scenes from advent

Even though Christmas season crept in through the back door while I was unpacking my Thanksgiving luggage, we still managed to wake up December 1st with a full advent tree and expectant hearts.  As I still have another week of work left ,we have kept our family celebrations pretty simple, read scribbling game night on a scrap of paper at 10pm.  Thankfully the kiddos don't know the difference.  And even though it may be a small gesture, it doesn't get better than sitting on the floor at a hot chocolate picnic while holding Ian's hand and singing Silent Night around the tree.  Each moment is a chance to pause and remember what it is were celebrating.  To remember that everything hinges on that chubby baby boy.

Putting up the tree

 Setting out the nativity set and an empty manger

 Decorating with attitude

 Celebrating candy cane day with candy cane cupcakes...love this

 St. Nicolas day and secret santa stations

 Christmas carols and hot chocolate

 All gatherings are clothing optional

 Christmas tea and Ava's first piano performance!

This is always the trickiest of times.  When dressing up, buying gifts and filling the calendar is the order of the day.  When everything competes for space in my heart.  I am desperately trying to weave together the mystery of celebrating while knowing the full weight of my rescue.  Most days its a losing battle but there are glimpses and I'm holding on to them with a tight fist.