Get it? Advent...ures? I am SO clever. Yes, it's that pre-Christmas season again and I'm mostly prepared.
Last year, I clogged up our brains with daily updates; this year I'm going Theme Week route and doing a once-a-week roundup.
In case you're also feeling the spirit moving you, here's our list of merry [yes, you should be yelling all of these]:
- SINGING.
- BOOKS.
- GINGERBREAD HOUSE.
- SNOW PAINT.
- RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS.
- CHRISTMAS MOVIE and SHOPPING.
- DECORATE SUGAR COOKIES.
- GET CHRISTMAS TREE.
- BORAX SNOWFLAKES.
- MAKE WINDOW CLINGS.
- CUT OUT PAPER SNOWFLAKES.
- LIGHTS IN THE PARK (local to the Twin Cities).
- GIVE TOYS AWAY and CHRISTMAS MOVIES.
- MAKE MARSHMALLOWS and DRINK HOT CHOCOLATE.
- HUNT FOR TREATS AROUND THE HOUSE.
- MAKE POM-POM PINE CONE TREES.
- MAKE DOORBELLS and A SISTER'S BED.
- ICE SKATING.
- MAKE PAPER BEAD GARLAND.
- MAKE REINDEER ORNAMENT and WATCH CHRISTMAS MOVIE.
- MAKE CIRCLE ORNAMENTS.
- WRAP PRESENTS.
- PLAY WITH FOAM LETTERS & THINGS.
- MAKE YARN AND BUTTON TREES.
- PLAY WITH SALT DOUGH or PERLER BEADS.
In case you're feeling overwhelmed or that I'm crazy: these do not all happen exactly on the day they are planned. Many times, we'll open up the bag for the day and then run out of time after running around town getting CFDs (Cute Family Discount, which The G swears we get often), working, and doing laundry. MANY days we double up and for many of these crafts, I do a lot of the prep work (which I immensely enjoy), so the ladies just get to do the magic.
If some of these activities are age inappropriate, weather inappropriate, or just plain inappropriate (maybe you're allergic to ginger and CANNOT make a gingerbread house), I have plenty more ideas on my Christmas Countdown Pinterest board.
Days 1-8
Day 1: SINGING.
There are SOME people in our house that can sing. Namely, everyone but me. But if you turn up the stereo enough, you can't actually hear yourself, and you just blend right in the Bing, Harry [Connick, Jr, you nerds], and Pentatonix.
We also put up the super fabulous tinsel tree in the girls' room, which is surrounded by the bags numbered for each day. I drop some of the supplies in and a note explaining what we're doing for that day.
Day 2: These are the ones I could find [are not stashed away in beds] or remember [have read recently] from our collection.
Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella by Nicholas Saloby
The Nutcracker by George Balanchine
Treasured Tales of Christmas by Deborah Apy
The Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas by Natasha Wing
The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Mary Engelbreit
Day 3: you know who buys stuff the week after Christmas and stashes it away to use NEXT Christmas? This girl. Gingerbread house? $1.97. BOOM.
Day 4: snow paint. It's kind of like puffy paint and permanent shaving cream, but it's sparkly and smells good, so it's AMAZING.
Day 5: random acts of kindness. AKA putting M&Ms in public places.
The girls have a hard time not thinking of specific people to give them to ("let's give them to Daddy!/JB!/Erika!/Scott!/Auntie Dee!"), so I offer up suggestions like on the gas pump at the gas station, on a cart handle at Target, at the ATM, on a garbage can, on a mailbox, etc.
I get SUPER excited about this one, like giggling uncontrollably and hiding behind large objects excited. It's like playing Ding Dong Ditch, but with CANDY and NICENESS.
Day 6: The Grinch That Stole Christmas and shopping for Christmas presents. The classic movie from EVERYBODY'S childhood (with popcorn!), along with solo trips (on the way home from work) for each girl to pick out presents for their sisters. I relegate them to the dollar-ish section at Target and still it's a MASSIVE test of decision making.
Day 7: Decorate sugar cookies. I went the easy, and therefore more awesome, route with sugar cookies from Schwan's and premade icing in handy little packages.
Day 8: Hunt for a Christmas tree. AKA The Ones Who Can Sing, burning off their abundant energy. Just how I like it.
How do you do Christmas? Or Hanukkah? How do you spell Hanukkah?
