Hibernation

This is what we see outside every window.  

We are settling in for a winter of cold weather and lots of snow. 

Our Advent Calendar

As a new family with small children we are continuing to create new traditions each year.  We try some one year and some others the next trying to figure out what works best.  Last year and again this year we did an advent calendar to help Sam with the counting down of the days.
A few year back Paul's Mom gave me an advent blanket, and last year we hung it on the wall and put little ornaments inside that we took out everyday and hung on a little tree in Sam's room.
This year we put larger ornaments in it for the big tree as well as a little note (that can be printed from Anna over at Noodlehead.)  This tradition seems to be working well for us plus the kids are very excited each morning to get up and put a new ornament on the tree.