Follow along with our contributor Beth and her family as they make their way through a Southwest Michigan family advent!
This last week week in Southwest Michigan was a busy one for us. And, the weather didn’t make it any easier. Fortunately, there is so much great family fun in this area that it was easy to modify our plans and still keep up with our goal of one family-related thing each day for our Viking family Advent activities.
Swedish Paper Hearts
Last Tuesday, our planning fell apart near the end of the day (as it is wont to do with two small children in the house), so we skipped walking downtown to visit St Joseph’s snowmen and settled for a great MOMS Club play date and a late family dinner. A family dinner like this is precious right now since my husband is working full time while going to school full time in the evenings so family dinners are a rare thing around here.
On Wednesday, we tackled making Swedish paper hearts. It was a bit of a “fail” craft-wise for the kids in its original form so I modified it to be easier for little hands. We eventually completed enough for my daughter’s kindergarten class and she’ll hand them out this Friday at school.
Thursday morning, we woke up to my daughter’s first snow day. So, we stayed home hunkered down from the cold and wind and didn’t get out for the hot chocolate ingredients. But, we did spend most of the day (including momma who took “the day off”) snuggled under blankets watching cartoons.
Christmas Party at the Benton Harbor Library
To recover from the kids’ snow day cabin fever, Friday we arranged a cousin playdate and attended a family gym and swim activity at the St Joe/Benton Harbor YMCA.
Saturday morning should have been spent with my daughter dressing up as St Lucia but her papa has been sick all week so instead we headed downtown. Curious Kids can canceled the family craft but still had their Animals Alive program running. Then, we hopped over the bridge and found our way to the Christmas party for kids at the Benton Harbor library. This was the first time we checked out this facility and I have to say that their children’s library has got to be one of the best kept secrets is the area. Finally, that night we were in the audience for First Church’s family Christmas program, Jingle Jam.
Sunday was actually St. Lucia Day but again Papa was too sick to visit. Instead, all four of us (again – a rarity due to my hubby’s schooling) attended a Christmas party at our former church. Safe Harbor.
St. Lucia
Finally. we had to miss the St Joseph school holiday concert at Mendel last night because the Vikings had their last week of swimming lessons which we didn’t want to miss. And, my daughter finally got to wear her Lucia crown…at school.
For the upcoming week, there’s some things to which that my little ones really look forward. This afternoon, if the weather cooperates, we will attend the holiday party thrown by Berrien County’s Parents as Teachers group. These folks know how to throw a shindig for little ones and this will be the fourth one we attend down at the RESA building in Berrien Springs.
Wednesday will include another of the Vikings’ favorites: the red and green Rice Krispie treats in cut with cookie cutters into trees, stars, and other shapes.
On Thursday, we are hoping to fulfill part of a wish list for a local teacher. We have our favorite teacher we like to bless but there are plenty of others that have appeared repeatedly in the Herald-Palladium over the last 2 weeks.
We will start the day Friday cooking breakfast at my daughter’s school for their Christmas breakfast. Then, in the afternoon, we will tackle a new recipe. Up til now, we’ve honored much of my husband’s Swedish heritage. So, in the interest of balancing the scales a bit, we will attempt to make Scottish bannock cake. Later that evening, we also will be checking out the YMCA’s Family Game Night to celebrate Daddy finishing another finals week!
On Saturday, we have a few choices so I’m not sure what we’ll end up doing. Right now, it’s a toss-up between going ice skating at the Howard Ice Arena, heading down to Barker Mansion in Michigan City to see their lights display, or taking in the Lake Michigan Admirals game.
Next Sunday, we will tip our hat to some more of my family’s heritage by attempting a Polish star craft.
Finally, with Christmas break in full swing, on Monday the kids and I will attempt a large Christmas cookie baking party.
There are so many other wonderful things to do in Southwest Michigan right now. Christmas cantatas all over, a “holiday bizarre” at the Livery, music and movies at the Box Factory – the list goes on and on. Please make it a point to seek out all the wonderful opportunities our area has to offer this Christmas and holiday season! Some places to look for ideas:
And be sure to check the Herald-Palladium as well as the calendar at the libraries and YMCA.
Beth blogs semi-regularly at Life With Two Little Vikings.