Christmas Countdown: Days 9-13

Day 9: Walk Through Bethlehem

This is by far one of my favorite events of the year! And it is absolutely AMAZING that this church puts this event on for free, as a gift to the community! And there is really NO WAY to capture it in pictures. I love watching Sophi experience the scene as The Light of the World is born!

 This was an authentic scroll given from a local messianic synagogue to be used in the "Temple."

 Making clay pots!

 Petting the miniature pony, the most popular of all the animals... of course!

 Getting an up-close look at the camel!

 We finally made it through Bethlehem to see this baby king that everyone was telling us about!

 Checking out the wisemen who brought the baby gifts!

 

Our Walk through Bethlehem ornament to remind us of the reason for our celebrating this special time of year.

Day 10: Shop for Maddie and Daddy

This was a difficult one. Let's just say we had a meltdown in Target not once, but twice as we learned the importance of giving, RATHER than receiving. I know this is a hard concept to learn, especially at age 3, and while we haven't said a thing to Sophi about lists or what she wants, she has gathered from the world around her that this season can be focused on getting. I pray each day that God gives me the tools to fight back against the world's selfish ways so I can teach my daughter, just as my parents taught me, how much more joyous and life-giving it can be to GIVE than to receive. 

Day 11: RAK - Give treats to our Preschool Teachers

As I mentioned in my last post, Sophi made and painted salt dough ornaments last week. She picked one out for each of her preschool teachers and we wrapped it along with some homemade muffins. This was a way for Sophi and I both to say "Thank You" to these special women who love on sweet Sophi two days a week and teach her how to love and serve God!

Day 12: Christmas Craft: Cinnamon Ornaments

These were a little more difficult than the salt dough ornaments and/or this craft hit me on a day when I had a bit less patience. Either way, we had fun and they smell fabulous!

 

Day 13: Unwrap a new Christmas Book

Ok, let me just say this is my new FAVORITE Christmas book! It is by the same author of The Jesus Story Book Bible, which I mentioned before that we LOVE! The pictures are fabulous in this book and the story makes me teary every

time I read it!

On a side note, Maddie is on the move! Check out her unconventional snake crawl:

A little crazy but this is literally how she gets everywhere! She is also pulling up and I had this experience for the first time during rest time today:

Christmas Countdown: Days 4-8

Day 4: Unwrap a New Christmas book

We are enjoying growing our Christmas book collection and both of these were a great addition!

Day 5: Random Acts of Kindness: Take treats and Thank you note to Dr. Godfrey

We love our pediatrician and he has done SO much for us this year. We thought this would be a great way to show our appreciation to him for how he serves our family. Sophi helped me make the muffins and write him a sweet card.

We also decided on this day to leave a surprise note on daddy's door at work telling him how much we love him (since it was on the way to the Dr.). Sophi had so much fun being sneaky! The secretary's at Daddy's office always give Sophi candy whenever we visit so she thought it would be a good idea to give them candy canes too!

Through out the week Mary and Joseph have been making their journey to Bethlehem and getting into a bit of trouble along the way:

 I put baby Jesus from Sophi's nativity away until Christmas day so we can anxiously anticipate his arrival. I love that I found Mary and Joseph like this one day, obviously Sophi thinks they need jesus now!

Day 6: RAK - Give treats to the Trash-man and Mailman

In our pursuit to give to others I wanted to remember those who do things for our family on a daily basis who can so easily be overlooked.  Sophi had fun making them notes and taping them to the trash can and mailbox. It was fun to come home after school and find the treats gone, hoping they brought a smile to these each of these men on this dreary day!

Day 7: Slumber Party under the Christmas Tree

Sophi got to open up a new Christmas movie, Charlie Brown, that morning. In an effort to teach the anticipation and waiting that comes with the advent season we had to wait until that evening at bedtime to watch it. We all enjoyed snuggling under the Christmas tree and watching as a family!

An extra fun craft we did this week was to make salt dough ornaments. This was my first attempt at them and while I still have a bit to learn Sophi had so much fun cutting them out and painting them after they were done. 

 Day 8: Christmas Craft - Make Snow Play dough

This was a quick easy craft that will last us through the season and beyond. We added glitter and peppermint extract to make it "Snow" dough!

I feel I must mention that my intent in sharing our Christmas Countdown is not to brag or gloat but instead to encourage you during this season of Advent. I am not creative of my own accord so I am always in search of great, creative ideas from other moms to help make this season more meaningful, fun and Christ centered for our family. I pray the things our family does will encourage you and yours to find Christ as well as the excitement and joy that comes with this special season!

"I bring wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord!

Luke 2:10-11

It's Here!! Advent is here!!

It's Here, its here!! My favorite time of year is here! 

The Advent season is upon us! The trees are up, 

stockings are hung and our Christmas countdown has begun. 

DAY 1: Go to the Annual Christmas Breakfast at Otter Creek

We love this tradition to gather as a church family and celebrate this exciting time of year. There was lots of yummy food, making crafts and so much more!

DAY 2: Set out our nativity scene, advent wreath and candles

We love pulling these out of the box and beginning the season by telling the amazing story of God's awesome love for us in the gift of His son. 

We light the candles each night at dinner and begin our journey through scripture as we anxiously await the arrival of Christ the Lord. 

I found a really great advent readings schedule using the 

Jesus Storybook Bible (our absolute favorite!!). 

We also started a new tradition this year, The Candy Cane Challenge. We read the book, The Legend of the Candy Cane telling the wonderful story of the meaning behind this special Christmas candy. Then we took the challenge as a family to see how many candy canes we could give to others during the month of december. We can give them to people who mean a lot to us, to people who do a lot for us (like the mail man/trash man), and even to people we do not know at all, simply to make them smile. I found the idea here and printed off these cute little tags to go with them:

Sophi is really excited about this and has already given quite a few away, included one to the women at Target checking us out yesterday. It was so neat to see her reaction as my little girl handed her candy cane, overjoyed that someone would think of her. 

Mary and Joseph also began their journey to Bethelehem on this day. This is where they ended up the following morning...

 ... in need of a some refreshment already!

DAY 3: Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) - 

Buy a toy for a girl in need

Sophi's class at school are giving toys to boys and girls who don't have as much as we do. Sophi was asked to send in one toy for a little girl her age. We went to the store and Sophi picked out these items all on her own.

 This is one of my favorite parts about our countdown this year, seeing my 3 year old little girl grow an awareness for others and a passion for giving just as God gave so generously to us!

We are so looking forward to each new day of this Advent season as we anxiously anticipate the arrival of our Lord!

 "I bring wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord!

Luke 2:10-11

7 Months for Maddie

I can't believe Maddie is 7 months old! Time is moving way to fast for this Momma! Check out our cutie pie:

 This guy again?!

Take that!

And that!

What Mom? How can you say No to these eyes?!

Oh all right, Sorry little Bear!

This was another rough month for our sweet baby girl. After a week being ear infection free our house was infected with the cold and we were back to infected ears. Josh and I decided it was time to put tubes in her ears. 

Sick baby girl was such a sweet cuddlier.

The surgery was a success, she had active infections in both ears that they were able to clean out along with all the fluid built up inside. She has been one super happy baby since then. She immediately went back to sleeping through the night which we are VERY grateful for and you can tell simply from her eyes she is so much better.

This past month Maddie has started blowing raspberries ALL the time! Of course wtih that comes lots of drool!

We are discovering that our Maddie LOVES to bang on anything and loves to bang things together as well. Maybe we have a drummer in our future, who know?!

She still LOVES her sister and Sophi is really starting to warm up to her too! Sophi is the only one that can ALWAYS make Maddie laugh. I pray that a sweet friendship is in their future!

She now eats table food, pretty much anything we are eating and LOVES it. If you are near her while eating or drinking be sure she is going to ask for some! This girl LOVES to eat. 

She enjoyed her first Halloween despite being sick and was a sweet side kick cow to sister Jessie!

Her biggest change this month is her ability to move. She finally decided she was ready to roll over, did it once and hasn't stopped since. She also has started rocking on her knees, both from sitting or from her tummy. She can also stand and hold on to something for several minutes at a time.

Since having her tubes put in she is even more loud and verbal than before. While she doesn't say "Mama" or "Dada" yet if you ask her where Mama is she will look at me or if asked where dada or Sophi are she will look for them too!

During this season of thankfulness we are reminded of how thankful we are for this precious little miracle God gave to our family! We love our little Maddie Cadabby!