Advent Chain Day 7--Make peppermint milkshakes

Take a few scoops of vanilla frozen yogurt, add some crushed candy canes and a splash of milk, whirl it up in the food processor (because the mixer is so far out of reach for lack of use) and enjoy!! Don't forget to include Raggedy Ann.









Unfortunately, this post is late because we have just gotten home from the doctor...again. The Noodle has had this persistent cough since the middle of October. We've seen the doc 4 different times and she's been on 2 different antibiotics but nothing seems to be shaking it. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to be slowing her down too much, but still. After doing a breathing treatment in the office, we were sent home with yet another antibiotic and a breathing treatment machine with a follow-up appointment for Friday. Let's get those lungs healthy and free of junk!! Last year we had only 1 trip to the doctor. Can't say the same thing about this year :(

Day 6--Make pinecone birdfeeders

Today I was gone most of the morning and afternoon on a holiday home tour. That left J and the Noodle some serious bonding time. They made the most of it by taking on Day 6's activity--using peanut butter on a pinecone to make birdfeeders. There was about enough peanut butter to make 2 birdfeeders, but isn't it amazing how that birdseed keeps multiplying and gets just about everywhere? He gets extra kisses from me for taking on this activity all by himself!! So what that a little peanut butter was licked off of the pinecone or that some birdseed was sampled...lots of memories were made and that is what is important!

Day 5--Make hot cocoa and crank up the Christmas tunes!

I'm sure your town is like ours...there's that one station that starts playing Christmas music on Thanksgiving straight through until Christmas day. Generally, they choose more of the "Feliz Navidad" and Chipmunks versions than traditional caroles. No matter, for a small period of time it is easy to bask in the glow of the season and then you suddenly realize you're tapping right along with Alvin, Simon and Theodore. This afternoon, I was able to drag J away from the basement where he was feverishly working on "presents". We found the cocoa, the mini-marshmallows and enjoyed being together. The Noodle didn't seem to mind the music selection--ha ha!






**She had about one sip and then said "too hot!!!" and refused to drink anymore, even after it was put in the freezer...sometimes there is just no reasoning with a little one!

***While I am posting, this is what is happening outside in the hallway--they are taking down the gate by the stairs

Day 4--color Christmas cards for family and 1 year blog anniversary!

It is hard to believe that I started this blog one year ago today. While it celebrates a one year birthday, I celebrate a slightly older one. To celebrate, J and I went to a meeting for the Noodle and then went out to Christmas and birthday shop for her. Afterwards we hit St*rbucks and then went back to the mall to look for J (so much easier without someone saying "All Done!" every 5 seconds!). Then it was onto dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, before we came home for cake and presents. Grandma and Grandpa were holding down the homefront while we were out gallivanting about. While we both missed the Noodle and her antics, it certainly was nice to have a date afternoon/evening!

The highlight of our Advent activity for today was the Christmas stickers. Boy did she ever enjoy picking out the stickers and decorating the cards. Apparently putting smaller stickers over the faces of the larger ones is really fun! Who knew?

Day 3--Set up the creche

We had been given the L*ttle P*ople Nativity scene last year as a shower gift. At the end of the season a good friend gave us the Inn at Bethlehem to add to the scene.

While last year The Noodle would look at it and pick up the figures, she was much more interested in it this year. We had a good time getting out each piece, talking about it and then placing it in the scene. Once we had it all set up, she really got into playing with it and stayed at it for at least 20 minutes (most of that time I was cooking dinner and not even playing with her!). She quickly realized that if you press the angel down, the star will light up and it will play "Away in a Manger"...note to self: must remember to take out those batteries! While we've read about the Christmas story in her bible, I know this will really help her to start understanding and making connections.


Let's have a tea party too--everyone is invited.
***We traveled with this family last September when they went and picked up their daughter. They are currently heading back to China to pick up their 2 , yes you read that correctly, 2 sons. We wish them safe travels and smooth transitions. It has been a roller coaster ride for them to get to this point!! Godspeed.

Day 2--Buy and pack up presents for Isaiah's Tree

So many choices!
Deciding on the bag...Thomas it is.
Ohhh Pooh Bear toothbrushes!
Yes, he'll like this Tigger one.
The fun of packing the bag.

In goes the toothbrush.
Ta Da!

Each year at Christmas, our church helps to "sponsor" a church in a more needy part of our city. A tree goes up in the Narthex with ornaments stating: man, woman, toddler, baby, female teen, male teen, etc., and you just take the ornament(s) you feel led to take. Typically I buy a bag/backpack and then fill it with mainly practical gifts but throw in some fun things too. Who wants a Christmas package filled only with socks and underwear?!

This year, I decided to take a "male" ornament and a "toddler" one. I thought it would be a good opportunity to start showing the Noodle that Christmas is really about giving to others. Being every the pragmatist, however, I figured that we'd better buy for a boy toddler, just to leave no doubt that these goodies weren't for her. We hit T*rget this morning and spent quite a bit of time checking items off our list. The plan is that after she wakes up, we'll fill the bag for the little boy. As far as the male gift goes, I have been meeting with a group of women from church, once a month, to do a little sewing, specifically focusing on messenger bags for this very purpose. We got this idea last March, but with only meeting a few hours one time a month and some months not at all, we don't have quite as many bags as we'd hoped for. Oh well, some are better than none. I'm going to use one of these for the lucky guy. As an aside, we decided that starting in January, we'd focus on stockings instead...much easier to finish in a 3 hour period and so hopefully we will have a good deal more at the end of NEXT year at this time.

Day 1--Advent Chain

We decided to go ahead and do an Advent chain countdown to Christmas, to really help us enjoy this time with the Noodle. I know that all too fast she'll grow up and so we'll be glad we have these memories. Last year she was so young and everything was new to her, that Christmas was more of a passive experience. She enjoyed the lights, the activities, etc., but certainly didn't grasp the full meaning. This year it is a completely different story. She gets sooo excited each night at dinner when she looks out the window at the neighbor's house and exclaims "LOOK!! HO HO's (aka Santa) turned on!" Translation: Look--that big, huge, Santa inflatable is standing up in all his glory. She marvels at how early it is getting dark and how the houses are all decorated with lights. She eagerly searches the paper each morning to see if there are any toy circulars and then spends quite a bit of time pouring over them. This past Sunday we went over to my parents to help them decorate their house. No sooner had Lollie set up the creche before the Noodle was right there playing with all the figures. I think she'll definitely enjoy our L*ttle P*ople manger scene this year. We haven't even begun to decorate our house yet, so I'm sure when we do, she'll really be beside herself :)

Day #1's activity was, you guessed it, to make the chain. I knew that 24 paper links to cut, glue and write activities on would be more than any almost-3 year-old could handle, so I jump started the project. When she woke up from her nap, she finished cutting the strips and as I wrote the last few activities, she glued the links together. The final step was to add some Christmas stickers for embellishment. I decided to hang it up where she can see it from her seat in the dining room and so that curious fingers couldn't "accidentally" tear off any chains prematurely. Let the Christmas season begin!