We have been gearing up for Christmas pretty much since Halloween. Thanksgiving weekend got us into high gear and we enjoyed making gingerbread houses with Aunt Terry and family, decorating our Christmas tree and hanging lights on our house and bushes. Ben was very good at inspecting the lights and was a great helper outside. He also caked millions of candy treats onto his gingerbread houses and hung many ornaments. Elizabeth was more interested in the ladder that Dad used to hang lights, but did enjoy decorating with the “pretties”. She also loves to see Christmas lights and looks completely amazed by their beauty.
Part of unpacking the Christmas decorations included discussion of the advent countdown calendar. Ben remembered the “treats” from last year and could not wait to open the first door. We discussed how we needed to wait a few days until December 1. The night before he told us that at school he learned that it would be a new month tomorrow. Did we know what that meant? Time to open the first door! It was as if the first day of advent was actually Christmas morning. He got up extra early and proceeded to ask us for about 30 minutes while we were getting ready if he could open the first door yet. Mom was not prepared for this and had thought that the activity would take place in the evening. Not willing to disappoint, we let him open the first door and have a chocolate treat for breakfast. We did decide that we would delay the activity for the day until after school, so we could look forward to having time to enjoy the reading of the Christmas story together.
Some of our activities in the countdown will include crafts, writing a letter to Santa and visiting the Christmas Train. We are looking forward to making this month special for both of the kids as we look forward to celebrating together.
The kids have a program at school and Ben has already learned the song they are performing. He will also get to be a wise man in the program at church this month. Pictures and details to come. We just wanted to share how we were preparing for the holidays and getting excited about the upcoming events.
Our Halloween weekend started with a school carnival Friday afternoon. E had been sick all week so she wasn’t able to attend, but Ben and Mom got to go and had a great time. Ben enjoyed several crafts and games and was proud to sport his knight costume and check out all of the other kids.
His class also decorated pumpkins with face stickers that day. He was so proud of his because he was the only one to use the eyebrows as a mustache and beard. So creative!
On Saturday we all went to carve pumpkins at Grandma Lyn and Grandpa David’s house. Our family friends were also able to come and the kids all enjoyed some play time together. The adults took turns carving while the kids were on a nature walk. The kids enjoyed watching the carving also and directed the themes and inspirations for the various pumpkins. We ended the evening with dinner and a costume fashion show. The kids loved showing off their costumes to each other. Elizabeth especially enjoyed watching the older girls and was very excited to participate.
Halloween day was pretty busy since it was a Sunday. We went to church where the kids led the worship service. Ben said a memory verse to open the service and then was able to pass communion with Brandon. He did a great job! After nap we headed to a Trunk of Treats event at an apartment complex. Several families from church opened their decorated trunks and passed out treats to the residents. Ben and Elizabeth enjoyed seeing all of the costumes and also dressed up for the occasion.
On the way home we splurged and got happy meals so we could have a quick and fun dinner before heading out to trick or treat. We went around a couple of blocks in our neighborhood and the kids really got into it. Ben quickly learned the “rules” that we were looking for houses with porch lights on and led the pack. Elizabeth was quickly behind him yelling “treat, treat!” to anyone that would listen. She did not want any tricks! Ben was feeling pretty confident after tackling several houses and bravely ringing the door bells, that decided he would tell one of our neighbors, “trick or treat, smell my feet!” We were all startled and when asked, Ben replied that he knew it was a really funny thing to say and he just wanted to make her laugh. He was so pleased with himself!
Ben was allowed to “stay up late” and help Dad hand out treats at our house after we finished our trick or treating tour. Elizabeth was still recovering from being sick and needed to get to bed, so the girls retired and the boys took over the door. Ben loved picking out which kid would get which treats and told everyone “Happy Halloween!” He really got into seeing all of the costumes and sharing treats with the other kids.
The kids have since been enjoying their treats and have discovered some new candies that they like. Elizabeth is a Smarties machine and Ben has enjoyed just about everything from Milk Duds to Skittles. They have good taste! :)
