Crafting. That’s what we all think we should be doing with the kids this time of year, right? And that’s my subject matter here on Catholic Sistas. But sometimes these days leading up to Christmas can be so busy… when we really need to calm and quiet our hearts. So today, here is a little peak into our home and how we are celebrating Advent (without many crafts).
The view from my kitchen sink is my favorite at Christmas.
Here are our nativity peg dolls that I made as part of a swap this year.
I am very much enjoying them and can’t wait to find the right creche!
Back when I was in high school my Dad and I made this stable one year for my Mom. They have moved since and had been storing it in the attic and not using it because it was so heavy to move. Last year my Mom asked me if I would like it for our home and I was ecstatic! The kids LOVE setting up the Fontanini figurines! I am still working on the canvas in the background. Maybe it will be done before Christmas, or if not, it will be next year.
Our candy countdown is a religious mosaic of the Holy Family. We put three small chocolates (one for each child) inside the boxes. This is the kids’ favorite daily Advent activity and right now I count it as part of the pre-schooler’s math to find the correct number for the day. 😉
Our Advent candle holder is new this year. It is setting on a cake stand and I took some loose garland and made a simple wreath below and wrapped it in purple ribbon. It is lovely to light the candles at dinner each evening and share a little Advent tradition with Daddy as well.
We have been doing a Jesse tree for several years now. It is a smaller tree set up in our dining room and we read a verse each day at breakfast followed by hanging the corresponding daily ornament. Our ornaments are a mix of ones from another swap I painted with earlier this fall and some old favorites. The bags below are just brown kraft gift bags that we painted the numbers on and filled with purple tissue paper. Very simple and re-usable!
I love the idea of book baskets. The Shower of Roses blog has SO MANY good book recommendations and we have started to get the kids a few each year as part of their Christmas gifts. I keep it simple and pull books daily for us to snuggle on the couch and read. Snuggle time is MY favorite!!!
Slowly but surely I am working on my Christmas cards. Although this takes time and is considerable work my hope is that our card and family photo will bring a bit of the true Christmas meaning to those that receive it. This year our card says “Love was Born at Christmas” and it truly spoke to me. Maybe because I am so close to having baby #4… I don’t know but this particular card brought tears to my eyes.
We don’t do a lot of gifting on Christmas but we do like to share surprises! I have an extra set of peg dolls of the Holy family that I would like to share with one of you! Tell me about your family’s favorite Advent traditions and I will choose a winner to send this set to. Please comment before midnight CST on Sunday, December 20th and I will announce the winner in the comments on Monday December 21st.
May God Bless you and your family this Advent Season! XO Janalin
