Planning

I mentioned before that I am going back to basics on just about everything.  Today I decided I needed to do a little planning for Fritter's homeschooling (which we are very behind on).  I planned for the next 6 weeks and wrote down the books needed at the library on Wednesday. 

And then?  I veered from the basics.  As long as it's planned well though, I should be able to do it. Right?  ;-)

Since Thursday is Thanksgiving I already have baking to do, so I planned a lot more.  I love baking cookies and candies and treats during Advent (and how fun is it to tell my family hands off until Christmas?), so I planned out all the sweets to bake until Christmas, and what days I plan on baking them.  Included in this list are St. Nicholas Pfeffernuesse, Russian Tea Cakes (a family favorite), and Snickerdoodles, to name a few.  It looks like our mom's group is having a cookie swap in December as well, so I'll have to bake extra.

Also, I was inspired by Elizabeth Foss' article in the new issue of Faith & Family about Advent books.  So I decided we are going to add to our collection of Christmas books this year and every year hereafter.  I took her list as a starting point and plan to pick them up on Wednesday, along with Ladybug's birthday gift and another for a birthday party.

I planned the feast days we are going to celebrate, and how, and when I need to do what so it actually happens.  Follow through is one of my biggest problems.  This will be the first year we celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas, we'll go to Mass on the Immaculate Conception (remember, it's a holy day of obligation), we can't forget my patron St. Lucy (which happens to fall on my birthday), and of course Christmas and the feast of Mary, the Mother of God. 

I did a small amount of research to learn about the O Antiphons, and we'll pray those as we light our Advent wreath at dinner.

It's a lot to do, but it's all written and organized in my calendar, and I think I'll manage.  I am so excited about the start of Advent this year!