Countdown Till Christmas

I love advent calendars. I think it stems from all the chocolate-filled cardboard advent calendars we used to open as a kid. We have a big wall hanging one you put candy in that I got from Pottery Barn Kids on a great sale a couple of years ago but I really wanted another one. Then I came across this idea on a blog -- basically you take envelopes and fill them with different activities. I like this because it really focuses on us doing things together as a family and getting our little kids into the spirit of Christmas. Luke was so excited that he snuck out of his room early a few days ago and opened ALL of the envelopes. But luckily he can't read yet so it didn't spoil anything. He loves it -- and that's the point, right?

I downloaded the template on line and used my scrapbooking scraps to make the envelopes. Then I just hung it on a ribbon on our piano.

Here are the activities we're doing:

1. Have fun at a Christmas party and tell Santa what you want for Christmas.
2. Write letters to Santa
3. Buy a toy for a child in need
4. Read Christmas stories
5. Play Christmas music and dance around the kitchen
6. Draw Christmas pictures to send to Grandma and Grandpa
7. Watch a Christmas movie together
8. Go visit Mommy at work and eat cookies together
9. It’s family game night!
10. Candlelit dinner together
11. Make Christmas cookies together
12. Take Christmas cookies to the neighbors
13. Pick out a favorite stuffed animal and Mommy or Daddy will make up a Christmas story
14. Go see the Christmas lights downtown. Don’t forget the hot chocolate!
15. Go outside and throw snowballs at each other
16. Sing Christmas carols together by the piano
17. Bake another batch of Christmas cookies and share with neighbors.
18. Have breakfast for dinner.
19. Make a list of ten things you are thankful for. Hang it where you can see it every day.
20. Make and hang edible gifts for the birds and squirrels.
21. Have a campout around the Christmas tree.
22. Call all of your Grandparents and tell them you love them.
23. Go outside and look at the stars. Have hot chocolate together afterwards.
24. Unwrap one present after dinner (mom and dad get to pick which one) and read the Christmas story.
25. It’s Christmas Day. Remember you have a family who loves you. And that’s the most important gift of all.

You can download the template and get more info here: http://www.quietfish.com/notebook/?p=1244. You still totally have time to do this for the 12 days of Christmas.