Advent Activity Calendar!

So it's officially December!  

We are now in the month of Christmas...my favorite time of year!

I love everything about Christmas time....except for all the materialism.  

I love the lights, the spirit, the fun, the family get togethers, holiday parties, food, and most of all, taking some extra time to dwell on our gift of Christ.

We desperately want our children to grow up understanding the magnitude of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection.

But, in this world of materialism we know we are going to have to be very purposeful in guiding their hearts back to what truly matters.

We do this every day in what we teach them, the stories we read them, and the opportunities that life gives us every day when the girls see something that they don't understand.  We're here to explain life to them from a Biblical worldview.

We are also trying to make memories with them!  Last year we kicked off the Advent season with an Advent Activity calendar!  It was super fun putting it together and having the kids open an envelope every day with a new activity on it!

  

The girls totally loved it, so we knew we'd have to make it a new tradition!

This year, I included several activities that involve giving.  We really want to continually guide them to think of others instead of themselves. 

Which got me thinking the other day....when do kids start making Christmas lists?  I honestly don't want our girls sitting around for weeks thinking about what THEY want!  I want them thinking of what they've already been GIVEN!  And then, we should be thinking of those that have nothing and what we can do to give to them!  (Concludes mini rant)

So, making your own activity calendar is super easy and there's a ton of ways you can do it!  I didn't have clothes pins on hand this year, so we improvised.  

First, make a list of the activities you want to include. (you'll want to start on December 1st and have 25 activities)

Then, look at your calendar and map out which activity to plan on which day.  We really needed to plan ours out!

Now, what I did was cut scrapbook paper into four squares.

Then I wrote the activity on the back side of the paper.

I then folded the paper into an envelope and taped the seam shut.

Then I wrote the corresponding number on the outside.

Because I didn't have clothespins to pin them onto twine like last year, I just pinned them onto a small wreath.

This morning the girls opened one that told them they could make a Christmas countdown chain! (Who doesn't remember making those???)

Joy was super excited....so excited that she jumped for joy and hit her head on the counter.  Temporary crying ensued.

So if you'd like to make your own for your kiddos this year, I'll share our list.  It's very personal and there are soooo many ideas that you can use!

25. Make a Christmas Countdown Chain
24. Make paper snowflakes and hang on the window
23. Decorate bedroom door for Christmas
22. Open a new wrapped Christmas book and read it!
21. Collect toys from your toy box to donate.
20. Take your change to Salvation Army donation spots in front of the grocery stores.
19. Make Christmas ornaments
18. Go to the MALL!
17. Dress up for a tea party dinner (at home)
16. Open another wrapped Christmas book
15. Surprise movie night! (they'll open this one right at bedtime when we're tucking them in.  We'll have hot cocoa and Polar Express ready for them when they come back into the living room)
14. Take a glow bath! (You put glow sticks in the bath and turn the lights off...it's really cool!)
13. Go to see Frozen at the theater
12. Go to the Parade of Lights in Sutter Creek
11. Make Christmas cards for grandparents/great grandparents
10. Drive up to see the snow
9. Make Christmas cookies and decorate them
8. Open one last Christmas book
7. Get cookies ready for the mail lady and trash collector guy
6. Drive around to see Christmas lights
5. Have dinner by candlelight
4. Help mom wrap Christmas gifts
3. Help mom make homemade gifts for friends (can't elaborate on these online!:)
2. Stay up extra late at Nonnie and Papa's for Christmas Eve
1. Read about Jesus's birth first thing in the morning!

For other ideas, check out the list on this blog.  There are lots of good ideas (not every idea is good or something that I agree with or suggest!)


So whatever you choose to do this season, purpose to teach, guide, and direct your children to what really matters.  And that is the gift the our Savior has given!!!