I am a wee bit jealous. Seems that everyone in the blog-o-sphere has spent the last few days on yearly recaps and favorite posts. I, on the other hand, have spent the last few days wishing someone would just put me out of my misery already. You know the sinus infection is bad when even your teeth hurt. On the bright side, I don’t think I have any extra pounds to show for Christmas. Having no appetite for three days takes care of anything that you might have gained.

Today, though, I am ever so thankful to be feeling better. And I am thankful that everyone else in my house is on the mend. And since I am using the energy I do have to focus on the kids and the laundry, I think I am just going to skip the annual review posts for this year and start looking ahead instead. Well, except for Christmas.

I did want to remember a few things about Christmas for next year:

  • Next year actually read the recap post before planning Christmas and Advent.
  • Holy Heroes worked well by doing what we like and leaving the rest. We still didn’t finish the Jesse Tree, but got more done this year than last.
  • The kids can pray a decade a day (we are not stopping this one!!)
  • Making sacrifices and putting hay in Baby Jesus’ manger was a huge hit and wonderful lesson. They loved it Christmas morning when they found a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes laying in the manger they had padded for him. The transformed Advent wreath went over well too.
  • Putting up the tree on Guadete Sunday is just about right.
  • Do school until right before Christmas. That way you can do Christmas between Christmas and Epiphany. (We stopped too soon this year and now I am ready to get back to routine before the season is over.)
  • Our Advent Saints’ days were just perfect. A bit of food and a story. A tradition or two (St. Lucia hat and buns). Nothing fancy needed.
  • Kids loved the simple, pull off a chain, countdown calendar. They made it. They did it each day. 
  • Consider adding a traveling band of Wise Men post-Christmas Day. Every day they must be found and have a new treat or fun task for the 12 Days of Christmas — written on a little scroll maybe? I need a better 12 Days plan all ready to go before Advent starts. Sickness derailed us this year, but I was already feeling like I was floundering with it before then.

We did have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day despite being sick. And we will have a few fun things to do next week. I hope your was merry was well.

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