{ 25 Days of Christmas---Day 8 }

I think my favorite part of everyday this month has been just before dinner time when we light the candles on our Advent wreath in preparation for our Savior's birth. After dinner, my daughter blows out the candles after she says a prayer to Baby Jesus. Her prayers have been so sweet and some of them quite humorous---like this evening's prayer when she prayed for a very mischievous boy in her class---except it wasn't so much a prayer, but more of a command as she said, "Dear Baby Jesus, Please make (Boy's Name) be good instead of bad."

I like how lighting the Advent wreath brings closure to the day and reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry 8th Day of Christmas to You!

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

{Finding the Elf on the Shelf}

Last Year, we bought the super popular Elf on the Shelf . In case you are one of the very few who do not know about the Elf on the Shelf , let me explain. The Elf on the Shelf is a mother/daughter creation by Carol Aebersold, along with her daughter Chanda Bell. The Elf is a little visitor who arrives at you home in order to spy on children and report back to Santa at the North Pole. He sits somewhere visible in your home and when the children go to sleep, he sets off to the North Pole to tell Santa whether or not children are being naughty or nice. Then he returns back home before the children awake and finds a new spot. The biggest part of the fun is when children awake and search about the house looking for the Elf's new spot. My daughter loves waking up each morning to find where the Elf has moved during the night. He ends up in some of the most interesting places. Where will he end up next in our home?

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.