Advent 2020

 We had such a fun December! I honestly can't believe how fast life is going right now. Although this year has been awful for so many people, it has also somehow flown right by! I can't figure it out. So, here we are, December is over and we are heading into a NEW YEAR! But first, I want to recap our Advent adventures. Each day we had two advent activities- an outside advent challenge (courtesy of Ginny from 1,000 hours outside) and a Christmas activity made by yours truly. It made me slow down and enjoy all the little fun things about Christmas, as well as, keep me on a timeline so I didn't miss anything.We will definitely do this every year! 

At night, we refocused our attention on the meaning behind advent by lighting a candle on our wreath at dinner. We had a special reading each night and Isla enjoyed moving Mary along our wreath. I've wanted this wooden someday-heirloom for 3 years and I finally splurged this year and bought it. I can't wait to pull this out every year. 

When we got married, I registered for this advent house knowing full well I was going to use it with my future kiddos someday. This year we finally got to use it! I think you are supposed to put candy inside, but we had an activity in each little drawer. Each activity went with a Christmas book (I have something like 60 or 70 Christmas books). Isla had so much fun opening the drawer and finding our two activities for the day. And every morning she had a new book sitting on her little table. 

Advent Day 1: Make a Christmas Chain

Outside Advent Day 1: Snow Painting (we used ice)

We pulled one link off our chain every day until Christmas! We didn't have any snow, so we painted a big block of ice!

Advent Day 2: Make an Orange Garland

Outside Advent Day 2: Nature Table Decor

We baked our oranges in the oven all day (and our house smelled delicious), then threaded some string through our oranges. We used the garland around our advent spiral. Outside, we found some items to add to our table. We only ended up with an acorn top and half a walnut, but it was still fun. 

Advent Day 3: Craft with Nana

Outside Advent Day 3: Winter Tea Party

Michael and Sarah used to get their pictures taken in this antique sleigh with their Grandma Fred. Now, our kids get to do the same thing! 

Advent Day 4: Watch a Christmas Movie

Outside Advent Day 4: One Mile Hike

We actually didn't have much time for our movie on this day, so she watched a 6 minute Christmas song and we called it good. Our hike was at the nature preserve. We were able to take Nana and Pop Pop with us to show them our favorite hang out. We also stopped by Papa's grave (Nana's dad) because it was his birthday and he is buried out at the nature preserve. It was a fun day!

Advent Day 5: Bake Christmas Treats

Outside Advent Day 5: Sit Spot

We made all sorts of Paleo (refined-sugar free, gluten free, and dairy free) treats. Isla spent more time eating dough, though. And our outside activity was a sit spot. This is an activity where you quietly sit for an extended amount of time (usually the same spot every day) and observe. When you get quiet and let the earth settle around you, you start to see all sorts of things you might not have before. Birds start settling back down, bugs might come closer, smaller things seem noticeable. It's a practice I'm learning more and more about. The reality of sit spot with a toddler and baby though... is that it doesn't happen haha We sat for about 12 seconds before it was time to play again :)

Advent Day 6: Make/Send Christmas Cards

Outside Advent Day 6: 20 Minute Bird Count

I let Isla design and make her own cards without any help. She did a great job! We spent 20 minutes looking for birds. We counted 13 before we saw flocks and flocks of geese heading south. We must have counted at least 10 or 11 V's in the sky full of geese. One day soon after this, we went to the zoo with Nana and saw some geese. Isla said "those ones haven't gone south yet". Nana couldn't believe Isla knew about that :)

Advent Day 7: Make Cinnamon Ornaments

Outside Advent Day 7: Nature Ornament 

Advent Day 8: Reenact Nativity Story

Outside Advent Day 8: Hike with Friends

Isla enjoys storytelling and when we can use props, it's even better! She loves the Nativity story, so it was fun to tell with our pieces. And our hike with friends was cut short because our friends got cold. Understandable. It was like 25 degrees out. 

Advent Day 9: Bake Christmas Treats

Outside Advent Day 9: Outdoor Book Reading

We kept making treats because we had so many Paleo recipes to try out. I loved these peppermint truffles (we used peppermint essential oil!). 

Advent Day 10: Activity with Nana

Outside Advent Day 10: Make and Hang Bird Feeders

I love my new Christmas tree magnet that Isla made with Nana! And our bird feed hangers were not a fun activity for Isla, but she enjoyed watching the birds that liked the pinecones :)

Advent Day 11: Make a Jingle Stick

Outside Advent Day 11: Create a Hiking Journey Stick

We spent our morning searching for the perfect hiking stick and then our afternoon was spent painting and decorating our stick. We are STILL using that same stick on walks. At first, Isla wanted to take a log home. I had to convince her we needed something a little smaller. 

Advent Day 12: Take a Light Walk

Outside Advent Day 12: Decorations Walk

This day was a "cash it in" day. We spent most of the day outside and I just didn't have the energy to do much more. So we looked at decorations. We only got to see a few houses with lights on, since we had to come home for dinner :)

Advent Day 13: Decorate Cookies

Outside Advent Day 13: Popcorn Hike (we just took snacks)

Our Paleo sugar cookies were ok, but the frosting was awful. Powdered monk fruit just isn't the same as powdered sugar ;) That didn't stop Isla from sneaking licks though. 

Advent Day 14: Paint a Nutcracker

Outside Advent Day 14: Decorate a Tree with Food for Birds and Squirrels

Last year, I bought a pack of wooden nutcrackers with the intention of Isla painting one each year. Her nutcracker last year had one red spot on it before she called it quits. This year, she was a little more into the activity. I think it will be fun to have a collection of painted nutcrackers through the years. Our outside activity was to decorate our tree with food for the animals. Isla did most of the cutting and peanut butter smearing herself :)

Advent Day 15: Deliver Treats to Friends 

Outside Advent Day 15: Deliver Cookies or a Meal to Neighbors

All the baking paid off as we filled our tins with treats for our friends! We were able to share goodies with Nana, our friends, and our neighbor. Isla had a fun time driving around and walking the neighborhood to deliver these. 

Advent Day 16: Craft with Nana

Oustide Advent Day 16: Maple Syrup Snow Candy

Isla did her first sewing project with Nana. This is something Michael did with his Grandma growing up and I'm glad Isla has the same opportunity! They made a cute bell ornament. This was also the only day during our Advent season that we had snow, so we took full advantage of it. We were outside as soon as breakfast was done and we made some yummy maple syrup candy. First we melted some maple syrup and butter on the stove and then poured it over the snow. It made a caramel-like candy that we both thought was delicious!

Advent Day 17: Walk Downtown and See the Lights

Outside Advent Day 17: Hot Cocoa Hike

This was probably my favorite day of Advent. We loaded the kids in the car and drove downtown. The lights were beautiful! We brought cookies and hot cocoa along. It was Isla's first time having (paleo) hot cocoa and she LOVED it! It was chilly out, but it was a fun memory!

Advent Day 18: Make Mason Jar Gifts

Outside Advent Day 18: Make Stars Out of Twigs

We tried our hand at HOMEMADE marshmallows, something I thought was very difficult, but actually ended up being pretty easy. They are sweetened with honey and melt really well in hot cocoa. Isla literally savored each bite of it by closing her eyes and saying "mmmmm". We made little jars of hot cocoa for friends and family and stars to decorate the jars. Unfortunately, the stars ended up getting crushed and didn't make it onto the jar. 

Advent Day 19: Watch a Christmas Movie

Outside Advent Day 19: Ice Ornaments

I had Michael pull our t.v. up out of the basement (again) so we could watch the Grinch. Of course, we had MORE hot cocoa and homemade marshmallows. Our outside activity was making ice ornaments. Michael told me I needed to stop hanging things in the tree haha

Advent Day 20: Roast Marshmallows

Outside Advent Day 20: Search for Animal Tracks

We had a blazing fire, Christmas music, a yummy dinner, followed by roasting marshmallows. Spoiler alert: the homemade marshmallows do NOT roast and instead turn to soup. Our outside adventure was at the nature preserve. We looked for animal tracks and were able to find several! It was so cold, but it was fun to get out as a family. 

Advent Day 21: Make a Yulelog

Outside Advent Day 21: Search for the Christmas Star

We celebrated the Winter Solstice this year and I think we will every year now. Traditionally, a yulelog is burned on the longest night of the year. It stems from Nordic and European traditions where a special log was burned, some say starting on the solstice and some say for the 12 days of Christmas. Somewhere along the way, yulelog cakes were used if a log wasn't available. Now it's a fun way to celebrate with a special log to burn or a cake to decorate. It also happened to be the last night to view the "Christmas Star" (or "Bekehem star" as Isla says), which was really just Jupiter and Saturn coming together. We drove out to Nana and Pop Pop's to enjoy dinner and cake after we stood in the freezing cold field to see the star. I thought it was a special night, Michael and Pop Pop didn't understand :) 

Advent Day 22: Make Orange Pomanders

Outside Advent Day 22: Visit Santa Downtown

We had fun making pomanders and they smelled delicious! We tried to walk downtown to see the cutout wooden Santa, but Isla wasn't having it. So we ended up at the zoo instead with Nana. 

Advent Day 23: Watch Christmas Movies

 

On this day I got mastitis. I was miserable and had to run to the doctor. So our outside activity was nonexistent and our inside activity was a bunch of movies while I rested. Not the best way to end our Advent, but I think Isla had fun watching movies. 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were filled with good food, lots of family time, no sleep, lots of laughs, and lots of magic. If we could have Christmas a few times a year, just to watch the excitement in Isla's eyes, I would do it. It was truly magical with Isla and I think it will only get better. I hope you and yours had a wonderful day too, even if it was a little different this year. 

Christmas Eve:

We opened one gift in the morning (a tradition we did in my family) and then went over to the Readys for a nice dinner. Isla thought the presents were all for her. Then we came home and put some cookies out for Santa. Isla was adamant the reindeer needed bananas and popcorn. We still aren't entirely sure what we are doing about the whole Santa thing, so we let her take the lead on everything this year.

Christmas Morning:

Isla was beside herself with excitement. She got to open her presents and Ewan's! We ended the morning with homemade breakfast pizza and a reading of the Christmas story. 

Christmas Day:

We headed back to the Ready's house for more Christmas fun! 

I REALLY missed my family and all our traditions. I love my in-laws, but I don't think I'll ever not miss Christmas in Michigan. We celebrated with my parents over Thanksgiving and hopefully we can head up there this week too, but I miss the rest of it. The big Walworth party was cancelled this year and I miss my Grandma June's Christmas dinner, but it's starting to feel a little more special each year in Bloomington- especially as Isla gets older! What a strange year, all around.