Christmas Happenings

This time of year, especially this year for some reason, I feel paralyzed.  There is so much I want to do (like knit and sew and create gifts) and so much I need to do (like pay bills, do laundry and clean the bathrooms) that I end up doing nothing.  Except peruse Pinterest.

We have however, been trying to get in the Christmas spirit.  The Saturday after Thanksgiving we always go Christmas tree cutting at Pea Ridge Christmas Tree Farm.  The families we go with have been going together for over 25 years.  Now there is a whole new generation of tree cutters in on the fun.

Sharing her hot chocolate

It was a rainy wet day which made for the fastest tree choosing in history.  Here is a photo of the tree after the kids decorated it (note to self: remind them not to hang ornaments on the garland and lights!)

After a little rearranging the tree looks great.  We love it!  The kids really love that we have the lights on a 'clapper'.  They go around clapping all day long to get the lights to turn on and off.  Cheap entertainment!!

This year I made an Advent Calendar.  A countdown of sorts to Christmas to celebrate the arrival of Jesus as the Savior baby.

My calendar kind of wavers between cute and tacky, but it works and we like it.  Each day we remove a card with an activity on it.  Something to do together as a family.  Sometimes a special snack, an act of kindness to a stranger (or even someone we know), a craft or an outing.  The kids look forward to reading the card after Ahren gets home from school every day.  I love having more purposeful activities to do together.

What are you doing to get ready for Christmas?