More Advent

I went with the same ole Advent wreath from last year, but tweaked it a little bit.

I added a "Jesus" banner that I made out of ribbon and glitter scrapbook paper, inspired by something I saw in a catalog.

Much is the same around here this Advent as last year, but we have one more stocking hung over the chimney.

Our tree has our Advent boxes and Jesus' crib under it. Jesus' crib is being made soft by the good deeds of my girls. Unfortunately, Isaac isn't contributing yet since he has had a hard couple of weeks with his daddy being gone. Hopefully, that will turn around soon! Genna was the first to get to put a cotton ball in the crib since she offered to forgo the first night's Advent chocolate since we have to rotate through with the two we have. Hannah has been trying to take advantage of Genna's desire to do more good deeds in order to make the crib ready for Jesus on Christmas morning. She told me the other day she was excited it was Advent, when I suggested rotating days with a special toy they all share, because she was sure Genna would let her have a turn first so Genna could put a cotton ball into the crib. Hmm. Someone's not quite getting it.

Our altar looks similar to last year, but not exactly the same. This year we are reading The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean like we did two years ago. Next year we will read Tabitha's Travels again and switch to verses for the Jesse tree.

I placed a few odds and ends around the house to make it wintery and nice, like snow globes in the tea hutch, and

this sweet reminder of our wonderful housekeeper in Germany on our travel display wall. She cross stitched this snowman for us.

And these mini stockings, purely for aesthetic purposes, with our names glittered on them.