Happy {almost} December 1st! I love this day because it means I get to set up our advent calendar and all the little "goodies" that go in it. My kids absolutely LOVE getting to pull something out of the pockets each and every day!
This year I really wanted to focus on making each day about spending TIME together as a family and/or doing something for someone else. The truth is...all of the "excess" at Christmas time really disgusts me - I don't mean to be negative but I just feel like, for our family at least, we have enough of everything - we need nothing more!! We are so spoiled in this country - too much money gets spent...too much food gets eaten...etc. etc. OK sorry about the soapbox - onto more positive things.
I got inspired to write a post because there's actually a lot of planning/coordinating/organizing that goes into our advent. After writing an idea for each day, I then get our calendar out to see which idea goes on which day! Then I coordinate with my husband and his schedule - some of the activities involve him :)
So here's the list of what we're doing for each day of December. And let me say I get a ton of ideas off Pinterest - you can see my Christmas Board http://pinterest.com/csgammill/christmas/. Some days are simple...some require a little more planning...
Day 1: Read Elf on the Shelf while eating yummy snacks...where will Jack appear??!!!!!
Day 2: Make giant felt tree and ornaments http://adventuresathomewithmum.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/felt-recreatable-christmas-tree.html
Day 3: Christmas craft: popsicle stick tree and/or ornaments http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/2011/11/5-homemade-craft-stick-christmas.html
Day 4: Go to Hobby Lobby and let each girl pick out a new ornament-hopefully at 1/2 price (this'll be a new family tradition!)
Day 5: Cookie decorating party
Day 6: Take hot chocolate to a Salvation Army bell ringer
Day 7: Give a candy cane to each of the 3 workers we know and love at Kroger with a little note thanking them: see these awesome little tags http://www.lillightomine.com/tyfoon/site/pages/media/162691ebf6659ca.pdf
Day 8: Tuck a few dollars in an envelope with a little "surprise" tag (see link above) and leave it in the toy aisle at Target for some lucky kid to find!
Day 9: Christmas craft: thumbprint string of lights (http://beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-card-thumb-print-string-of.html
Day 10: Do a thank-you craft for our sweet babysitter
Day 11: Go out for {cheap} dinner and drive around looking at Christmas lights
Day 12: Buy a bunch of flowers and hand out 1 at a time at the mall
Day 13: Bake and take treats to the new fire station
Day 14: Family sleepover - we each open new pajamas (yes even daddy! and I try to get matching ones :) and we set up pallets on the floor around the tree and watch a Christmas movie
Day 15: Bake and take treats to our across-the-street neighbors
Day 16: Take treats to a friend who lost a loved one this year and write her a Merry Christmas note in chalk on her driveway
Day 17: Kids to gather some of their change and let them put it in the Salvation Army bucket
Day 18: Go to the mall to see Santa with GG - then go get a cookie and pay for the order of the customer behind us
Day 19: Make a thank-you craft for a special lady at our church
Day 20: Christmas craft: handprint Christmas tree http://pinterest.com/pin/153333562284794475/
Day 21: Birthday party for Jesus
Day 22: Make reindeer food
Day 23: Call Nana just to tell her we love her and maybe sing a Christmas carol?!
Day 24: Call GG & Papa just to tell them we love them
Oh and I do stick a little Hershey kiss or other treat in most of the pockets!
Happy Adventing!!
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