Advent Calander//recap

If you guys are anything like us, you look forward to opening the advent calendar each morning! This is the first year we've done it in our house, and since Dakota is only 16 months and doesn't really understand it all that much yet, I've filled it up mainly for Bean. There's lots of things for all three of us to do, but a few special things just for him! ♥ I had originally planned to make our calendar, but time got away from me and this is what we have. I think it's cute though, and I think that I will make one for Dakota and future babies, and keep this one for Bean and I. No reason we can't all count down, right? :)

Day 1:// Let's make a paper chain!
Day 2:// First Friday? Then put up Christmas lights!
Day 3:// Festival of Lights!
Day 4:// Lets make paper snowflakes!
Day 5:// Poinsettia (which I forgot to pick up, wahh)
Day 6:// "Let's run around town like we own the streets"
Day 7:// We can go print our Christmas Cards!
Day 8:// Trip to the bookstore!
Day 9://Go thrifting for sweaters!
Day 10:// Build a gingerbread house!
Day 11:// Ornament: I crammed a bomber type hat ornament into that tiny box!
Day 12:// Put Dakota is her Christmas footie pj's and read Christmas stories to her!

Of course all these days also had some candy inside! Are you doing an advent in your house? What have you filled your days with?
xo, Meghan

A family ritual

As of yesterday, we have 3 decorated trees under our belt. That's right, 3! We've decorated at my moms house,  Bean's moms house, and our own house. If that doesn't put someone in the Christmas spirit, I don't know what will. What I love most about decorating with both of our families is the chance to treasure each and every special ornament. It's so fun to hear each back story (and believe me, there is one!) for every ornament. Where it came from, how old it is, how special it is, who it used to belong to. It's my favorite! It's even more special this year, because we get to make our own memories, and pick special ornaments with Dakota. This will be her second Christmas, and I just know she will be so excited. This time of year gives me warm fuzzies!

Day at the fair!

Every year when the fair rolls around, I can't help but get excited. When I was little, the whole family would meet up at the fair. Aunts and uncles, and cousins, even grandma's and grandpa's. We'd all get the unlimited bands and ride until our hearts were content. We'd eat fair food and always beg our moms for a few dollars to see the attractions that were never real. (see: spider lady, giant man, bearded lady, etc.)

We're all grown up now,  and it's a little harder to all get together. We still got the unlimited bands and ate as much fair food as our tummies could handle (the corn on the cob and funnel cake are my faves!) Dakota even got to ride a few rides and she loved them so much! We spent a dollar or two on the attractions that we've seen countless times before. The best part about the fair though, is that after the fair, the Holiday season is right around the corner! I'm itching to decorate for Christmas, especially this year. No matter how much I want to, we will be waiting until the day after Thanksgiving around these parts. It's just a tradition.

Does the fair come to your town? What gets you in the Holiday spirit?

xo, Meghan