Last year we were really good about lighting our advent wreath each night during dinner (with all the lights out...the kids loved it) and saying an advent prayer. We really enjoyed that and we plan to continue it again this year.
We also did a Jesse Tree last year, but it wasn't as beneficial for us. I'm still debating doing a Jesse Tree this year, but I'm going to do it differently. I love Karen Edmisten's blog about "No Panic Advent" which can be found at http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/. Besides having really good ideas, she also made it clear that I didn't have to follow a specific Jesse Tree format. We could do our own thing. Which I think we will. First, we aren't going to do something every night as we always forget and then we're cramming when we remember. I think we'll just do twelve or so. That way we can focus on those twelve people from the bible without worrying about not getting to them all. Secondly, I like the idea of making our own ornaments and putting them on a tree. Since we don't have room for two trees, we'll just hang them on our family tree along with all our other decorations. She even gave another idea of ornaments to make today. I'll have to see what the kids want to do. I'll probably have Sister make six and Brother make six. Baby Bear can always make six when he's older (or make the replacements as salt dough never seems to last forever). I'm not sure when we'll get to it. Maybe this weekend we'll start by making a few at least and going from there.
Another reason I love that my kids go to Catholic school is that they are given Advent activities from school as well. Brother came home Monday with this Advent chain that he'd made. The star has this prayer on it:Little Star shining bright,
How many days 'til Christmas night?
Jesus' birthday will soon be here.
Thank you God
For your Son so dear.
Each night we say the prayer together and he rips off a link. I have it stretched across my kitchen slider for now, but as it shortens we'll let it hang down. We have to protect it from Baby Bear ripping all of them off. He also brought home an advent sheet that gives him something to do (a Corporal Work of Mercy) every day of Advent. After he does it, he colors in the heart for that day. I love it! I'd been planning on making an Advent Chain that combined those two ideas (writing an activity to do on each link and having the child rip it off each day after doing it), but this saves me from making it. (= Plus, Brother loves having his sheet up on the refrigerator.
The final idea that I've adopted this year is the Jesus Stocking. I've never been a fan of putting hay in a manger for Jesus since straw is messy and it just wasn't aesthetically my thing, but this idea from Karen really interested me. I purchased a "Baby's First Christmas" stocking that had a photo window. I placed a holy card of the Infant of Prague icon (Baby Jesus) in the window. Each time we do something for someone else during Advent, or we're thankful for something, we'll write it down on a slip of paper and place it in Jesus' stocking. These are our gifts for Jesus. We want Him to know how much we love and appreciate Him. The kids are really excited about it so far. We plan to read all the slips during the 12 days of Christmas. I want to make sure my kids really understand the reason for the season.We'll see how this all goes. Wish me luck! I like to keep some traditions each year, but it's also nice to try something new. I don't want to stick with something just because we've always done it even if we didn't really get anything out of it.
Tell me what you're doing to celebrate Advent. I'm always looking for new ideas!!!
Baby Bear's hands were cold, but he didn't like having mittens on.
Brother heading back up the hill. 
Baby and Daddy went down together.
Mommy cheered everyone on taking photos and holding the cranky, cold toddler.
What a fun night!
Who is ready for some hot chocolate?
We scored WAY TOO MUCH candy and were home in bed on time for school the next day.
