Follow along with our contributor, Beth, as she finishes up a fun-filled Advent season in southwest Michigan.
It’s hard to believe we have finished three weeks of our Advent plans and it is only 3 days ’til Christmas! I don’t know who is more excited – me or my little ones (aka the Vikings). We started with such a long list and have completed most of them.
Playing in the "paper snow" at PAT party
It has been a whirlwind week again with some unexpected twists but the main goal remained – spending some time together as a family and building some traditions that the Vikings will hopefully remember fondly.
We started off Tuesday with a trip to the Berrien RESA for the Parents as Teachers (PAT) holiday get-together. These folks really know how to throw a preschooler-friend party! While my two have “aged out” of PAT’s home visits and evaluations, they are thrilled to see us still coming to all their monthly play groups and this party.
On Wednesday, the kids and I stopped by to see our favorite local science teacher and donated as many AA and AAA batteries as we could afford to help him out in his classroom to keep all their calculators and gadgets running smoothly.
Red and green Rice Krispie treats are one of the Vikings’ favorites and we made those on Thursday evening.
On Friday, we celebrated “Daddy” finishing his finals at Lake Michigan College and went to the Family Night and family float time at the St Joseph/Benton Harbor YMCA. We ran out of time for the Scottish bannock bread but have the ingredients so we may do that next week.
Papa, Grandma, and the Vikings
Due to some unexpected family responsibilities on Saturday, we passed on all of the wonderful Southwest Michigan events going on (including the Lake Michigan Admirals game which we can highly recommend) and just stayed at home that evening, all four of us curled up on the couch watching a family movie.
After several phone calls back and forth from the Detroit area this week, my mom and step-dad decided to travel to Southwest Michigan and help us celebrate Christmas early. Most of our plans were thrown out the window so we could soak in the time with Grandma and Papa while they were here. So, Sunday night we spent eating a Christmas dinner and opening presents so no Polish star craft. And, Monday we spent visiting as well so no cookie baking.
But, we’re back on track today and will be heading down to the Lincoln Township Library at 1pm to see Dr Seuss’s “The Grinch…” with Miss Lila.
Tomorrow, we will either stick to the original plans of making something for our local feathered friends. (Did you happen to see the article in the Saturday Herald Palladium by Barbara Mahany of the Chicago Tribune this past week on how to make “PB&J bird treats”?) Or, we will do one of the activities we’ve skipped – either the bannock bread or the Polish star.
And, on Thursday, we will wrap up with making a cake with candles and balloons and singing “happy birthday, Jesus”!
The last 24 days have passed in a flash but, as we complete the our fifth annual attempt at this Advent activity list, I’m hoping that the Vikings will remember the entire season of Christmas as a time we focus on “giving” time of ourselves to the family and others instead of only about the “getting” of Christmas day.
Beth blogs at Life With Two Little Vikings when she’s not thwarting invasions and pillaging from her three-year-old and five-year-old little raiders.