Teachers and presents

We have well and truly entered the busy pre-Christmas period. Only a few days until the schools break off for the holidays and there are many preparations yet to be finished. Having two boys at different schools means two sets of teachers and two sets of presents.

 

As Sam's class is small, I made each child a little gift bag with three gingerbread cookies, and the teachers and support staff got one with a few nice chocolates and a Christmas tree decoration.

Today BB gave a talk at school; he was quite nervous. He had to tell a story in 5 minutes, and had been agonising over this for weeks.  He had tried reading various books, and even writing his own story. In the end I advised him to keep it simple, and perhaps try to inject a little Christmas spirit into the story.

He eventually chose an old classic: the Gingerbread Man. BB turned the little old lady character into Mrs Santa, and the cow and the horse into a reindeer and a snow hare. The fox became a sly wolf, and he took a large Gingerbread man into school as a prop (and ultimately to eat!) and gingerbread Santa biscuits for all 27 of his class mates.

Presents for BB's teachers -  a bag of our pollinator friendly annual seed mixes!

The story went down really well (and so did the Gingerbread biscuits) and his story ended up in the class' prestigious 'Hall of Fame'! 

Well done, my lovely Christmas elf!

{this moment}

From Soulemama: 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

ahhhh, Christmas is coming...

So, as the days are on a count down to Christmas, excitement grows in this household, and although we haven't seen any snow yet (much to BB's disappointment, on hearing the snow frolicking his cousins are up to in Denmark), there is much to do and create before the holidays are truly upon us.

Although we are as yet not fully decked out for Christmas (except each boy receives a small daily present in his advent calendar), we do now have our advent wreath hanging up. This year I decided to make mine a little more simplistic and rustic (or should that be rusty!).

However, if you choose to make a hanging wreath, do make sure the candles are far enough away from the ceiling so as not to burn it!

Christians use the Advent candles to celebrate this period with one lit every Sunday of Advent so that during the last week before Christmas all four candles are lit. The circle of the wreath reminds Christians of God, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that Christians have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.

A traditional fir wreath

They can, of course, be made out of other material too. Here pine cones, chestnuts and birch bark have been used.

This one is particularly pretty (madogbolig)

Traditionally it  begins with the first Sunday in Advent, when just one candle is lit, then two on the second Sunday, and so on. Many wreaths are made out of fir with silk bands and other decorations.  In England you are most likely to see this custom in churches, whereas in Denmark it is also a common sight in homes as well.

They make lovely table decorations too (Little Scandinavian).

I am a bit of a traditionalist, and like to keep customs going in my home. I also think it's important to pass down these traditions to the next generation.

Do you have an Advent wreath this year?