Day 10: Stars

"Put a star on tree. With a ladder."

Wesley keeps repeating this to us and we hope that after our day-o-stars he will put the issue to rest. To celebrate day 10 of our advent calendar we declared the day to be all about stars. Clare wore pink star tights to school, I picked up three stories at the library about stars, the kids each got a star ornament to put on the tree, we looked for stars in the sky, and we finally put the star on top of the tree--with a ladder.

Ten days into drawing advent cards each morning the kids are still excited. We haven't run out of ideas and we have a whole list to pick from each day based on what the parents feel like attempting. Last night we drove through the lights at Saluda Shoals park and ate dinner in the car. Tomorrow night the kids will get to watch a holiday movie and eat popcorn (mainly because we will be at Mario's office holiday party) as a low key event.

Besides their excitement to pick a card each day I enjoy collaborating on a fun project with Mario. We do a lot of things together but planning out fun things to do as a family is better than calling house repair people, folding laundry, and taking the dog to the vet.

Ooh. And on the gingerbread front: I found a pre-assembled gingerbread house at Target! Putting together the actual house part is always such a buzz kill for the kids because of the waiting and drying time. Tonight I also found a 2 pack gingerbread person decorating kit for $2.99 at CVS. If my gingerbread cravings can hold out we may add 'decorate gingerbread people' to the advent envelopes. If not at least the house has a greater chance of surviving a bit longer...last year a tornado came in the middle of the night and wrecked it because I had a hankering for a chunk of the roof.