our advent season 2014

I love December. Even though I can't help but cram as many activities and events into one month, I still love it.  Is it exhausting?  Yes, sometimes.  Is it worth it?  Well, I am still doing it to myself year after year, but I suppose only time will tell.  I would currently say, "Yes.  It is worth it."  Me in five years might disagree.

I try my best to keep in the true spirit of the season and not let Santa overshadow Jesus, but we still love Santa in our house.  I am a firm believer that it can all live happily together.  My kids know that Santa only brings them presents for Jesus' birthday.  They know Jesus is the reason for the season.  Now here is a taste of our Advent and hopefully, you will understand why I am just posting about it all in March.

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Just one of our many advent calendars to start the season...

What better way to start the season then by getting on your old Halloween costumes to watch Charlie Brown Christmas...

St. Nicholas brought a few small gifts in honor of his feast day.  

He also reminded my kids that they better be on their best behavior until Christmas.

The boys love helping Dad get the lights up...

We always write our letters to Santa early so that there are no last minute gift requests...

Once it is in the mail, Mom says there is no changing your mind.

We attempted real family photos this year.
The kids might have wanted to leave after taking two pictures.
There might have been some fighting between two grown-ups who will go unnamed.
I might not be particularly happy with any of the pictures despite the fact that I forced my family to take more than any of them wanted.
Or maybe none of that is true and it all went perfectly.
I guess it is up for you to decide.

Okay, I shouldn't complain.

My family is pretty cute no matter what.

These ones below are better examples of how most of them turned out. 

Always someone ruining it with closed eyes right? 

These will probably be sent to my dad to photoshop into being half way decent.

We did get a pretty good one of my dad and all his grandkids...

We were battling against a setting sun, but the bridge at least added a cool background...

We did have fun being with our cousins.

Afterwards, we had bribed them with pizza and a visit to "The Santa House" near the Burch's.

We are usually pretty late to get our tree.  As much as I would love to have it up the whole month, it just never lasts that long.  We go a weekend or two before Christmas and then try to keep it up until at least New Year's or possibly Epiphany if it isn't too much of a fire hazard by then.

The night we decorate the tree is probably one of my very favorites...

I usually try to get one crafty thing done with my kids during Advent.
This year the boys decided on Pinecone Christmas Trees.
Nora insisted on being one of the big kids so I let her paint with the green water.

Our traditional Christmas cookie is Shortbread which is not only delicious, but a whole lot of messy fun...

I should have taken pictures of what the floor looked like after all this.   

I think Nora thought getting flour on the floor was part of the whole process.

We went with our friends, the Pauls, and Baabee to the Light Parade,.

I am sort of over taking pictures of that so here is a cute one of some of us and our friends with their front yard manger...

Gus and I got to have a special date with some friends to see The Nutcracker at Symphony Hall.

Mimi took us to Fashion Square Mall to visit Santa.

It was quite an elaborate set-up this year sponsored by HGTV.  Among the many crazy activities while you stood in line, was a "Naughty or Nice Machine."  We had to hold our breath, but my kids all made it on the Nice List.  (Jimmy did like to point out that his meter was the highest and Gus' was the lowest.)

The biggest surprise was that we also got to meet Mrs.Claus!  She was so sweet and motherly, that Nora went to her with open arms and happily posed for pictures.  I may have been the happiest of all since it was all free and I didn't pay for the overpriced photos this time.  They didn't even try to stop me from taking pictures on my phone.  Awesome!

As usual we joined Baabee on his hunt for a gigantic tree...

It is made even more fun by the fact that all our family comes to town in time for it.

This year we had Uncle Danny, Aunt Nat, and Aunt Erin and Uncle Gene.

Anyone else think Baabee is channeling Santa these days?...