Preparing for Christmas :: Seven Fun Finds for Advent

Advent has arrived and the Christmas countdown has begun!  Tonight we will light the first candle on our Advent Wreath, draw names for our Christkindl just like we did last year, and unwrap our first book after our family Rosary and Christmas Novena!  I ♥ Advent! 

My St. Andrew Chaplet from Mary Devotions

The past few years I have shared some of my "Fun Finds for Advent."  I had every intention of finishing up this year's post last Monday or Tuesday before our guests arrived for Thanksgiving, but I just wasn't able to squeeze it in... Even though it is a little late, here is what we are adding to our usual traditions for this Advent!  

#1: Wise Men ADVENTures 

Playmobil Three Wise Kings and Nativity 

Inspired once again by Catholic Inspired, we are going to be enjoying some Wisemen Adventures this Advent!  The Wise Men had one last game of Farkle to finish last night before they set out to search for the Christ Child... Our oldest two boys (who will be keeping the wise men on the move all through Advent!) are having so much fun with this already!  And I couldn't resist emphasizing the "ADVENT" in Adventures.  :)

It's not too late to join the fun!  Put that Elf back on the shelf and pick up some Wise Men!  ;) We will be using the Playmobil Wise Men, but any would work just fine.  I read that Jennifer will be hosting a link-up, so be sure to take pictures each day!

#2: The Jesse Box 

I also pulled out The Jesse Box! I was given this last year as a sample, but just didn't have the time to review it back then.  I pulled it out this week and am so excited to use it with my children this year.   (Update:  You can find all the details and additional downloads, activities and lesson ideas on the website created by the makers of The Jesse Box.) 

Each week we will be creating a new scene based on the Gospel Reading for the week! 

#3: The New Holy Heroes Jesse Tree DVD

I'm simplifying our Jesse Tree (or perhaps I should say trees!) readings this year with the help of Holy Heroes brand new Jesse Tree DVD!  The videos for each day will coordinate perfectly with our new Jesse Tree Swap ornaments as well, and I have also printed out the ornaments for the little ones to color too!  

#4: Saints of Advent

St. Nicholas Collectible Vinyl Figure and Our Lady of Guadalupe

Saint Nicholas from Shining Light Dolls will be making an appearance in our home this December 6th and Our Lady of Guadalupe with arrive on December 12th!  Our three girls will also discover Our Lady of Knock, Our Lady of Czestochowa and Our Lady of Lourdes in their Christmas Stockings! When I originally saw these online I wasn't sure I'd like them or not, but they are just as cute as can be in person! 

As cute as the vinyl dolls are, I really LOVE wooden toys!  This past summer, during a special sale, I purchased some more wooden dolls from Armadillo Dreams.  I've posted pictures of our sweet Santa Lucia doll in the past. St. Nicholas will arrive on December 6th and the Star Boy will join Santa Lucia on December 13th.  I also had just enough in my Paypal account (from All About Learning affiliate sales - thank you!) to also purchase the Nativity Set at the discounted price! I am planning on giving that to the family during the O Antiphons for "O Emmanuel." 

#5: Advent Calendars

I love that Advent begins on December 1st this year and so nicely coordinates with our favorite Advent Calendar!  Along with our original Jesse Tree, this Advent Calendar (pictured above) was one of our very first Advent traditions... It is still a favorite! 

Playmobil Forest Winter Wonderland Advent Calendar

This year, since Advent doesn't often land on December 1st, I did something I have never done before and bought a few totally secular fun Advent Calendars for the children.  Originally I had just bought the Playmobil Winter Wonderland calendar (for Snuggles and Bud to share), but with the great sales this past week I added the two lego calendars (for the four older children to share) as well, along with a chocolate calendar for my husband and Rose!  

  

Lego Friends Advent Calendar, Lego City Advent Calendar and Chocolate Advent Calendars

(*all way over priced at the moment...) 

"Mama!  Deer, Deer!" Yep, I knew he would love that!  :)

#6: A New Family Puzzle

Our family really loves to assemble puzzles during Advent!   In 2010 we assembled the Our Lady of Guadalupe Puzzle. In 2011 the kids loved The Nativity in the Woods Puzzle, followed by the gorgeous Holy Family Jigsaw Puzzle and the They Come Bearing Gifts Puzzle for Epiphany. Last year we assembled the beautiful Glorious Nativity 1,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle and this lovely stained glass puzzle. 

This year we are going to assemble "The Invitiation" - a gorgeous Noah's Ark themed 1,000 piece puzzle (along with this Ark-Full Animals Puzzle or this Animal Alphabet for the younger ones) to go along with some of our Jesse Tree readings! I'm also still considering this lovely 12 Days of Christmas Puzzle for during the 12 days of Christmas.... So pretty!

#7: Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children

Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children is a brand new book by Colleen Rooney which was just released last month!  Colleen kindly offered to send me a review copy along with a second copy to offer to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses!  

It is such a beautiful book, packed with great ideas and recipes, and is a welcomed addition to my collection.  I look forward to trying some of her ideas with my own family soon! 

Amazon is currently offering Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children at a 41% discount, you can currently purchase the Kindle version for only $3.99, or you can enter the giveaway below to possibly win a FREE copy here at Shower of Roses! 

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Check out the additional "Fun Finds For Advent" in the archives:  

Preparing for Advent: A Few Fun Finds for 2012

Preparing for Advent: A Few Fun Finds (2011)

Links for Advent & Christmas Planning From the Archives

I hope you all have a very blessed Advent! 

A Brand New Glory Stories CD - Secrets From Heaven {and a St. Mary's Messenger Giveaway!}

I always try to have my Christmas shopping completed (at least mostly completed) before Advent begins and am currently working on checking off a few last items as I start to pull out and set up all of our Advent Decorations and Book Baskets! This year I've broken the "three" gifts for each of our children into three categories: something fun, something faith based, and something to read.

We already had gifts/ideas for most of the children, but I was having a difficult time coming up with something faith based to put under the tree for Chiquita...  (I already have one of the Shining Light Dolls for her stocking.) I was so excited to hear that Holy Heroes has just released a brand new Glory Story CD: Secrets from Heaven - The Children of Fatima!  (If you buy it today you can also choose a free Holy Rosary CD!) It will be perfect for her!

I have decided to wrap the two CDs along with a copy of the St. Mary's Messenger 2013 Summer Issue (which she hasn't seen yet and which featured one of her past birthday parties!) and a St. Mary's Messenger Subscription as her "faith based" gift. She is going to love it!

St. Mary's Messenger is a full-sized, full-color, standalone, 32-page, quarterly Catholic magazine for kids, ages 7 to 12!  The yearly subscriptions (4 issues) are available for $19.95.  I've posted more about St. Mary's Messenger here.

St. Mary's Messenger has generously offered to give complimentary subscriptions to TWO of my visitors here at Shower of Roses!  If you would like to be entered in the giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter entry box below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Root of Jesse" Ornaments for the Jesse Tree Swap

In addition to the angels I made for the Jesse Tree Ornament Swap, I also mailed in the set of "Jesse" Ornaments (Tree Stump with Shoot) from my local friend Trina, who I convinced to join the swap when she was here tutoring one Tuesday morning.  (Her boys are the ones who have been joining us for a few of our feast day celebrations this year!) She made her ornaments with some birch branches from her backyard and I thought they turned out lovely!  We are really looking forward to seeing the rest of the ornaments when our box arrives!

And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root.  Isaiah 11:1

A Choir of Angels for the Jesse Tree Ornament Swap

I've mentioned a few times that I am participating in a Jesse Tree Ornament Swap this year! I choose to make the "Angel" ornament for the swap. Our box of ornaments hasn't arrived yet, but since I've started to see the sets arriving at other homes I thought I'd share the completed pictures of the angel ornaments I made!

Jesse Tree Angel Ornaments

Supplies:

• 2-3/8" Wood Peg Dolls - I usually purchase mine from Woodworks LTD
• Acrylic Paint - I used Skintone, Metalic Pearl White and Yellow
• Fine Tip Sharpie Black Paint Pen (for the Angels eyes)
• White Glitter Felt - I used 4 sheets for 35 Angels
• Gold Pipe Cleaners - 5" or so for each Angel (I cut each pipe cleaner in half)
• White Ribbon (to create a loop for the ornament hook)
• Scissors
• Hot Glue

First I painted the skintone for the faces and the white gowns.  Then I added a little yellow for the hair and two black eyes using the Sharpie Paint Pen.   I created a paper template and then cut out 2 wings for each angel.   I hot glued the ribbon and the halo created out of pipe cleaner in between the two wings and then attached the Angel to the wings with a little more hot glue.  

It didn't take very long to create one angel ornament... 

The THIRTY-FIVE for the swap was a different story! ;) 

I was very happy with how they turned out and sure hope all the other families who are participating in the swap will like them as well! :)

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense. And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 

Luke 1:11-13

Our 2013 Advent & Christmas Book Baskets

Note: Our updated Advent & Christmas Picture Book Collection can be found here. 



We love books. We love Advent and Christmas. We love books about Advent and Christmas!

We started our Christmas book collection in 2000, following the birth of our oldest son, and we still love adding to it each year.  In 2007, following the release of Christmas Mosaic: An Illustrated Book Study for Children, we started reading a picture book as a family each day during Advent, incorporating some of Cay's wonderful study guides and activities. That same year our public libraries were all closed due to a lack of funding (and stayed closed for a few years) so I was very thankful to have her booklists to use as a guide when searching for new books to purchase for my children.



Four years ago I started wrapping our books for Advent with purple and pink wrapping paper, coordinating with the liturgical color for each week. I wondered at first if it would be worth the effort (and all that paper!) but this is now one of my children's favorite Advent traditions.  They love taking turns unwrapping the books as well as the special time we spend together reading.  (In the past I have also wrapped twelve books in gold for the twelve days of Christmas, but I have decided not to do that this year. The past couple years it has been so busy during those days following Christmas that there isn't much extra time for reading.)  Some years I have incorporate books that tie in to the various feast days that will be celebrated and last year I had the children each choose four of their favorites to be wrapped.

With Advent beginning in just two weeks I spent some time this past week sorting through all our Christmas books. I filled a bag with the books to donate (ones we don't care for or no longer want to keep for various reasons), pulled aside all the books we will read this Advent, and filled a couple of additional baskets with the rest of our collection.  This year I am going back to the original inspiration for our book a day and wrapping up books from the suggestions in Christmas Mosaic based on the four different themes: Decoration/Preparation, Giving/St. Nicholas, Family and Nativity/Angels/Epiphany.

(Note: I usually purchase rolls of the purple and pink wrapping paper at Target.)

Here is the list of books we will be reading this Advent and Christmas:

Note: This year almost all the books listed for Advent are featured with study guides in Christmas Mosaic: An Illustrated Book Study for Advent and Christmas unless otherwise noted. We will spend a little time each afternoon reading and discussing the books using the study guides and also incorporating extra activities when we have time! 

Christmas Mosaic Theme: Decoration and Preparation

December 1 (First Sunday of Advent) ~ Waiting for Christmas: A Story about the Advent Calendar
We will also decorate for Advent with Advent Calendars, Advent Wreath, Jesse Tree, etc...  Set out Manger for Baby Jesus and all of our Christmas Books.   Bless the Advent Wreath during nighttime prayers.  Choose names for Christkindl!  I also plan to surprise the children with the Holy Heroes New Jesse Tree DVD to go along with our new Jesse Tree Swap Ornaments!

December 2 ~ The Christmas Cobwebs

December 3 ~ Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel
*Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis Xavier

December 4 ~ The Cobweb Curtain: A Christmas Story

December 5 ~ The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey with CD: Gift Edition
*Bake St. Nicholas Cookies 

December 6 (Feast of St. Nicholas) ~ Santa's Favorite Story * This is included during week two, but since the feast of St. Nicholas is earlier in Advent this year I moved this book to week one.
*Celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas

December 7 (Feast of St. Ambrose) ~  A Christmas Memory (*This was a new purchase this year, and we decided not to add this book to our collection.)
*Decorate our Christ Candle for Christmas

Christmas Mosaic Theme: Giving 

December 8 (Second Sunday of Advent) ~ Gifts from the Heart (Not pictured... New to us and I haven't recieved our copy to pre-read yet.  No study guide available. Update: We decided not to keep this book after all.)  
*Cut Down Christmas Tree after Mass 

December 9 ~ The Christmas Candle
* The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin - transferred from the 2nd Sunday of Advent; Feast of St. Juan Diego

December 10 (Feast of Our Lady of Loreto) ~  Shoemaker Martin (*using the guide for The Shoemaker's Dream - same story but depicted by a different artist)

December 11 ~ The Christmas Coat (ordered from the library)

December 12 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) ~ The Gift of the Magi
*Begin Christmas Rose Novena; possibly have our Our Lady of Guadalupe Tea 

December 13 (Feast of St. Lucy) ~ The Bear's Christmas Surprise (purchased a used copy on Amazon - it's still on it's way)
*Celebrate the Feast of St. Lucy

December 14 ~  A Small Miracle

Christmas Mosaic Theme: Family (and Birthdays!)

December 15  (Third Sunday of Advent - Rose's Birthday - Gaudete Sunday) ~ Pinkalicious: Merry Pinkmas! **No Study Guide**
* Rose/Pink Themed Birthday Party for Rose's 4th Birthday!  We will also read Bambinelli Sunday! 

December 16 ~ An Orange for Frankie 

December 17 ~ Silent Night
*O Wisdom...  (View all our O Antiphon Plans here.)

December 18 ~ The Christmas Promise
*O Adonai, and Ruler of the House...

December 19 (Bud's Birthday) ~  That's Not My Reindeer (also available directly from my Usborne website!) **No Study Guide**
*Deer/Woodland Themed Birthday Party for Bud's 2nd Birthday! 
*O Root of Jesse...

December 20 ~ One Christmas Dawn
*Bake Cookies for Christmas to give as gifts 
*O Key of David - Key Lime Pie and Sparkling Drinks with Dinner

December 21 ~ Night Tree
*O Dayspring... Hot Cocoa in thermoses and drive around to see Christmas lights after dinner!

Christmas Mosaic Theme: Nativity, Angels and Epiphany

December 22 (Fourth Sunday of Advent) ~ The Christmas Bird by Sallie Ketcham
(we may also read The Christmas Bird by Bernadette Watts) 
*Bake and Decorate Cut-out Cookies.
*O King of the Gentiles...

December 23 ~  Father and Son: A Nativity Story   
*Bake Starlight Cookies
*O Emmanuel... 

December 24 (Christmas Eve) ~ Mortimer's Christmas Manger and Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
*Gingerbread House Decorating Party and Midnight Mass

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After sorting through our collection, filling a bag with a number of our old books to donate for various reasons, here is the list of books that will remain on our shelves and in our Advent and Christmas Book Baskets this year:

(including this year's newest picture books)

~ Advent and Christmas Chapter Books ~

Christmas at Stony Creek 
Destination: Bethlehem
Letters from Father Christmas
The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories by O. Henry
The Story of Holly and Ivy
The Thirteen Days of Christmas
The Trees Kneel at Christmas

A Christmas Chronicle
The Catholic Christmas Book of Cherished Christmas Customs
The Church Mouse of Saint Nicholas
The Eternal Babe (poetry)
The True Meaning of Christmas by Fulton Sheen

~ Early Advent ~

Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas
The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas, An Austin Family Story (more of a chapter book)
Waiting for Noel: An Advent Story
A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays

~ December 6th :: Feast of St. Nicholas ~

A Gift from St. Nicholas (we don't love the illustrations in this one)
Saint Nicholas
St. Nicholas: A Closer Look at Christmas (coffee table style book)
The Baker's Dozen: A St. Nicholas Tale (our "Baker's Dozen" inspired cookies)
The Legend of Saint Nicholas by Demi (great book, definitely a favorite)
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas (about a church named "Saint Nicholas" - definitely near the top of my list of favorites for Advent and Christmas)
The Real Santa Claus: Legends of Saint Nicholas (another favorite, most appropriate for older children, especially love the illustrations)
Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend (board book)
Kersti and Saint Nicholas (chapter book, not pictured)

~ December 9th & 12th :: Feasts of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe ~

Saint Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe (not pictured)
Our Lady of Guadalupe by Father Lovasik
Our Lady of Guadalupe(Coloring Book)
Our Lady of Guadalupe  by Carmen t. Bernier-Grand
Our Lady of Guadalupe (pop-up)
The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe Empress of the Americas (*there are still a few copies available here at the old price, plus you can support the sisters with your purchase!)

~ December 13th :: Feast of St. Lucia ~

Bells of Santa Lucia
Hanna's Christmas
Kirsten's Surprise: A Christmas Story
Lucia Morning in Sweden
Lucia, Child of Light: The History And Traditions of Sweden's Lucia Celebration
Lucia, Saint of Light

~ Christmas Around the World ~

Baboushka: A Christmas Folktale from Russia
Christmas Around the World
Marta and the Manger Straw: A Christmas Tradition form Poland
Miracle of the Poinsettia
Pablo's Christmas
The Miraculous Child: A Christmas Folktale from Old Russia

~ Christmas Books Inspired by Music ~

All for the Newborn Baby
Good King Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas
Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker
O Holy Night
Stephen's Feast
The Huron Carol

~ Christmas Crafts and Baking ~

A Christmas Manger (Punch-out-and-play Books)
Cranberry Christmas
The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth
The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher

~ Historical Christmas Books ~

Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber
Christmas in the Trenches
War Game: Village Green to No-Man's Land

~ Just for Fun ~

Golfer's Night Before Christmas , A
Home for Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Snowmen at Night

Snowmen at Work

The Dolls Christmas (not pictured)
The Night Before Christmas: Book & DVD
The Mitten 20th Anniversary Edition

~ Legends, Inspirational Stories & Other Miscellaneous Books ~

Angela and the Baby Jesus
Bambinelli Sunday: A Christmas Blessing (not pictured)
On Christmas Eve

The Christmas Knight

The Legend of the Candy Cane
The Legend of the Christmas Rose
The Little Fir Tree
The Little Match Girl

The Three Gifts of Christmas: Book with Audio CD

~ Christmas ABC's ~

ABC is for Christmas (A Little Golden Book)
S is for Star: A Christmas Alphabet (*also available in paperback for much less)
The Christmas ABC (A Little Golden Book - reprinted this year, not pictured)
The Angels Alphabet by Hilda Van Stockum (OOP - I found our copy on ebay)

~ The Christmas Story ~

Bethlehem
Christmas in the Barn
Christmas Night Fair and Bright
Little Star
On That Christmas Night (not pictured)
One Winter's Night



Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey
The Christmas Bell
The Christmas Story (A Little Golden Book)
The Donkey's Dream
The First Christmas
The Nativity by Ruth Sanderson
The Stable Where Jesus Was Born
The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale (not pictured)
There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve

~ The Twelve Days of Christmas ~

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Gennady Spirin
The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Carol (A Little Golden Book)
The Twelve Days of Christmas: The Story Behind a Favorite Christmas Song
Twelve Days of Christmas Stained Glass Coloring Book

~ January 6 :: Feast of Epiphany ~ 

Babushka and the Three Kings
Small Camel Follows the Star
The Last Straw
The Third Gift
We Three Kings

~ Board Books for our Littlest Ones ~

A Christmas Carol

B Is for Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet Board Book
Christmas in the Manger
One Night in Bethlehem
Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend
Stable in Bethlehem: A Countdown to Christmas (not pictured)
The Christmas Story Board Book
The Legend Of The Three Trees - Board Book
The Saving Name of God the Son
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Touch and Feel Baby Jesus Is Born
Who's Hiding: A Christmas Lift the Flap
Who Is Coming to Our House?

~ A Few More Out Of Print Finds  ~

*These will be given to the children on Christmas.

A Child's Story of the Nativity Illustrated by Masha
That Wonderful Night: The Story of the Very First Christmas
The Christmas Anna Angel 
The Little Juggler



Cay Gibson, author of Catholic Mosaic and Christmas Mosaic, has generously offered to send one of my visitors a signed copy of Christmas Mosaic!  If you would like to enter the giveaway please do so below: 

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Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through, 

The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you;

And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, 

The more of your heart's possessing returns to make you glad.

- The Joy of Giving, John Greenleaf Whittier

excerpt from Christmas Mosaic