The Shecklets decorated our Christmas tree tonight. They hung Astrid’s “A” ornament first.
The finished tree got two thumbs up from Shecklet #4.
Shecklet #3 also asked if we could hang a stocking for Astrid. We had an extra one (the white bear) that someone had given us the Christmas prior to Shecklet #1 joining us – but we ended up using a different one for him. It turns out it’s the perfect addition to our mantle this year.
This year’s St Nicolas Day gifts include the usually new ornaments and chocolate coins as well as window clings (since all of our Christmas ones had their last run in 2019.)
I also have two ornaments for Astrid – her “A” initial like her siblings as well as a little pink sled with 2020 that I will put her photo in. The kids also asked for their own photo ornaments to remember her by – I’m still trying to figure out what those will look like or be.
Shecklets 1-4 are getting cactus ornaments for 2020. Jake’s Aunt Nancy sent the kids mini cactus plants after Astrid died, so when I found these ornaments I thought they would be perfect way to remember the live gifts the kids received in memory of their little sister.
One of the activities Shecklet #3 has been able to participate in from home (and eventually in a socially-distanced environment) is a group at church called Handmaidens of the Lord. Each month they talk about a virtue, learn about a saint, have time for prayer, and work on a craft. This month’s craft was making a countdown to Christmas. She let me help decorate the individual cards – she loved working on it.
I know today’s feast day typically means shoes filled with chocolate coins and oranges, but since were still eating Halloween candy, we opted for ornaments and book, titled the Catechism of the Seven Sacraments.
I had a tearful realization this afternoon that carried over to mass this evening. I’m one month from my surgery date. The flood of emotions was overwhelming and unfortunately, I didn’t bring enough tissues with me to church. The girls were so sweet and tried to comfort me.
I’m putting away fall decor today and pulling out Advent and Xmas decorations. Shecklet #4 is enjoying playing with the nativity set.
Today I pulled out the carousel that my Grandpa Cal (Pops) set our way last winter. It is a source of much ooh-ing, aaah-ing, laughing & dancing. The boys love that they can turn the thing on and off. That’s the part I don’t love quite as much. Turning it off means when they turn it back on, the song set starts from the beginning. By the end of the Advent & Christmas seasons, I have a feeling I’m not going to want to hear Jingle Bells for another 12 months.
We had a visitor for a couple of hours this morning. Little J came over to play with the boys. She joined was just as enthralled with the carousel as the boys were. I captured still shots of them checking out the little horses as they went up & down and around & around, but the video is way more entertaining!
We made an Advent chain with the boys tonight. I cut strips of purple and pink construction paper and had the kids help staple the ends together to create a chain. Then they decorated the paper rings with stickers. I don’t know if they totally understand the concept of counting down to Christmas, but I know they enjoyed creating the chain itself. They also really had fun running back and forth under the rings after Jake hung the chain from the ceiling in the porch.
