Christmas crochet

Have been crocheting chocolate orange covers for my nieces and nephew. Pattern from here for the penguin.

Here they are - quite pleased with these

Advent

This advent we have been reading Ishtar's Odyssey, the fourth book in the series started with Jotham's journey. These are great advent devotionals with a story that really captures that boys interest and gives a different slant on the Christmas story. The book also suggests you try the different foods mentioned in the story - so far we have had Persian meatballs, nougat and baklava -yum.

Amy has had a Christmas book to open after tea every day in advent(we had quite a few and I supplemented these with some from our local library) and a sticker to add onto the nativity scene.

December gifts

Shell basket for my lovely friend who is moving near the sea

Crocheted cushion for my nieces Winter birthday

 Covered notebooks for Christmas presents

Christmas presents

After many years of saying I will start making Christmas presents early I have got going this year!

I have made 2 scarves with some wool I bought on holiday, they have knitted up really quickly and I am really pleased with them.

Christmas presents

Here are some of the homemade Christmas pressies we have made

 

 

Love these spoons for stirring through hot chocolate - the kids all had fun making these

 



Card case made for Luke

Lots of ends to sew in!

 

Add caption

 Ben wanted a black phone sock - realised I'm not keen on crocheting in black!

 

Made my sister a little lipstick case - cute

 

My 2 nieces had crocheted bags - in blue and purple

 

Advent

The first day of advent, a time of expectant waiting in preparation for Christmas, a time of looking forward to Jesus's birth. For the last few years we have enjoyed the Jothams Journey trilogy of books which I would highly recommend.

This year I thought we would do something a bit different and after searching pinterest decided to focus on looking at Names of Jesus to help us look at all the aspects of his character.

We have made a paper chain with 25 links - one for each of the days leading up to and including Christmas - each with a different name for Jesus and a verse from the bible where it is mentioned. We will remove one of the links each day and find out a bit about the name and what it means for us. I hope this will help us to get to know Him better this season.



Chain over the fire place

Our first link removed
Alpha and Omega

I also commissioned Luke to build a Lego countdown calendar! Here it is with a mini Mary and Joseph making their way to the stable in Bethlehem

We shall also be burning our advent candle each day at teatime.

Hope these small things will keep our minds on the real reason for the season ;)