Our Advent Activities

Due to being out of town for Thanksgiving I got a bit of a late start on out Advent activities. This year since we are at my mother in law’s home all month I am still trying to make it feel like Christmas.

 

First item on the left is the book “The ADVENTure of Christmas” my dear friend Ashley Waites recommended last year. It is faith based and explains the history of how all these Christmas traditions started like lights on the tree and such. I ordered it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventure-Christmas-Children-Traditions/dp/1590520890/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386090302&sr=8-1&keywords=adventure+of+christmas

This is the fist time we have done it and I am going through one section a day and trying out each stories activity that corresponds to it (I did have to change a few details to make them more age appropriate for a 3 and 4 year old). So far we talk about Advent calenders and candles for Day 1. Next item in the picture (snowmen box) is an adorable Advent calender I got from our friend Shoshanna Cruz who sells Party Lite. You can order one on her site here: http://www.partylite.biz/legacy/sites/shoshannacruz/orderentry?page=edit.items or her Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/456208204477460/

Day 2 and 3 in the book talk about the Christmas tree and lights so I had the kids help make a tree out of felt the could decorate as we go through the book and double side taped it to the wall. They used tiny glitter stickers for the lights. I will share more pics when it is done.

 

Last item in above picture on the right is a Lego City Advent calender, again this is the first year with these also. But so far we love it. They have a few different ones here: http://search-en.lego.com/?q=advent&cc=US

All these items I am positive we will be doing every year from here on out. The kids are really enjoying them and we are also counting down the days till Daddy (my husband) comes home from over seas: 18 more days!!!

November Calender of Events

Here are the things I have planned outside of normal activities. May had may as the months is almost upon us.

November 1st-15th – Getting all things ready for my daughter’s birthday party!

November 2nd – 9am – Home Depot Kid’s Workshop (Mighty Ship) FREE

November 2nd – 11:30am – Try Hockey for FREE at the Pavilion. Here is the link for any who wants to try this out:

http://www.tryhockeyforfree.com/

November 9th – 10am – Lowe’s Build ‘n Grow Clinic (Pull Back car) FREE

November 9th – (Have to check time I forgot) Kids get Christmas photos done by Todd Lavender Photography. Here is his facebook page and website:

https://www.facebook.com/ToddLavenderPhotography

http://www.toddlavenderphotography.com/

November 16th – 3pm – An Under the Water Tea Party Birthday Celebration for my daughter @ Twigs Tempietto Gardens

November 26th – My BFF is picking me and the kids up to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her family. 🙂

November 29th – Black Friday Shopping. I will post what deals I take advantage of.

November 30th – Home Depot Kid’s Workshop (Tool Box) FREE

 

 

 

Day 4 Easy Breezy

Day for is more of a rest day so I had time do try a short Yoga video also it was pretty good actually. I think I will try to incorporate more yoga. I also did:

Push-ups – 6

Lunges – 23

We did have a Halloween party to attend last night so ate a couple pieces of candy. (Don’t judge me. Lol.) Figured I would hold myself accountable and be honest on here when I do not eat what is in my plan.

Have a great day!

3 Days In….Not So Bad

Third day attempting to do some sort of working out and my legs and chest are pretty sore. Going up the stairs is painful. Guess that means I am doing something right…HA! Here is what I did today:

Squats – 60

Push ups – 6

Dips – 10

Lunges – 22 (My inner thighs were screaming.)

Sit-ups – 25

Crunches – 10

Leg Raises – 10

Plank – 15 seconds (Really?! 15 seconds seems like no time at all unless you are in this position. Want to slow time down do some of these!)

Any words of encouragement are always excepted. Praise the Lord I am determined to do this for 30 days. It should be a habit then right? 🙂

Okay This Hurts! :)

Okay so I haven’t quit, yet. Two days in a row I worked out. Here is what I did today:

Squats – 55 (Felt thes a “bit” more today.)

Push ups – 5

Dips – 8

Lunges – 21 (These are the most hated things on earth! I tried not to swear as my knees cried out!)

Sit-ups – 20

Crunches – 8

Leg Raises – 8

Plank – 12 seconds (These are no joke. They look so easy when other people do them.)

I also did find some Yoga videos online today. I did not try them yet but will do one tomorrow for sure. I just like to point out that any time you try to start to better your self a road block always appears. Mine has nee the last 2 days it has been super cold to the point that I have been shivering even inside the house. I hope and pray I am not getting sick, BUT I will keep with my plan even if I do. More to come tomorrow. 🙂

Make sure you are sitting down…

…because i am going to tell you something crazy!

I……just……worked…..out. Stop laughing now. I am for real. My good friend (John Parker) reminded me that to pass time and not feel so gloomy on the time till my husband’s return I should exercise to have a better body for when he gets home. Not a bad idea right??? But I feel like I am about to die. LOL. As most of you know I am a planner. I have to have a written down plan of attack with little check marks and all if I am to accomplish anything. (Love the OCD in this already don’t you.)

Well, I have spent the last couple of days organizing it all out. With the help of Pinterest of course and all those 30 day challenges.  I figure why not do them all. I mean they all work different parts right? Lunges, abs, arms, squats, and walking. I can do this I thought and I am after all now determined. Okay now really stop laughing cause I need all of you to hold me accountable. In the sense that if I do not write on this blog what I have done that day. Blow me up! Call, text, Facebook, email, or comment on here any where. And remind me that I want to impress my man when he gets back. I thank you in advance. So, to kick this off this is what I just did right before I got on here to type this out. It does not seem like a lot but I have not work out since before I had children.

Squats – 50 (OUCH)

Push ups – 5 (Haven’t done these since my military days.)

Dips – 5

Lunges – 20 (Really what kind of mean individual even invented these?!)

Sit-ups – 5 (Again not since I last did push-ups.)

Crunches – 5

Leg Raises – 5

Plank – 10 seconds

I am going to try to find some You Tube beginning Yoga videos also.

Wish me luck and have a great weekend!

My October Calender of Events

The more the merrier any one who would like to join us on any event please do so! For more info on any event just ask in comments and I will respond as soon as possible 🙂

October 5th – 9am – Home Depot Build (Fire Rescue Plane) FREE

October 11th – Time TBD – Fall for Greenville located on Main Street Greenville, SC

October 12th – 10am – Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic (Spooky Stacker)FREE

October 12th – 3pm – American Girl Bitty Baby Party; FREE

October 19th – 8am – Oliver and Chandlor getting their pictures taken by the wonderful Allison Fowler Photography you can follow her and get info on her Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allison-Fowler-Photography/133293793410887

October 19th – 11am – Spook-tacular Kidgits Event @ the Haywood Mall ($5 for a year of kid friendly events)

October 19th – 4pm-8pm – Boo in the Zoo @ the Greenville Zoo

October 21st – 11am-1pm – Denver Downs Farms for some pumpkin picking and activities. (by Upstate Field Trip Group)

October 24th – 7pm – Celebrate and Connect Meeting (love my job!)

October 28th – 6pm – Halloween Costume Party at church (by Upstate Field Trip Group)

October 31st – 5:30pm – Trick or Treating @ Haywood Mall; FREE