The Countdown to Christmas is almost here!! Can you even stand it?? We are (BD says I should speak for myself) I am not big on the element of surprise over here, never have been. The anticipation is too much, I don’t care if I ruin the surprise, I will do everything I can to find out where the gift is hidden. Kate is very much like that also. To make it a little easier we celebrate the 25 days to Christmas, or you can do 12 days. Something fun each day to do with the family because that’s what Christmas is really all about. Ok, well, really it’s about the birth of Jesus, but spending quality time with family is also important. And, after a family discussion the kids decided they would rather have a month of family fun and less gifts vs. lots and lots of gifts. Makes my heart melt..
Nothing like a good old fashioned Advent Calendar to keep the activities organized. I do them a little differently each year. Designing a scrapbook page calendar with little cards that open, or a paper chain that you tear off each day, or use a mini muffin tin. This year I came across this gem at Michaels. It is a Gingerbread House Advent Calendar with little windows and doors that open. 69 cents! I KNOW, RIGHT!! I put a piece of solid paper behind, took the glass out of a 12×12 frame and framed it, and printed out our activities and placed them behind each window. Because some of us are such a bunch of peekers, I won’t mention any names, I might put clues behind the windows. Clues to find an envelope that when opened, will tell them what the adventure for the day is. How easy was that!
Here is the list of activities we will be partaking in on the 25 days before Christmas:
New pajamas for kids
Polar Express train ride at the Sacramento Train Museum
Festival of Lights in Auburn
Make an ornament
Give a gift to an underprivelaged child
Dance and sing to Christmas music
Bake Cookies
Write Love Letters (to each other and then we put them in each other’s stockings. No peeking!)
Build a Gingerbread House
Play Flashlight Tag
Dress up for a Crab Dinner (at home)
Watch a Christmas Movie
Write a Letter to Santa
Make a Time Capsule (to be opened in 5 years, but maybe next year b/c some of us can’t wait)
Read favorite Christmas story
See Christmas Lights in Rocklin
Ice Skating at Outdoor Rink in Folsom
St. Nikolaus Day (which is celebrated in Germany)
Bake Pumpkin roll
“Spread Joy”
Make a meal together
Go to Snow
Candlelit bubble bath & paint nails (This might turn into Mommy night)
Open Stockings
Santa arrives
Is that 25? Phew, I am exhausted!!
I so also LOVE this one! I’ll try this next year and maybe hang them on a mini tree or scattered on the wall.
If just reading that makes you feel overwhelmed how about these countdown blocks from Not So Idle Hands that are equally cute and fun.
Well whatever you do I am sure it will be memorable because it will be spent doing it together!
Three cheers for Xmas, xoxo Sonja
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