Advent Adventures

I think it was only 3 days ago that I remembered that December was coming and the kids would be expecting something fun and exciting to happen.

You see, each year I try and come up with little daily surprises for my kids to help them get ready for MY favorite holiday.

Sometimes we have a regular, candy filled, advent calendar...

some years one of Santa's elves visits every day with little letters of encouragement (and reprimands for extra naughty children....)

This year I decided to do 4 different Advent calendars

Mostly because I have 4 younger kids that would fight over who got to open the thingy each day.

This year they get to rotate what they open each morning.

The first calendar I made years ago. It is a wonky little tree with pockets. Each day you move the Star closer and closer to the top of the tree.

This next one is snack pockets. I loaded each pouch with 4 small treats, one for each kid.

 (like Tootsie Roll, or Dum Dum sucker. Nothing too big)

I put up envelopes on for the weekend days. They will hold a note about special breakfasts, or fun deserts for lunch.

For the Third- Little gift bags that hold notes about a different Christmas activity each evening.

I kept these fairly simple like-

*Cocoa and a Christmas Movie tonight

*Make and decorate cookies

*Make cards for Grandma and Grandpa

*See Christmas Lights in town

The 4th is my favorite!

I got a Christmas card holder shaped like a tree.  On it I hung little gift boxes with bits of Bliss fabric on them. I printed off the cute little number circles from a cute little blog that I can't seem to find right now, but I will update this when I do.

Inside each box is a daily challenge. The challenges are things that will mostly help us learn to serve others.

Things like-

*Draw a Christmas picture to give to a neighbor

*Smile at 6 people you don't know

*Tell your teachers "Thank You"

*Talk to someone that looks lonely on the playground

*Let someone else be "First" today

Each night we close our day talking about what we did for others today, and with a Scripture story about the Saviors life to help us prepare for the celebration of his birth.

What do you do with your kids for Christmas fun?

Let the Merriment begin!
Love, Jana