Beginning of Advent

As Pete and I were getting out some of the Christmas decor this past weekend, we both commented on how it feels like it's only been about 3 months since we last did all this. And, in fact, we still had a small pile of decorations to put up in the attic from last year's Christmas... still in our bonus room. So our procrastination has at last paid off, and we didn't have to haul that stuff up and down again after all. Those months really flew by!

Anyway, we are happy to be back in this exciting, anticipatory time of year. We've started some of our regular traditions, such as the Advent wreath:

This year the branches are particularly aromatic -- I'm loving it!

And we got out our Nativity set... Even Miles was curious to see what all was involved...

Once it was all set up, Strider led us in some holy prayer and Gregorian chants...
(Just kidding -- I wrote that just to hear him yell "MOM I DID NOT!!!" whenever he reads this... Can't wait.)

Then this evening, after we had the cheapest dinner ever at McAlister's, we started decorating the tree...

Such a wonderful and wonder-filled time of year! Come, Lord Jesus...