Let Me Count the Days (to Christmas)

At the start of December we received a gift of a Nativity Advent Calendar. A few days later the same relatives sent us a 12 Days of Christmas gift box from Harry and David. Ashley and Caitlin were ecstatic. Needless to say, we did not wait for the 12 Days of Christmas to start eating the goodies inside. We sang the song over and over and each night after dinner we have been dipping into the boxes to choose a treat. Yum...Thank you Kaysea and Gordon. The box is practically empty.

Our success with the Nativity Advent Calendar, and the fun we had with the Halloween Countdown, encouraged to try something I learned about via a blog I like (Notes From the Trenches). NFTT linked to a site where Andrea reviews advent calendars and shares her own paper-envelope advent calendar. I thought it was so beautiful that I used the template she provides on her site and made a set using some of my colorful scrapbooking paper.

Some of the activities we've included:

1. Make reindeer with balloons.

I've been wanting to teach myself balloon art (because why not?) and this is one of the first animals you learn. Okay, so it's really a dog, but it is all about imagination and the fact that my daughters are 3 and 5yrs old and I told them we were making reindeer.

2. Wear Christmas hats, while listening to Christmas music and completing a jigsaw puzzle.

3. Attend a Christmas Concert.
4. Attend a Nativity Play.
5. Watch Rudolf and eat popcorn.
6. Eat Christmas Cookies and write Christmas Lists.

Our Christmas cookies from Starbucks that we shared for dessert after dinner one night, while we wrote our Christmas lists

7. Read Christmas stories beside the fire.
8. Watch Little People Christmas video with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
9. Make Christmas Cards.
10. Get Christmas Tree and decorate it.
11. Drive around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights.
12. Have a foot spa and paint toenail (with clear polish).
13. Make Snow Flakes.

14. Decorate Gingerbread People.
15. Attend Ashley's school Winter Break Breakfast and Concert.
16. See the Reindeer at Swanson's Nursery.
17. Ride the Christmas Carousel downtown.
18. Make Mince Pies

19. Hang Christmas Stockings and dance to Christmas music.
20. Make Christmas Cookies.
21. Watch the Nutcracker Ballet.
22. Go sledding.
23. Make apple pie with Granddad.
24. Attend Christmas party with friends.
25. Open Christmas Presents.