advent activities

We didn't document every day of our family advent activities for 2014, but we did have lots of fun!  It was a bit more laid back this year and many times, decided the morning of ;).  Here's pics of some we did capture...

Treat-making...

And gift-wrapping...Garner wrote Collier's tag :))

Family game night...

And sweet fun with our co-op buds...singing to residents at a local nursing home and decorating cookies at the park after...

Christmas treat out!

...and the nightly view of our advent readings in Jotham's Journey.  It was a bit above Garner's attention span ;)

I couldn't decide which of these to share, so I just posted all.  One of our favorite activities is to re-enact the Christmas story using the Little People nativity set.  These kiddos crack me up :)

Ladies' night!  Sharing treats and laid back visiting...love :)

Christmas Brinner

And Hayride through the Life of Christ with our Duke and Sprouse buddies.  Loved the cute dad-life view here with B and Nick :)

Family snowflake competition...

And daytime movie watching of Elf :)

Caroling!  So much fun with the Sprouses, Links and Dukes :)

And bingo fun with our buds at the nursing home :))

Gingerbread houses hosted by the Wileys, Links and Santillans...

And then again with the Gibbs and Ruckers :))

And finally, Christmas Eve.  We were so super sad to miss the Christmas Eve service for the first time since we've had kids, but it was a no-go with flu germs at our house.  Though we were a bit grumpy and pitiful, we settled in for dinner and watched our favorite Christmas move, The Nativity Story.  As we commented that night, our yuckiness only reminded us more of our great need of a Savior.  So so glad He came...

Headed to bed!  Excited and camping out together for Christmas morning fun.  Sure do love them :)