New Traditions

I decided to start a new tradition this year, based on something I read on my blogging friend Jen aka Brazenlilly's blog (by the way, if you're looking to give to others this year and aren't sure who to give to, you might want to read about Jen and her family's adoption process - they're planning to adopt a baby from Thailand, but the financial side of adoption is difficult to say the least and they could use any help they can get). Instead of the usual chocolate advent calendar, they do an "event" calendar...something they do as a family each day. I loved the idea of finding time as a family to celebrate Christmas and after seeing a gorgeous tree calendar at Pottery Barn Kids decided to try it this year too.

Here's our advent calendar hanging on the wall in the living room and kitchen area. Cute, huh?
Now it looks very pretty, but filling all those little pockets with daily activities is actually a lot of work and planning. This year is definitely a learning experience and I think next year it'll be easier! I looked for examples of fun activities on Jen's blog, as well as online and came up with a good list to draw from, as well as some events that I knew we'd be doing on certain dates. So, for example, on one of the early days we went and chose our Christmas tree, decorated it and had egg nog.
I also knew we had to make a special trip to the airport last week, so on the 13th, our activity was to "Go to the airport wearing Santa hats and pick Gaga up!" That went down very well!


We also had a cookie decorating party with our friends Aiden & Andrew.





And tonight we got ready for bed and then went for a drive to look at the Christmas lights in our neighbourhood. I love the legs sticking out of big boots and big jackets.


We've definitely had some misses too, what with kids being sick or someone not being interested in the activity of the day, but I think I have a good sense of how this works now and can perfect it for next year. FYI, here's a list of some of the other things we've done, or I've planned for us to do! I wish I'd consulted this list more often the night before and written things down rather than scrambling quite so much during the day to get things done. Ah well, like I said, its been a learning experience and next year, well! Look out December 1st, because I. Will. Be. Ready!

read Christmas stories
sprinkle oats on the lawn for the reindeer
go tobogganing
make a snowman with a carrot nose, hat and stick arms
Color picture for Christmas card.
Make house smell like Christmas. (Where you toss cinnamon sticks, cloves, anise seeds, etc., in an old saucepan and warm it up every once in a while.)
Polish toenails in Christmas colors. (I am thinking light metallic green with tiny red dots.)
Hang candy canes on tree.
Hang paper snowflakes from ceiling.
Make peanut butter pinecones to feed birds.
Paint face like Rudolph.
Color Christmas pictures.
Eat reindeer food. ( reindeer food = popcorn and m&ms and peanuts.)
Drive around and look at lights.
lleave out milk and cookies for Santa
celebrate the season with friends
make salt dough ornaments
hot chocolate stirred with candy canes
watch Christmas movies (another good babysitter activity)
write a letter to Santa
make our own wrapping paper with potato stamps, glitter, etc
make and mail cards for our friends
make and decorate sugar cookies
Local lights tour
decorate our doors (use a big roll of white butcher paper to make huge Christmas trees and add cut out ornaments)