Monday, November 12, 2012

Advent 2012

We're starting our Advent a little early this year, as we'll be doing stuff with our families on the actual day of Christmas. Which means I needed to get started planning earlier!  Here's the list I settled on for our traditional advent activities.  I also ordered Truth in the Tinsel, so I'm going to do more Christ related things when Serenity's school ends for the semester.  I haven't figured out that part completely yet, but this is what will go in our activity advent calendar.



26: Sing: Get new music, play it at home and in the car on the way to school.  I plan to order Laurie Berkner's Christmas cd, as both the kids and I love her music!  During the day and in the afternoon after school, I plan to play Christmas songs on the piano and on our handbells. 
27: Decorate Serenity and Donovan's Rooms for Christmas.  Serenity has a pink tree that we used last year, and we got Donovan some aqua blue ornaments for his room when they were on sale last year.  I don't know if we'll get him a tree or just hang Christmas lights in his room!


28: Rhema Lights/ get hot chocolate while there (bring sippy cup for dz)  Rhema is a church in our area that puts on a beautiful light show every year!  We loved it last year!  I want to go earlier this year in the hopes that it's not quite as cold. =) 
29: Read a new book.  We always get new books for our advent, and we love them all year long.  This year I'm leaning towards Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, as Donovan loved the first Pete book we got, or Sandra Boynton's Christmas Parade, as we all like that.  I have other ideas though if anyone is interested =)  *Let Serenity read it in the car on the way to school.
Nov. 30: Christmas Train ride
Dec 1: Gingerbread House Party: I invited Serenity's classmates to come decorate with us again because we had such a blast last year!  I plan to make the bases out of graham crackers, taking the easy route.  Hot glue rocks. =)  Print worksheets
Dec. 2: Nutcracker  I think Serenity is old enough to sit through the Nutcracker, and since she took dance this year it seems perfect.  (Teacher Gift Making: Pour pots) 
3: Deliver Teacher Gifts/Donate to some cause.  Possibly China, as she wanted to send our Operation Christmas Child boxes to China.  Or the World Wildlife Fund again, as she still loves animals. (Give to others...)
4: Candy Cane Hunt This is so much fun it's an activity we'll keep doing every year!  The challenge will be seeing if we can make it work for both kids!  Maybe different colored canes for each child?  (in the afternoon we might go shopping for sibling gift/Daddy/cousins... online and dollar store or Target?)
5: Angel Tree from School? Shop after school, take to school next day.
6: Movie Night (popcorn)  I haven't decided on a show, unfortunately our children still prefer cartoons.  Maybe just the Backyardigans Christmas episode. Or the Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus dvd with Neil Patrick Harris. Maybe I'll expand it into adult movie night and watch Miracle on 34th Street with Eric. 
7: Craft: Snow globes? Sewing felt tree to circle?
Dec. 8: Possible card crafting day? Leaf rubbing tree, handprint trees.  Butcher Paper Wrapping?  

Dec. 9: Santa and Cookie Exchange Party (possibly photos, spice shopping)
10: Christmas Manicures/ Fancy Dress Up Dinner/ carols around piano  Serenity got her first nail polish this year, so I thought she'd appreciate a "fancy" day. =)  I may like Fancy Nancy more than she does, but she reminds me a lot of Serenity.  Loves words, loves dress up =)
11: Grandparent Gifts (handprint/) craft?/  Truth in Tinsel shepherd day?  Won't put my pin of this up here, as Mom is usually my most faithful reader =) 
Dec 12: Winter Concert at school and Daddy's Birthday
13: Christmas Tree Campout (make fake fire for "smores")  Serenity and Daddy love sleeping under the tree!
14: Baking cookies again: Share them with neighbors
15: "Snowball" Fight  Possibly also "snowmen"


16: Backyard Game Day/Game night
17: Christmas with Papa
Dec 18th: (Parent Observation Day at Dance) Mail our Christmas Cards
19: Watch Home Movies  We always watch our home movies from the last year one night.  It's a great way to get me to actually transfer them from computer to a dvd.  =) 
20: Our Christmas (special breakfast, probably monkey bread)
Posted by Chrissie at 4:03 PM

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