Advent Day's 5-8 {2012}

Keeping busy is one of my ways to help get through the holiday season without letting sadness overwhelm me.  I do the advent calendar for the girls, but I also do it to help me remember, the gifts that I have and the reason to celebrate.

Each day seeing the girls delighted to open their advent calendars helps me to remember one of the great Joy's God gave us, and that is seeing the joy and happiness in our own children.  He delights in us, just like we do our own children.

May we always remember and cherish these days

Day 5: Open a new Christmas Book

I work on Wednesdays and help at Youth Group, so Wednesdays I made really simple and easy on the advent Calendar.

Day 6: Disney on Ice

This day was planned long ago (by grandma & grandpa) and I thought it would be perfect for an advent activity.

Just maya & Norah went with their Papa & Yami and they LOVED it!

Norah was really into it, she got very emotional and even started to cry when Rapunzels hair got cut!

Sarah and I got to hang out and have a little date together.   She went shopping with me for 4 hours, and didn't fuss or cry at all! (man, what it was like only having one child!)

Day 7:  Salvation Army Bell Ringing

I wanted the girls to serve this year, in a safe and somewhat easy way for our family.  They are still so little, so  it was a little more limiting on what we could choose,  but doable.
The Salvation Army is a great organization and they made it really easy for us to help!

I tried to grap a quick photo of me and the girls before we left, and this is what I got, ha!

Sarah loved ringing the Bell

Norah did some interpretive dancing.

and Maya made sure to call people out when they didn't donate.

It was a bit chaotic and very cold at times.  My kids did not have a good attitude the entire time either, but who ever said serving was always easy? 

Day 8: Train Ride with Santa (My favorite)

We got to go on a Polar Expresish type of train ride in Canyon City, CO

this was all Papa & Yami's idea and couldn't have been more perfect for this years advent.  I would have to say this was/is my favorite thing we have done!  They served hot chocolate & cookies and we were also served lunch on the train

 And the jammies just topped off the experience

our ride

 

Sarah

Norah

Maya

Maya was astonished when she saw Santa, she said " I can't believe he is still alive!"

meeting Santa!

Fav

With our Elf/Server

Ringing her Santa Bell & looking for him

Thank you Papa & Yami for such a Magical Christmas Experience!