and a dinosaur shirt, to soften the blow, but strangely enough, he really likes his Christmas sweater this year. Maybe because I paired it with a grey thermal rather than a collared shirt. They all love their new outfits. Alyssa wants to wear hers every day. So once again, Gymboree saved the day.
We were running out the door, so I will get more pictures later, but here is a look at the goods. I was so happy that we could use the red first day of school boots again.
Kayleigh and Chloe after the program. Chloe was my first kid to actually perform in the program. You may remember Alex's preschool program where he yelled I love you mommy through the whole thing. Alyssa's program predates blogging, but she sat on the teachers lap and cried through the whole thing. Chloe sang, and danced and checked out the boy next to her.
We dragged the mattresses out by the tree, ordered cheese pizza, and watched Home Alone. There are a few swear words, so just use your strategy of choice to muffle them, jump up and scream, bark like a dog, hit mute, whatever works for you.
I like how Chloe has spotted the camera and posed, while Alyssa and Alex seem to be having totally different reactions to whatever was happening in the movie.
This year the Grinch made our ornaments and hung them on the tree for us to find. I wanted something more suited to us than the usual 5 personalized reindeer, or frogs, or whatever... I actually wanted the Racing Sausages, but couldn't find them anywhere so I just printed them and ModPodged them on to a piece of wood. It came out pretty cheesy and I wish I had put more effort into it, but I love the photo ornament I made. I got the idea on Pinterest. The one I saw was black and white and kind of frilly, but mega cute. I did decide to do mine in color though and tone down the bows. Easy as pie and it makes me smile every time I look at it.
Even more exciting than what the Grinch left on Saturday, was the SNOW that was falling when the kids woke up. They barely saw the ornaments, because they were suiting up to go play. It didn't even completely cover the grass, and it didn't stay long, but they were so happy to be out in the first snow of the year.
There are two activities from last year's advent that have been heavily requested for a repeat this year. The kids were starting to worry that these two activities might not happen this year, but we took care of one of them yesterday. I am not sure why they love the Polar Express movie night so much, but I won't complain because it is a snap to put together, since I have the tickets and hot chocolate labels saved on my computer from years past.
While they watch, I sit behind them and "punch" their tickets.
Can was Alex's word, and he understood why right away. Alex can be very self deprecating. I hesitate to even correct him because he will tell me he did whatever he did wrong because he is stupid and he hates himself. It kills me! But this year he is learning a Yes, I CAN attitude. As you know, I hugely credit taekwondo, but he is learning to say I CAN, and BEING ME IS AWESOME in every aspect of his life and I love seeing him start to believe in who he is.
Love was Alyssa's word, and as soon as I handed it to her she got glossy eyed and ran and jumped into my arms, before I even said a word about why. Alyssa has a beautiful, sensitive heart. She hugs me about a million times a day. She says thank you for everything I do for her. And she is totally emotionally connected to the world. She fell apart the other day when she saw a video with starving children. She was devastated and she prays for them. We tease her for crying a lot (every day of her whole life so far) but she has a heart that knows how to love.
Here they are with their tickets and their bells.
5 comments:
I'm glad to hear it's both! Last minute Christmas clothes are darling...And love the personalization on Polar Express. Two movies we still need to see this year, we watched "It's a Wonderful lif" last night and the kids really enjoyed it. I was surprised since it was in black and white and I never really bothered to watch it until recently!
I'm glad to hear it's both too. It is for me. I plan so many fun things but there are days this year where we have skipped advent (gasp!) and doubled up the next night because we just couldn't do one more thing. I want it to stay joyful and not too stressful or what is the point.
Thanks for the link to that video. I still need to do that.
Love their Christmas outfits and that Chloe was rocking it. That girl has star power.
Your ornaments are great. They all turned out cute and that racing sausage one is hilarious.
And I am so glad to see your Polar Express night again. We did that Saturday night and while I didn't do it as cute as you did, it was so much fun. The girls really liked the movie. Maddy's word was Joy too!!
More fun activities! I did the Santa videos, too, but we've been so busy I haven't had a chance to show them to the girls. Those are super cute though and will definitely capture the attention of even the most skeptical of children. We've been watching Christmas movies with the kids, so I guess I could count them as part of our non-existent advent...haha. Can't wait to see what else you come up with.
Can I just say that your kids look so BIG!! When did that happen?
I'm thinking that next year I need to make an advent activity calendar just for me! Walked into Home Depot last night and they were moving all their Christmas decorations into a clearance area. Looked at them and thought, "Wow, when did Christmas start? And now it's over, and I still haven't done ONE Christmas thing (well, maybe one - did go to the ward Christmas breakfast). It's been work late and long all season!
Your activities are absolutely the greatest! I love the memories your family is collecting! If they don't say December is their favorite month of the year, then something is critically wrong with them. Of course, they will say it. Thanks for taking the time to share.
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