Beatrix has a birthday coming up, and I have much to do to get prepared. Right now, I am spending as much time as I can stand each evening going through pictures from the past four years. It’s not that I don’t like looking at photos of Beatrix, it’s that I hate staring at a screen for that long. I am going to have a photo book printed for her with photos from my pregnancy with her through the present. It’s much nicer to look at photos in print and I know she will love this book if I can manage to pull it together in time. I am working hard to include the photos that I think would be most special to her in years to come, rather than just those that would be considered “good photos.” So a book of memories, versus a book of cute pictures of Beatrix. Of course, she’s always cute. Tonight I have all of 2011’s photographs to click through….
That being said, I hope some of you will be interested in another giveaway:
In recent years we have enjoyed reading a chapter book, designed to be read one chapter a day, during Advent. This is just one way that we help our children prepare their hearts for Christmas, and one of our favorite traditions. This year we will be reading Destination: Bethlehem. A lovely bonus is that the authors included a list of simple items that relate to each chapter in the book for children who enjoy the tradition of opening a small package on each of the twenty four days leading up to Christmas. These items include fruits, nuts, pieces from your nativity set, Christmas tree ornaments and other items easily obtained. It’s very doable, and I am excited to have this guide.
Authors Sharon Altman and Christine Winkelman sent me an extra copy to give to one of you. For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post. A winner will be chosen via random number generator on Monday, November 5th.
The winner is Kristin: “I was just looking for an Advent book to use with my kids!”
Thanks Sharon, and Christine!
p.s. There will be yet another giveaway here tomorrow. Stop by if you are interested in winning some pretty yarn!
Oh, and the photo of Silas is obviously unrelated to all of the above. It makes me smile though.


Truly sounds like a wonderful way to prepare for Our Dear Lord’s birthday! I would look forward to reading it.
Oh! How wonderful! I’ve been wanting another advent book since we finished a set by Arnold Ytreeide. Here’s a link in case you haven’t heard of them. We loved them! http://www.jothamsjourney.com/?q=node/2
Your blog is a place I enjoy visiting regularly :). This Advent book sounds fabulous! We have some good resources for younger kids, but my kids are growing! This sounds perfect.
What a lovely way to celebrate such a special season!
Three pre-teen/teen boys who very much need to focus on the simpler, quieter side of Christmas. Thanks:)
I’m always looking for a better way to do advent with my girls.
I’ve just been thinking about what to do for Advent this year….Destination: Bethlehem sounds interesting. Thanks for the review…and the chance at a copy!
This seems like a good book for my girls!
what an interesting idea. i am always interested in finding new ways to give meaning to this time of year. 🙂
I am always looking for new books to read during the holiday season. This looks wonderful. Thanks for the chance to win.
Would love this adventure for my kids. Can’t believe Advent is almost upon us.
Nothing like a cold, wet, doggie nose to make one giggle! The book sounds great. I would love to share it with my kids.
What a beautiful advent tradition!
This sounds exactly like what I’ve been looking for!!!
This sounds exactly like what I’ve been looking for!
This looks like a really great guide for Advent. Thank you for your wonderful giveaways!
Would Love to have this for the advent season 🙂
This would be a nice addition to our Advent traditions!
The book sounds wonderful and the picture of Silas made me smile also.
this looks like a great book. i am always scrambling a bit during advent to find a cohesive project that we can all do.
Oh that sounds perfect. I had just picked up a book for myself for meditations through Advent but it would be great to have one for the kids. Thanks for the review.
My kids would love adding that to the tradition list. Thanks for the giveaway!
Count me in!
Looks like a lovely book.
We enjoy reading during the Advent season….please enter name! Thank you! Blessings to you from Kansas!
We have read advent books, but I have never seen this one. I love the idea of gifts to go with the text! Thanks for the opportunity to check it out!
that book sounds great….a little go to guide for the upcoming season….perfect!
Great book. I would love to win a copy.
My girls (3 and 11 months) adore photo albums, so we always do photo books as gifts! The Advent book looks so neat- I’d love to have that!
Looks like a sweet book. Something special to have during Christmas.
What a sweet capture of Silas and your puppy. :-). Photo books are lovely to have – I hope you can pull it all together in time for Beatrix. The advent book sounds neat. I’m going to try to find it. You always have such good ideas, Ginny, and your blog has inspired me in many ways (photographs, knitting, crafting w/my children, and good resources to name a few.) Thanks for sharing!
A photo book is a great idea. I can’t believe Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away which means Advent is right around the corner!
good luck on the photobook. it’s a great gift, so hang in there 😉
Great idea for keeping Advent simple AND meaningful.
Love the photo of Silas! The advent book sounds just like what I have been looking for, and I will check it out even if I don’t win it.
My son’s age has come that advent is something I am going to celebrate with him this year. This book sounds delightful.
I am sure looking at years of photos of your growing bigger one brings lots of emotions.
What a lovely Advent book. Good luck on your picture book for Beatrix.
What a great idea! Thanks!
I have been looking for something fairly EASY to do with my children for Advent. I just can’t put together something really complicated and follow through every single day. Too much on this mama’s plate right now! I would love it if you could post sometime about other resources that you have used in your family that you and your children enjoyed for preparing their hearts for the Advent Season.
i love having new resources for the christmas season… i love the idea of opening something each day that relates to the christmas story.
I always struggle to fit in Advent activities – this would be perfect!
Sounds like a great guide. I’ve been looking for something to do with my daughter.
This book sounds wonderful. I would love to have such a guide — thank you!
Would love to win!
I was just looking for an Advent book to use with my kids!
I’m always looking for a new way to get at advent with my kids – this would be great!
My kids would love something like that.
The book sounds wonderful…I’m all for anything that takes the burden of planning off my shoulders!
I feel positively ill when I think about our photos. I think I still have about 2 years of photos to go through and choose which to print…as for my albums, I think they stop when Adrian, who’ll be 8 in February, was a baby.
Yep…there’s that sick feeling again…
I just recently saw this book recommended at Shower of Roses, too. I would be delighted to add it to our Advent book basket!!
That picture book of memories sounds like a really great idea!
I will have to check out that book. I think it would be perfect for my son.