We use an advent calendar at Christmastime to organize all of our Christmas activities. Every year, we make a list of the things we want to do during the month of December, and then I write each one down on a slip of paper and stick them into the pockets of our advent calendar. That way, there is something fun to do everyday until Christmas. Sometimes the activities are small like reading a Christmas story, and sometimes they are a little more adventuresome.
December 1st seemed to come a little quickly this year, so my calendar got started a little late. But this weekend, one of our activities was to go get the Christmas tree!
We like to go pick out a real tree for Christmas. I actually prefer heading out to the forest and picking out the perfect one there . . . but that isn't as easy to do here as it is in Washington. So . . . Home Depot is where we go.
The next day, our activity was to decorate the tree! I don't think Gwen really remembers decorating the tree in past years . . . she kept saying over and over how fun it was to decorate the tree. So fun!
More activity updates to come!
On Christmas Eve we act out the nativity. This year Gwen was Mary and Ben was Joseph. Abby was the innkeeper.
Halle was the angel and I narrated.
After acting out the nativity, we opened our traditional Christmas Eve gift . . . pajamas!
We told the girls they couldn't get up until 6:30 on Christmas morning. I think they were probably waiting awake in their room a long time before that!
Santa brought Abby her Samantha doll, Halle an electronic dog, and Gwen a Baby Alive. 
Santa spent a few hours on Christmas Eve setting up a trampoline! It was only about 16 degrees outside! Santa must REALLY LOVE our girls and Austin!
After all the presents were opened, we went to the kitchen to eat our breakfast of cinnamon rolls and eggs/sausage. Ben told Gwen to look outside and see if there was snow on the swing set. She checked and started talking about a trampoline in our backyard. Watch the video if you want to HEAR the excitement! Merry Christmas!
