We're breaking in our new advent calendar this year (last year we didn't get it in time to use it for Christmas)... I definitely want our Christmas season to be focused around memories and the magic and meaning of the season versus stuff.
Joey's not here most of the time so I tried to keep the activities very simple and age appropriate for a three year... I'm also hoping to get some more service activities in there.
I was hoping to type them up in a cute font ... but alas for this year they are handwritten on a little cards I had on hand.
I put them in the advent the night before the activity... that way if work gets too crazy or I have to change things up a bit nobody is disappointed.
I'm not doing 25 activities this year... I'm picked about 15 activities to do this year... on the days that there are no activity in our advent calender there will be a piece of candy.
Here's our list for 2011:
- Toys for Tots Family Home Evening
- make paper snowflakes
- make handprint ornament
- Ward Christmas Party
- Live Nativity at Cowboy Church
- a story and snowman craft and/or reindeer foot craft
- make magic reindeer food
- Family date night... dinner out and Lights at Loy Lake Drive
- make ornaments to send to Grandparents
- Decorate Tree and house
- Watch Elf
- Letter to Santa
- Brunch on Christmas Eve at a favorite restaurant
- Decorate cookies and hot chocolate date with our neighbors
- New Christmas PJ's and read the story about the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve
- Visit Santa
- Special (dress up) Candlelight Christmas Dinner and Family Home Evening (the Sunday before Christmas)
Over the last year I've collected a big list of Advent ideas... these were my favorite blogs posts for advent ideas:
http://kimmccrary.blogspot.com/2010/12/activities-advent.html
http://www.pinkpistachio.com/25-days-of-christmas/
http://heatherannmelzer.typepad.com/heather_anns_web_land/2009/12/christmas-spirit.html (great ideas in the notes too)
http://heatherannmelzer.typepad.com/heather_anns_web_land/2010/12/happy-december.html
Happy Advent-ing!
