Happy Advent, friends!

I am so very excited to enter into this season. As many of you know, we have spent the last few years just us two, and now we have little Daisy, so it’s a small crew. Here are a few traditions that we started as a couple that we plan to continue with our trio. I’d love to hear what you do as a family to celebrate, big or small.

Decorating After Thanksgiving + Cheesy Movies

This is something Steve & I love to do each year! In his family of origin he was in charge of putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, so we try to do the same as close to Thanksgiving as possible. We are heading out to pick our tree and decor for the house today! Then we make a night of it with cheesy Netflix Christmas specials, hot cocoa & decorating while Daisy sleeps. I can’t wait for her to wake up the next day and be surprised by it!

Town Christmas Parade + Local Attractions

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again 1000 more times, Ocean City gives off lots of Stars Hollow vibes. We missed the tree lighting & Santa sighting this year, but we plan to attend the downtown parade just like we did for Halloween. I’ll be sure to share some pics & video on Instagram when we do. We’re also planning to check a few local spots for light displays & kid-friendly activities. Here’s a look at one of my fave places in town this time of year: City Hall.

Spiritual Preparation

Every year Steve & I say the St. Andrew Christmas Novena together. It’s been a tradition for us for a few years, and I’m looking forward to introducing Daisy to it. Previously, I saved the prayer to my phone lock screen and we used that, but this year the Hallow App has it available, so I think we will listen along! I’ve personally been using the app for their Pray25 challenge & for the Advent and Christmas music for Daisy during naptime & bedtime. If you want to check it out you can use this link (or code katiewaldow) for a three month free trial on me! After the trial is up you’ll get 20% off the cost of the year (well worth the money even when I paid full price for it).

Other ways we like to prepare are by lighting the candles on our Advent wreath, and I’m currently looking for a calendar to count down! This is the Advent wreath we have, simple & beautiful. It’s on sale, too!

For my own personal prayer, I’m working through the Blessed is She Advent devo.

Shopping for Fun

Since we are a fair distance from a decent mall we like to pick a day during the season and drive the hour to the nearest place with lots of stores & restaurants. We make a day of shopping, having lunch & marking things off our list without feeling the mad rush. I’m hoping my sister can join us this year, too! One of my favorite memories is doing this with Steve the Christmas we were engaged & it snowed! I dug up this photo from Instagram from that day. What a throwback.

Music

I have a few Christmas and Advent playlists on Spotify that I’ll link below. And, like I mentioned above, the Hallow app has a beautiful selection!

• All is Bright— a Christmas playlist with a mix of my faves: classics, pop & indie

• Waiting Songs— Rain for Roots (playlist for littles I found by recommendation from someone I follow on IG)

• John Williams Christmas — so fun & nostalgic.

• OCYM Advent- an Advent playlist I’ve used for youth ministry (& personal use!) the last few years.

Christmas Eve Eve Lights

This is a tradition we started last year. We were still in full pandemic mode, and Daisy was only a few months old so our options were limited. Steve, my sister, Daisy and I piled in the car, ordered our fave hot chocolates from Starbucks, and drove to a neighborhood off-island to look at all the Christmas light displays. It was so much fun, and Daisy basically slept the entire time. I can’t wait to do it again this year!

Christmas Eve

Each year as part of my job I’m in charge of the Children’s Christmas Pageant. It’s basically a parade of cuteness with scripture & music, put on right before the evening Mass on Christmas Eve. Steve has to work which makes me sad, but my sister will be there with me & Dais & then we will all go to my sister’s house for my family of origin tradition: hors d’œuvres and opening one gift each. Then the three of us will get to work with any last minute wrapping once Daisy is asleep! The photo above was one of my favorite Christmases at my parent’s house. Look at how young & rested we were 😂

Christmas Day

Steve is off Christmas Day — hooray! Our tradition is to make a big breakfast (waffle bar, vegan quiche & sausage, coffee & mimosas) and watch a Christmas movie. Then we open gifts the Waldow way: each person opens one at a time, and we go around until everyone has opened all their gifts. I prefer this so much to the chaotic Haviland way: everyone at once lol.

I think that’s everything. No matter your season of life, I hope this post gives you some inspiration for new ideas or joy in seeing something familiar to your own celebration.

Wishing you a joyful & peaceful Advent!

xo