advent

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month...

Here we are at the beginning of December already.  We have our advent calendar in place.  This year our top shelf in the kitchen is filled with a row of 24 boxes.  Every day the boys will open one box and find a small toy or sweet.  As the boxes diminish and we creep up to Christmas day, the excitement grows.  I had great fun filling all the boxes and coming up with ideas.  There are Club Penguin cards (to collect), matchbox cars, sparklers for Carols night, decorations for when we set up our tree, a voucher for fish 'n chips at the river, a voucher for your own can of Coke out the fridge, glow sticks for the school picnic dinner, new juice bottles and lots of candy canes!  It does help to have a mom who loves Christmas.

This count down is like no other for Rob and I.  In a way I am quite nervous of those boxes disappearing.  It means we're getting closer to what could be our most difficult Christmas yet.  The two families that we are the closest to here are heading back to South Africa for Christmas.  Our Christmas memories are of all the cousins and grandparents in Cape Town and of course the holiday week with all our friends.  This year we feel a bit stranded and the five of us will have to draw close.  The "firsts" are always tough, but no doubt we will find the fun.

The countdown has begun. The first box was opened at 6am!  Are you ready?