Today is the second Sunday of Advent and we are finally organised. Our celebrations have evolved over years and it is only with careful planning that I manage to achieve anything, even then we sometimes start late:) The Advent Calendars are up; the one on the left has doors to open daily, with Scripture passage and picture behind.  We have been using this for years now. The hessian pockets we introduced last year, I insert felt figures into each pocket, then the children take in turns to place that day’s figure on the felt sheet.  By Christmas Day the nativity scene will be in place.   All nativity sets are…

Fourth Sunday of Advent This is a quiet week of reflection and hope! We will take time each night to watch a little clip from the “Jesus of Nazareth” DVD(first part) in preparation for the birth of Jesus. The children will work on making a shoebox nativity set. We continue reading our lovely collection of books, and praying the O Antiphons. Excitement is building. Plan and shop for Christmas Meals. Wednesday, Dec. 23rd: Put up the Christmas ornaments! Yippee! (Last year was the first year that we waited so long to decorate the tree.) Thursday, Christmas Eve. 24th: Attend Christmas Vigil.  Have Christmas dinner with relatives. While the kids are…

Third Sunday of Advent 13th Dec – Nominal Feast of St Lucy As precedence is to be given to Sundays we won’t celebrate this Feast this year. As we have only just started celebrating St Lucy’s feast this is not too difficult. -Make a Gingerbread House. –Make O Antiphons in preparation for Thursday. Or perhaps we will make a house as I finally found one at a garage sale on the weekend. -Begin/Pray O Antiphons prayers. -Make 3D Printable Nativity – Older children to make Nativity Silhouette – Younger children make Bed for Baby Jesus -Make Paper Dali Nativity Figures -Continue to read our lovely book collection.

Two weeks ago our wreath’s candles stood tall and proud. With today’s temperatures of 41C(105.8F) they succumbed to the heat. *They have been straightened slightly and now reside in the fridge. We’ll bring them out for prayers only. Oh and I finally turned on the air-conditioning.

2nd Sunday of Advent 6th Dec – Nominal Feast of St Nicholas. We had every intention of celebrating on the 5th but due to unforeseen circumstances we shall move it back to the 6th. Plans here. Feast of Saint Ambrose December 7th -Read St Ambrose’s story (my brother’s Feast Day) Children’s Book of Saints-Hugh Ross Williamson Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary December 8th – Read Mary the Mother of God- from Tomie DePaola’s. – Colour Our Lady’s picture. Feast of Juan Diego December 9th – Read Our Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie DePaola – Make his Paper Dali. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe December…

First Sunday of Advent -Purchase Pudding ingredients. -Bake Christmas Pudding. Feast of St Francis Xavier December 3rd Name Day for two of our boys. They have requested a chocolate mud cake. – Purchase mud cake ingredients. – Craft; St Francis Xavier Ornaments -Read St Francis Xavier’s story. Feast of St Barbara December 4th – Celebrate with our Chocolate Tower. – Purchase chocolate,(for St Barbara’s Tower) Red Lollies (for her blood) -Make pinata. – Read St Barbara’s story. Feast of Saint Nicholas December 6th *This year due to the Feast falling on Sunday we will celebrate on the 5th. – Purchase children’s books for their St Nicholas Gifts. – Purcahse purple…

*As I mentioned in my letter to New Mums, please, please, remember we have been celebrating Christmas for 17 years and our traditions have only gradually evolved. It is two years since I wrote an Advent planning post. As we have added more traditions since, and I never did finish outlining our plans, I thought it would be beneficial(for me) to update. I had a discussion recently with a friend as to why do I make a planning list for Advent. Simply put I loath shopping, so that I may relax and enjoy Advent I need to shop prior too, being out of town also inhibits last minute dashes to…