I'm Dreaming of a White Advent

The kiddos and I will be starting our traditional advent activities this Thursday, December 1st.  I'm excited for everything I have planned, but I'm just not feeling so festive because we have no snow! All the snow in the photo from yesterday's post has melted--it lasted only about two days.  

During the three years I lived in Georgia and the five years I lived in California, I became very accustomed to holidays with no snow.  It was always a tad bit weird to me, having grown up in Michigan, but I got used to it.   We're approaching winter number four in Montreal, and it's now nearly impossible for me to envision the holidays here with no snow.  Is this global warming?  Just a fluke thing?  Normal weather fluctuations?  I don't know, but I want some ground coverage! 

But alas, snow or no snow, the time has come for trees and gingerbread men and all sorts of seasonal goodness.

If you celebrate advent, what sorts of things do you have planned?  I still have a couple of holes in my planning calendar and need ideas.

Things You Can't Buy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Little people's enthusiasm for their time spent in the great outdoors:

The bond between a girl and her cat:

Friends who join you for a lantern walk and then serve you a delicious, warm fall dinner:

Joy over very small things, like how much speed you can build up with your friend's apple peeler:

Friends who are more like family who come upstairs to celebrate your half-birthday with you on last-minute invitation:

The beauty and surprise of the first snow, even when you know it's coming:

And amazing readers and friends who return to your little online space to read, comment, and message you, even when you disappear from the face of the earth.  Thank you!  I hope your weekend is filled with so many tiny bits of joy.