Advent 2013

Yesterday was the second Sunday of Advent, so I thought it was about time that I posted some of the things that we are using for Advent this year.  This time of year is a favorite of mine and I love getting advent things ready for us. It is such a special time as we ponder and prepare our hearts for Christmas.

Wooden Nativity Blocks. Hannah and Ethan love that they can touch and play with this set.  I love that they keep their hands off of my set (one that is much more fragile).  I made these using the paper nativity set that you can find here.  I think it's super important for them to be able to play and manipulate the pieces as they tell and retell the story of Jesus' birth.  

Felt Advent Candles.  I obviously don't let Hannah and Ethan play with candles and matches, so I made them this felt set a couple of years ago.  We light real candles each Sunday as we approach Christmas.  Here is an explanation about the candles and about how I made them.

The Birth of Jesus Felt Board Set by Betty Lukens

Hannah and Ethan also enjoy playing with this felt nativity set.  I only wish the board was bigger so that the pieces fit on better.  As you can see it often gets a little crowded at the stable.  

The Story of Christmas by Mary Packard

We have used this set for the last 2 years and we all love it.  Each night we read one of the little books that tells just a piece of the story leading up to the birth of Jesus.  

To go along with it I made an ornament that goes with each book that Hannah and Ethan can add to the tree each night.  They take this very seriously.  Most of all it makes me smile that this is what Hannah remembers about Christmas.  

24 Christmas Stories for Little Ones by Sophie de Mullenheim

This year we have also been reading the book "24 Christmas Stories for Little Ones." Each day it tells the story of a legend or a tradition surrounding Christmas.  Many of them are things done in other countries so it has been fun learning about what others do.

Just for fun I got Hannah and Ethan their own copies of the "Holy Heroes Coloring Book: The Childhood of Jesus".  They haven't shown a lot of interest in this yet.  

I snapped up this book for $1 dollar at the thrift store in PERFECT condition, "The Little Drummer Boy Paperback by Ezra Jack Keats".  It is a beautiful book (like all Ezra Jack Keats' books).  Last year we taught Hannah and Ethan the words to "Joy to the World".  This year we are doing the "Little Drummer Boy." Using the book makes it so much more fun.

Our collection of Christmas story books, which I scoured thrift stores for in the off season when nobody else was interested.  I like buying brand new books for almost nothing.

I would be remiss if I didn't share where I get a lot of my inspiration.  I love the blog "Shower of Roses".  Here advent preparations are awesome.  Check some of these links out if your interested here and here.

Next year I would love to give "Wisemen Adventures" a try.  It is similar to the Elf on the Shelf stuff lots of families have fun doing.  The difference is that the focus is on the wise men looking for baby Jesus.  Have a look here for an explanation and some pictures.

Our Jesse Tree

Last night, we lit our first advent candle (see the post here) and hung an ornament on our Jesse tree.  This is the first year we have done a Jesse tree, but I did them every year when I was in school and I LOVED it.  A Jesse Tree is a really fun and easy way to learn about the story of Jesus' lineage all the way through the Old Testament through to His birth.  The name Jesse tree come from Isaiah 11:1, A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 

Our Jesse tree.

We made our tree out of sticks from out yard held together with an elastic, put in a jar filled with river rocks.  I made our ornaments out of  wooden disks, a bead, and some twine. Some other Jesse trees I have seen are made out of felt, paper, or even a Christmas tree.  Here are several that I really liked: wooden Jesse tree, felt Jesse tree, Christmas Tree Jesse tree.

Each night, we read a story from the kids toddler bible and hang an ornament on the tree that corresponds to what we just read.  Then we sing a song and close in prayer.  Pretty simple and it takes less then five minutes.  We are following ebook "How to Celebrate Advent with a Jesse Tree" by Tara Ziegmont at Feels Like Home Blog.  It is wonderful.  It is well suited for young children, very straight forward, and its free.  Several other great resources include: The Jesse Tree resources found on RCA's site here.  They have a devotional series as well a really nice ornament printable, these are the ones I used. I really liked Ann Voskamp's (A Holy Experience) Jesse Advent devotional, this devotional is suited for an older audience, Finally, the book The Jesse Tree by Geraldine Mccaughrean.  I've ordered it but I'm still waiting.  This is a story about the Jesse tree.

  

Our first ornament, the earth (Creation)

To say that kids enjoyed it would be an understatent.  Bith Ethan and Hannah took a turn hanging the ornament and listened well.  They bounced during the song we sang.  It wonderful to sit together as a family, to reflect during this season on Advent, and to draw our hearts closer to God.

Advent

I have been busily preparing for the start of Advent which comes early this year.  The first week of Advent begins this Sunday.  Advent is a time of spiritual preparation leading up to Christmas.  The word Advent means "Coming".  We can ready ourselves for the coming Jesus as a baby, but also for a second advent as we patiently wait for Him to come again.  One of the things that I prepared for Advent is a set of Advent Candles.  Traditionally, there are 5 candles (3 purple, 1 pink, and 1 white).

THE CANDLE MEANINGS:
1st CANDLE – (purple) CANDLE OF HOPE – We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. “And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:12-13)

2nd CANDLE – (purple) THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION – God kept his promise of a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. Preparation means to “get ready”.  “As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.‘ (Luke 3:4-6)

3rd CANDLE – (pink) THE CANDLE OF JOY – The angels sang a message of JOY! “…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:7-10)
4th CANDLE – (purple) THE CANDLE OF LOVE – The angles announced the good news of a Savior. God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

5th CANDLE – (white) “CHRIST CANDLE” – The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! His birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!‘” (John 1:29)


Advent Candles. 

5 classes/jars, Epson salts, food coloring, and some tea lights.

First, I measured out the Epson salts into each glass. 

Then I colored the Epson salts with some food coloring in a Ziploc bag.
 I just mixed it until the color was even throughout.  Then I did the purple in a separate  bag.

The I poured the pink and purple Epson salts back into their glasses and added a tea light to each.

On the mantle waiting for Sunday.

Kid friendly Advent Candles. 
Obviously, the kids really can't be involved in anything with a flame.  So I thought I would make some candles just for them.

Colored felt (2 different yellows for the flame, purple, white and pink for the candle sticks).

Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of the previous step.  What I did was cut two flame pieces for each candle and two inner flame pieces from the darker yellow.  See the picture below.  Leave a tab at the bottom of the flame to glue into the candle stick.  I hot glued the flame around the outside to create a little pouch which I then stuffed with a cotton ball and the glued shut.  The you can hot glue the darker yellow flame cutout onto each side.

Each candle stick is one piece of felt cut length wise.  Hot glue your  flame to the corner and fold over gluing along the edge.  Then roll up and glue the end to secure.  Repeat for each candle.

Kid friendly advent candles.

Linked to:
Sun Scholars
ABC and 123
The Imagination Tree
Link and Learn