We start preparing for Christmas the first day of Advent. Out comes the Advent calendar and the Advent wreath and
even some gifts. Through out Advent they get "new" books. Some really are new, others they have seen before but they've been put away for 12 months. 
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(Conrad and Norrie opening their first book of the season)
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Someday I hope to have a slightly larger nativity set. In the meantime, I use this little ornament. Noah's Ark is our Advent Calendar - each morning CW gets to open a door to see what animal is waiting to come out.
We also celebrate St Nick's day in early December. We read about St Nick and how he saved three daughters from being sold into slavery by secretly leaving gold in their stockings. Instead of gold, our kids get little things like chocolate, oranges, new markers, a sippy cup. :) 
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New this year is our gratitude journal. We started it on Thanksgiving and try to add something every day. We've missed several days due to being "snowed out" and there's also been a few days missed when Conrad falls asleep on the way home. It's great practice for both drawing and writing, and it's good for both of us to be mindful of all we can be thankful for. (in this picture, he was drawing the earth)
