December 7

Before the forth Sunday before Christmas you can find Advent candle holders all over. There are the traditional round ones, and long ones with four candled. You can also buy a large plate with candles. We opted for the rectangle one. It came pre-decorated. On each Sunday a candle is lit, and each one represents something. Naomi had the honor of lighting the second canlde.

December 6

5:00 PM

You'd never guess who came walking up our driveway tonight. It was none other than Nikalous. He came with a big burlap sack packed full of gifts. He had his golden book in one hand and his bundle of sticks in the other. In the book are all of the names of boys and girls, and if they have been good or bad. The bundle of sticks is if anyone was naughty. Thankfully he didn't have to use that. He sat in a chair and asked for each child. When they had answered he said something good that they have been doing and then something that they have to work on. After all of the kids had a turn (There are 10 kids in our little circle) he passed out a small gift. We ended our time with a song "Nikalous ist eine gute Mann". It's really fun taking part in new traditions, I think this is one we will keep.

*In Germany Nikalous is the equivelant to Santa, except he comes on the 6th of December. On the 5th you put your clean boots outside and in the morning your boots are filled with nuts, fruit and a small gift. And that's the end of it. He makes guest apperianced throughout the day if you are lucky, but then he's gone. You don't hear about him after this day and on Christmas all of the gifts are from family.

December 5

This afternoon we took a little walk in the woods. The sleds glide nicely over the snow. It's a little windy, so we don't stay out too long. Long enough to not have Cabin Fever when we get home. And long enough for the Chili to be nice and warm when we walk in the door.

December 4

I totally don't get the whole boy wresteling thing. It can be pretty entertaining, that is until someone gets hurt. The boys don't wrestle all the time, but when they do it's not just wresteling. Screaming. Throwing. Tripping. Pinning. Running. Hiding. And did I mention screaming? Is it a scare taktic? I don't know. But, there they are. Play by play. If only you could hear the roar they make.

December 3

A few years ago I picked up this Playmobil Nativity Set. I love it, and so do the kids. The boys went down into the basemant to look for somehting and came up with the box. The funny thing was all of the pieces were there except for the most important. Little tiny baby Jesus! We found him a little later barried under a mountian of Legos.

When we recovered Him Silus said "There you go. Now you're safe in your nest". And little tiny baby Jesus is back in His manger.

On a side note in an effort to stay "close" to family and friends this year I will post a picture and something small everyday until the 24th. Hince the label 24 Days of Christmas. Your own blog Advent. HAHA

December 2

On the first of December we stared our Advent Calenders, and our Advent Books. In the book there are a few pages for each day with a Christmas story.

December 1