Our holidays center a lot on family activities. Instead of gifts and goodies, I printed little cards for the advent pockets. Each one lists something we can do together each day. Some have “choose a special Christmas goodie” though. Most of the activities are ones we already attend or do anyway, so it’s a no brainer to include them. It’s just fun for Ella and Madi to be surprised when they pull out the card each day. And it simplifies our holidays to break the list down to daily activities.
Here’s our list:
Decorate your tree
Go to the Festival of Trees as a family
Go on a wagon ride through the lights at Thanksgiving Point
Shop for gifts for other children (FSTC Santa’s Workshop)
Unwrap a book to read
Have hot cocoa and cookies with our neighbors (Neighborhood Service Project)
Open your special ornament and put in on your tree
Make a craft with Mom
Write a letter to Santa
Go to the Christmas party at church
Go to Temple Square to see the nativity
Go sledding with Dad
Have a family Christmas movie night with treats
Choose a special treat
Shop for a gift for your preschool party
Have FHE with our BYU friends
Ride on the Polar Express
Have lunch at a special restaurant with our family
Wear new jammies to bed
Have FHE with your cousins
Decorate cookies
Read the story about the birth of Jesus
31 comments:
Love this! We've been doing a "Christmas List" this year... crossing off stuff as we do them... but we love the advent and will start it next year with our little boy.
Love your advent calendar!! so cute!
Very cute advent calendar! Thanks for the great idea. Where did you find the advent calendar?
just found it at pottery barn kids!
Hi!! I'm looking for a punch with that shape. Do you know where can I find it? thank you so much
Hello, what a wonderful idea! I am definitely getting inspired for some activity list for december! thank you for sharing..
What a great idea!
This is an amazing advent calendar idea, thanks for posting it!
THANK YOU!!! I have been looking everywhere for a good list of things I can put in our advent this year. LOVE all of your ideas and you seriously just helped me with a big check off my list of things to get done :)
This is a GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing. . .I think we'll definitely do something like this this year :)
Hi dear...
I'm a brazilian mom... and I really loved your advent calendar... here, the calendar isn't a tradition, but I think it's so cute, lovely and 'warm' ;)
of course, because the weather (in december is ssoooooo hot) somethings 'll be different... but the magic is the same...
some words I didn't undarstand, could you help me?
*Have FHE with our BYU friends
what is FHE an BYU?
and in you list there is just 21 activities... Am I wrong????
if you prefer, answer by e-mail: oblogenchante@gmail.com
thank you so much for this idea!!!!
brazilian hugs
Love this! The last two years we started doing something similar but I'm always looking for new activity ideas. We included some simple ones as well. Since all the grandparents live in other states, we've had, "Call Grandma in KY and sing a Christmas Carol." A fun one to include.
So much fun! I shared it on my business facebook page and I'm going to share it with my Religious Ed parents too!
I found this at a perfect time, as I wanted our advent to focus on activities this year, too. Thank you so much for sharing!
SUCH a good idea! My hubby will be home for 2 weeks for Christmas and I wanted to do something little for some added fun on our vacation. This would be perfect with some more mature things added instead :)
This is such a great idea! I love it. And Paty incase you haven't gotten an answer, FHE stands for Family Home Evening. It is something we do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Each Monday we are asked to have a family night, time with just our family. Usually family night includes talking about a gospel topic and just having fun together. BYU is a University here in Utah, Brigham Young University. Hope that helps you understand it a little better.
Thanks, Angela!
Paty,
You also asked why I only had 21 activities for our advent calendar. That's because some things we repeat, like "do a craft with Mom" or "go sledding with Dad." Those are the two our daughter would choose to do every day! Enjoy your warm weather in Brazil.:)
Kitina,
I actually just printed out the cards rectangular and used a corner rounder punch for the corners. I like the way it looks. You can get a corner rounder at any craft store.
Thanks for a great blog
Best Christmas Decoration ideas
That is a really cool idea and love your activities! Its about the little things and those times together! Love it!
What a great idea, thanks!
I LOVE this idea!! I have an advent calender and I have always put candy treats in the boxes. I'm trying to live a more healthy lifestyle, and trying to teach my kids to do the same. This will help with that goal. What a super way to do special things together, and make memories that last! This is the best treat. Thanks again. :)
see how we suggested your card idea
http://www.justforthefamily.com/7/post/2011/11/chrismas-advent.html
I love this! And your cards are so cute. Can you tell me how you created them? Just printed them off the printer and cut them? Happy Holidays!
Thanks, Bonnie. Yes, I just printed them and cut out, then used a corner rounder punch on the corners. Super simple.
Kim,
Thanks for the activity list...I was making my advent tree with a similar theme and saw your list and borrowed a few great ideas! I linked back to you from my post:
http://ladyjcreations.blogspot.com/2011/12/advent-tree.html
Thanks for your advent ideas! Hope it's okay if I use one of your photos on our facebook fan page for our link up party on Saturday? I'll delete at your behest. Love your post either way :D
I love this!!! Though it's a few years off for me to enjoy this with my little one, I can't wait and I love all the ideas you shared!
I love this so much that not only will be adopting this as our family tradition, I absolutely had to feature your idea (along with a link to you) in my post about advent calendars!! You can check it out here http://simplylivinggreen.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for something that I know our family will look forward to every year!!
Maureen
This is a gorgeous advent calendar. I have been trying to find one that focused on "messages" and this is the one! Thanks for sharing!
This is a gorgeous advent calendar. I have been trying to find one that focused on "messages" and this is the one! Thanks for sharing!
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