the last of our advent calendar

We will be doing this again next year for sure. It was a great way for us to stop and do something together, even if we didn't do all of them on the exact day. Not as many pictures this time around so I just picked my two favorites of Pat reading the Night Before Christmas to Zane on Christmas Eve. I love playing with the saturation to give it more of a vintage feel. I felt like it was a vintage moment.

Bundle up and window shop with some hot chocolate in hand.
We did this at Pat's parents town with his mom. We went to an antique store and picked up the stroller to go up and down all the stairs.

Make a big breakfast while listening to Christmas music.
Pat made chocolate chip pancakes. Yum!

Spend night curled up in a blanket on the couch as a family.
We honestly haven't done this yet...plan to this weekend!

Eat peppermint ice cream sundaes.
Need I say more? Pat said they were terrible, that we should never have them again, and then asked how much ice cream was left.

Buy a Christmas movie DVD and watch it.
We finally purchased Elf and watched it with Pat's family. Although I ended up heading to bed before it was over.

Drive around and look at Christmas lights.
We drove around a very nice neighborhood near our home to see what all they put up. We were expecting more but it still was nice to drive through and see the houses all lit up.

Make a ginger bread house.
My mom has requested to do this with us! So we'll be doing it soon. Who says you have to do it before Christmas. I think it's a winter thing!

Read the Night Before Christmas.
Zane actually didn't want to turn the pages of the book every two seconds and just listened!

Say a morning prayer on Christmas day.
We actually forgot about this in the bustle of the morning. Next year this happens first.

our next advent calendar activities

Here's our next set of Advent activities. The photos aren't the best but you get the idea!

1. Design Christmas card and email it
Have any of you gotten them yet? Nope! We're still in the process. What do you think about After-Christmas cards?

2. Make paper ornaments
We want to make a ton more of these for next year!

3. Go to the art museum as a family
We drew this one the day we were hit with snow and ice. We've postponed it to after Christmas when we're both off.

4. Read Zane the Christmas story from the Bible
We read out of his children's Bible. He wanted to turn the pages himself the whole time.

5. Give someone an anonymous gift
Can't say a lot about this...it wouldn't be anonymous then!

6. Hunt for our family's The Night Before Christmas book
We finally found one that we liked the illustrations.

7. Get carry out and eat it while watching a movie
We stopped by Chilli's to get food that we normally don't eat...fried! Both of us felt horrible after we ate it but oh well! We enjoyed watching a movie while nibbling on some popcorn.

a reminder

Pat, Zane and I adopted a family this year to help them celebrate Christmas. This was our Advent activity of shopping for a charity or family. I've been reluctant to mention it because we don't want recognition for doing this, we just wanted to help people out during the season.

We were paired with a single mother and a one-year-old little boy. As we shopped for them it kept hitting us how rough it must be to be a single mom of a child this age. We were looking for the same things Zane's interested in and I just couldn't image being a single mom at this time.

We were able to deliver the gifts and meet her and her son last night. I wasn't sure what to expect but was excited to meet them in person. As we sat and talked and Pat played with her son her story tugged at me. She was in tears as she talked about all the pouring out of love and support she has gotten from those at our church. Those that have reached out weren't being judgmental of her situation and instead have responded in such a loving manner. We could see how it has touched her life and will now show up in how she raises her child.

On our way home Pat made the statement that this is what our church is all about. Reaching out to others, not being completely taken over by "converting" someone but just showing them a loving, caring spirit. Being excepting of people in all situations.

We were reminded that this is what Christmas is about. It's not about how many gifts we can buy our family, Zane or each other. It's about reaching out and loving on others in need. Not that it just has to happen over the holidays but the holidays are sometimes when people feel the loneliest and most helpless. We decided last night we'd like this to be one of family Christmas traditions, to always find a way to reach out to a family in need.

attempt at a family portrait

visiting family

We visited Pat's brother, Brian, and wife, Kristi, this past weekend. It gave us a chance to see their new house and for Zane to have some bonding time with them. He experienced a swing for the first time and seemed to enjoy it. (That is after he got over trying to eat the rope). You'll notice the photo of him kicking up his feet and holding a beer. Uncle Brian is already teaching him these things.

He also has a new smile which you can see in the photos. We have nicknamed it the "old man smile" as an old guy with no teeth would probably grin this way. It cracks us up how he comes up with new expressions so regularly. I wonder which ones will stick.