I promise we're almost done with Christmas posts! I just want to journal this so I don't forget details.
I loved loved loved our advent system this year... worked out so well! And I'm soo glad that I stuck with 15ish activities (instead of trying to do 25)... it was the perfect amount for us! It wasn't too stressful or overwhelming because I planned ahead and knew what was coming up (why can't I do this for all things in my life!).
As I mentioned in this post I wrote out our 15 activities on little cards that I had on hand... the night before an activity I slipped it in to the appropriate pocket. He's little enough that it wouldn't have been a big deal if I'd put them all in at once... but I can see as he gets older that its easier if they don't know what the upcoming activities are (in case there are last minute changes).
Our 2011 Advent Activities in review:
- Toys for Tots Family Home Evening
Met up with some friends for dinner and then went and dropped off the toys... There were many tears on the way home when he realized he didn't get to keep the gifts. He hasn't quite grasped the concept of service yet. :)
The moment when he realized the gifts were staying in the box and not coming home with us!
- Ward Christmas Party
- snowman craft
- make magic reindeer food
- Family date night... dinner out and Christmas lights at our local park
- make thumbprint ornaments to send to Grandparents
- Decorate Tree and house
- Watch Elf (our favorite!)
- Brunch on Christmas Eve at Cracker Barrel
- 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
Activities that didn't happen this year:
make paper snowflakes
Live Nativity at Cowboy Church - its only one weekend a year and we only had one night we could go and it happen to be the weekend that everyone had a nasty cold.... so we'll try again next year!
make handprint ornament - I'm still planning on doing this one in the next week... I just ran out of time.
And there you have it... our very fun, very successful Advent activities for 2011!
