Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Our Advent Calendar

This is what I'm using for our Advent Calendar this year.  I wish I could say I made it - you certainly could with a little bit of effort - but no, I go this one on clearance for 90% off last year at Garnet Hill.  The plan is to fill each pail with a package of three peanut M&Ms or Hershey Kisses - one M&M or Kiss for each child each day.  Then have a little slip of paper with an Christmas activity for the day.  



 I'd love to incorporate the sure-to-be-wonderful Advent reading Betsy and her husband are coming up with...but this is our first year {I know, so sad} to do any kind of Advent calendar so we'll see what we can happily manage.  I'm excited to be doing something.


So far I just have the pails hung up. :)  So you can picture me today going to Target for candy, wrapping it up in tissue paper and brainstorming simple, but hopefully fun, ideas for the kiddos and our whole family to do together.   Sister helpfully reminds me that I don't technically have to come up with 25 ideas all today.  I could always slip a few ideas into the pails later on.  

 Here's what I have so far:

1. Go to library and check out Christmas books {that I already placed on hold}
    Come home and read them all.  {Julia compiled a great list here}
2. Make muffins and take them to a neighbor.
3. Family Christmas Movie & Popcorn together with Popcorn {maybe Veggie Tale's Christmas?}
4. Drive around and look at Christmas lights
5. Go get the final member of our Hallmark Peanut's Band {Snoopy}
6. Go shopping at Target for $1 gifts to give Daddy and our cousins
7. Wrap our Christmas presents for cousins
8. Make and Decorate Christmas Cookies {take some to a different neighbor}
9. String Popcorn Garland for Tree
10. Make a Christmas Craft
11. Family Game Night
12. Make Christmas Cards for Grandparents
13. Have Aunt, Uncle and Cousins over for a little Christmas Party Dinner
15. Go over the river and through the woods for a day with Nana
16. Make hot cocoa with marshmallows
17.  Picnic Dinner in the Living Room

 Whew! Still eight more to go.
Praying for inspiration and a memorable Christmas season for our family and yours too! 




9 comments:

  1. that is so cute! I love the idea of doing something fun each day, I may have to steal it from you!

    Meg

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  2. This has to be one of my favorite advent calendars! I made ours yesterday and I hope to post some pictures on my blog soon. I'm having trouble coming up with 25 projects too! You gave me a few ideas- thank you!! Some of our daily projects that you might
    1. Making salt dough ornaments, painting them (that might be 2 days of our advent calendar)
    2. Making a reindeer handprint project that I saw on Pinterest,
    3. Filling a box of children's things for a charity.
    Hope you have a Merry Christmas!!

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  3. What a wonderful Advent calendar and list of things to do!! I may have to borrow a few of your ideas!! I always look forward to your posts...so full of great ideas and pretty, pretty pictures:).

    ~Julia

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  5. An amazing idea for a Advent calendar ! I am kind of late this year , but last Christmas we did have fun , especially my son ...What about :
    - cut your own Christmas tree at a tree farm ; drink a cup of candy cane hot chocolate at the barn ;
    - write a love note to your family , roll it into a scroll and hang it on the Christmas tree with ribbon . No peeking until Christmas Eve ;
    - take a hot bubble bath and use the suds to give yourself Santa's white hair and beard.Take a picture .
    - hang pretzels from the branches of a tree as a gift to the birds , use ribbon;

    Have a joyful time !

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  6. What a clever idea. The list is amazing you have given me inspiration. Thanks for sharing. What a lovely blog you have here I will follow on my way out so as I know to return. I hope you find the time to come visit my place soon and do the same. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

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  7. this is so cute!
    i scoured the whole city for pails like that to make something similar,
    but ended up with little paper mache craft boxes instead.
    love it, and your ideas for each day.
    :D

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