1. The children rejoiced when my husband had to pull out the snowblower for its inaugural use earlier this month. We got another whopper storm last week--lots of sledding, fort building and hot chocolates.
2. The Sunday School Christmas Program was held on the second Sunday in Advent. My husband wrote the program again this year. I didn't think that he could top the Chrismon program he wrote a few years ago, but this year's theme was trees in scripture. It was beautiful and scriptural, and probably above the heads of most adults in the pews who were expecting cutesy-precious-Kodak-moments. It was a Lessons and Carols style program starting in the Garden of Eden with my favorite Starke hymn,
The Tree of Life, and ending with the children signing
O Tannenbaum in German. The children loved it, especially the school aged boys who were readers and ushers instead of shepherds. What ten year old boy wants to dress up like a shepherd? All the children learned a lot and appreciated the more serious nature of the program.
3. Lily got her braces off! Round 1 of orthodontics is done for now. There is room in her mouth for all her grown up teeth to come in, hopefully straight! Chris took very sweet video of her outside the ortho-office immediately following their removal. I am wrestling with Blogger to post it on the blog. Check out the before and after! Amazing.
4. Piano recitals were at the beginning of the month. This was Lily's first recital. I was so morning-sick last year that we decided not to attend. Claire played
Carol of the Bells and Lily played an arrangement of
Jingle Bells. It was a fun evening!
5. Lauren found this falling stars Advent calendar on Design Sponge and forced me to make it. I had to bribe my kids with leftover chocolates to finish it (on December 3rd). I think that we all appreciated having it around! So pretty! However, it consumed all my decorating energy for the month. I seriously considered not putting up the tree this year. Just call me Scrooge.
Chris insisted, and even set up the pre-lit tree for me. This is what it looked like. Stupid, stupid pre-lit tree. I have a love/hate relationship with twinkle lights! :)
