We had an awesome Halloween! It was so much fun taking Halleigh around for her first trick or treating experience.

We met up with our friends Chad and Ashley and their kids Jack and Louisa (Jack is the blonde pirate in several of the pictures).

It didn't take Halleigh very long to get the hang of what to do, and she really had a good time.

After trick or treating we went over to Pop and T's house for dinner, and as soon as we got home Halleigh took her bag and started going through her candy. It was hilarious... the same thing that we did as kids; it must be instinct to check out your loot once you get back to your hideout.

Also, if you click on the pictures, they will open, much larger, in another window.

The costume is done, the plans are made... this is starting to look like it is going to be a very fun day.

I'll post pictures of our little kitty tomorrow. I don't want to ruin the surprise for people who are going to see her tonight.

Halleigh is going to be a black cat.  I haven't started the costume... I am a slacker, I know. I just can't make myself do it. I am feeling totally uninspired to make this stupid costume. UGH!

I just had to tell someone...

Here are the next two ornaments fromt the Jesse Tree project; the tent and the ark.  Four down, twenty-one to go.

I love Christmas. As a kid we had an advent calendar for a while, and it seems like a couple years we had those cardboard ones that each day you opened the door and got a piece of chocolate out.

I have wanted to make a advent calendar for a long time, and now that Halleigh is going to start to remember traditions, I thought that it is time to start some.  I like the idea of placing the focus of Christmas more on Jesus and less on presents and Santa. What better way to do that than to celebrate the advent season daily. So that is what we are going to do... with a twist.

So, my friend and fellow blogger, Erin has wanted to make a Jesse Tree, and she suggested that I look into making one as well. I had never even heard of a Jesse Tree, so I did a little research, starting with Wikipedia, and here is what I found...

The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots."  It is a vehicle to tell the Story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history. Basically, it ties the Old and New Testaments together. Each day there is an ornament that represents the lineage of Jesus, starting with creation, the fall (Adam), the flood (Noah), followed by Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, etc. 

I like the idea of the advent calendar, but I LOVE the idea of the Jesse tree. Not enough importance is placed on the Old Testament telling the story of Jesus.  I want my children to understand that the Old Testament speaks to us and is as relevant to us as the New Testament. It isn't just a collection of great children's stories! And what better way to teach that than to combine the Old Testament in the preparation and celebration of Christ's birth? There is none.

Anyway, so Erin and I have started our Jesse Trees. We got the first two done, creation and the fall. Here are the pictures of our finished products...