7 Quick Takes on Advent

I love Advent almost more than I love Christmas. There's sometimes more fun in the preparing I think. Nate and I are trying really hard to make this a prayerful time and not just a YAYCHRISTMASISCOMING time. However, Damian definitely understands "Christmas" and his excitement is contagious. He's so very ready to do everything--decorating the tree, going look at all the Christmas lights in the neighborhood, and, of course, making it to "Santa Day." We weren't even going to play up the whole Santa thing, but apparently it's born in them... Another day, another post... Anyway, I wanted to share some of the Advent-y things we are doing around the house in hopes that you could share some of your favorite advent traditions with me!

.1. 

Advent wreath

Pretty standard as far as Advent traditions go. We light ours every night at dinner, which may have been a bad plan because I don't know if this first purple candle will make it to Christmas. Damian loves it. Because fire. 

.2. 

Advent calendar

I found the free printable cards here. They're a little above Damian's level, but they have pictures so we can talk about the pictures and it's a good reminder for Nate and me. I had no intention of going all crafty and making one this year, but then slacker me missed out on all the not chocolate ones; so next thing you know I'm at Michael's buying small brown envelopes and tiny cloths pins (and ribbon and wreaths and and and.)

.3. 

Journeying Wise Men

These little guys are a favorite in this house. They're so jolly though! It makes me laugh. Anyway, they're slowly making their way around our house in hopes of not getting stolen by small hands/furry paws making it to Baby Jesus by the Epiphany. 

.4. 

Magnificat and Liturgy of the Hours

This is mostly something I'm doing, but I've really been enjoying saying the Morning or Evening Prayers out loud with the kids. It's also good practice for them in "being quiet." I let them  run around and play as long as their quiet, so far, so good. 

.5. 

St. Andrew Novena

I've always loved this one and have done it as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, I got the St. Andrew Novena holy card from a priest for St. Nicholas Day. Sadly that card has been lost but there are wonderful printable versions. And because I don't have 15 fingers, I made a little decade + 5 bead string to help me keep track. I usually do it while cleaning the kitchen because multi-tasking is my middle name.

.6. 

Slowly decorating

Ok, so this is only semi-intentional. Despite Damian's pleas to decorate all the things all the time, it's not as easy as he thinks to get that done. I won't point fingers at why that might be, but I'll let you guess. Anyway, we're trying to explain that we have 4 whole weeks before Baby Jesus is born and can use that whole time to prepare for it. He is not impressed. (Notice my thanksgiving gourds still hanging out in the lantern. Slow and steady. Slow and steady.)

.7. 

St. Nicholas Day

I LOVE St. Nicholas Day. It's always been one of my favorite memories of Christmas from growing up. Yesterday, we all made St. Nicholas ornaments to help me teach Damian (and Clare?) the story of St. Nick. He was intrigued by this "Bag of Gold" but was wayyy more interested in coloring his beard and the glue. Always the glue.... You can find the printable we used here. Also, feel free to guess who did which ornament.

So there you have it. What are y'all up to this Advent??

Family, Sabbath, #SundayFunday

When we first moved into the house, our weekends were jammed pack trying to unpack, organize, and accomplish all our home improvement projects. Nate and I tried to use our time wisely and get as much done as possible since I was useless during the week with the littles. And by the time Nate got home from work, it was bedtime. Power tools + bedtime does not work in this house. Thus the weekend became GET IT ALL DONE NOW time. 

That worked for awhile, until I began to realize it wasn't actually working for all of us. Damian, poor kid, wasn't getting to enjoy his weekends with his family. Sure Nate and I were there, but being there versus being present are very different things. He can only go to Lowes so many times... And watching us paint while watching Mary Poppins for the umpteenth time isn't exactly as exciting as it was the first 3498 times. So I decided we needed a change...

For awhile now I've wanted to be better about keeping Sunday the Sabbath and minimizing the "just another day" aspect of it. Of course we go to Mass so that helps, but other than that, there's not been much different. Awhile back when I was reading St. Therese of Lisieux's Story of a Soul, I was struck by how she described the Sundays of her childhood as little tastes of heaven. And I want that, more than anything, for my kids. So in a more modern hashtag-y kind of way, we started Sunday Funday. 

We don't always do some big, but we try to do at least something fun as a family on Sunday. Sometimes it's just going to a park or for a walk, other times we'll go to the beach or get a meal. Whatever it is, we try to do it together and make sure it's something we can all enjoy at some level. Even the babe. 

Today we just walked around our beautiful city 

and enjoyed the cool breeze coming off the harbor. If anything reminds me of what I hope heaven is like, it's walking around on a beautiful day near the water. It was nice to just laugh at Damian being a nut, 

talk with Nate,

and watch Clare try to play with her brother. It's good to take it slow sometimes. The dishes and laundry aren't going anywhere, and on Sundays, they can wait.