Wow, all of a sudden it’s December and the countdown is on, I’m somewhat ready.
I’ve wanted to make an advent calendar for the kids the past couple of years, but next thing I know it’s November 30th and I’m out of time. Now I do get my kids the “24 Chocolate Days” as Stella calls it, the advent calendars where you open it each day and eat a piece of chocolate. But, I wanted something bigger and better.
This year I started my efforts three weeks ago. I knew what I wanted to do, but I couldn’t find what I needed to make the advent calendar I pictured in my head. (I get real fancy in there.)
I did find a great alternative, and guess what? I didn’t cost me the $42 it would have for my “vision” advent calendar. I found it at the Dollar Spot at Target. It was actually $3, but that’s still $39 less than I would have spent if I went with my original plan.
Now to come up with twenty four things to do with my kids. Let’s face it, I’m pretty lazy. Doing things once or twice a week is no problem, but keeping up with something everyday is going to be a challenge, but it is the holiday season.
Here’s what I came up with, many of these things we do every year and some of these things are new.
- Decorate the house
- Make a wreath
- Decorate Gee’s tree (my mom)
- Go to a tree lighting
- Cut down our tree
- Do the Jingle Run (this is mine)
- Celebrate Maizie’s Birthday
- Deliver our Elf gifts
- Pancakes and cocoa for dinner
- Write out cards
- Look at light displays
- Go to Winter Wonderland
- Kids shop for each other
- Make a gingerbread house
- Visit Santa
- Go to La Salette Shrine
- Make giant snowflakes
- Make Christmas trees
- Make Christmas cakes
- Movie day
- Make cookies and fudge
- Put out all the presents
- Make reindeer food
- Go to Auntie Sally’s House
Some of these things are subject to change. Teddy is having his surgery on the ninth and that may throw some things off, depending how well he can see. Not to mention this is the time of the year that the yak attacks seem to hit us.
I’m thinking positive and hoping we can get it all done.
Hope you all enjoy this holiday season! What have you got planned?
This is a great list and I hope you get it all done. Good luck on Teddy’s surgery. I hope everything goes well.
I love your idea. I now feel inspired, thank you!
oh my gosh. I’ve never put everything in list form before. That definitely makes it look like a lot! Thankfully, i have most of everything on your list completed already!
This is a fun way to countdown to Christmas! Love it. I need an advent calendar!
That’s a great idea to have a Christmas countdown list. Kids gets so wound up and excited about the holidays, it’s nice to have something they can look forward to every day leading up to the big day.
It sounds like you are going to have a very busy, but very fun December! We have a countdown calendar, but I feel like I need to step up my game a bit. Hehe.
Those are great. We really want to do an advent calendar this year to countdown to Christmas with.
I love what you said about getting all fancy . . . in your head. Me, too! I love the advent calendar and especially that it didn’t cost $42. I bought the grandkids one from TJ Maxx and it wasn’t expensive and it’s really cute, too.
Everything is fancy in my head. You should see what my house looks like in my head, those magazines have nothing on me.
Awesome list, I am struggling to come up with things to do before its christmas
What a fun idea! I always end up putting plans off until the last minute, and then they never happen. I need to make a list and stick to a count down.
I am the queen of procrastination. This way my kids know something’s going on and my husband has advance notice. No more excuses.
That’s such a fun list! I never thought to do that before. My family just had the lame advent calendars with gross chocolate inside. Activities are much better!
That is so cute! We have an calendar similar with Elf on the Shelf on it!
She is so precious! What a great (and sooo cheap!!) advent calendar! So much fun during Advent.
LOL on yak attacks. That’s a cute advent calendar, don’t you love Target? This year my kiddos got lego advent calendars, they get a new lego mini thing to build each day, its usually a lego guy and some accessories.
I love this so much. I always think of making an advent calendar also but run out of time. This is even better.
These countdown can really keep kids excited for Christmas. It’s really nice to load up on activities for kids to give them good memories for the season.
What a great list! I always want an advent calendar, and then December hits, and I’m too late, lol!
Wow what a great list of ideas. I have never thought of doing an advent calendar before. We’ll have to try for next year for sure.
What a super awesome way to countdown to Christmas! I absolutely LOVE it!
That’s a cute little Advent calendar!! I love the countdown until Christmas!!
We no longer have Target where I live…I would have run out right now to buy that calendar!
What a fun idea for an advent calendar! Our advent calendar is an old Mikey Mouse one and we fill it with little things like candy, bookmarks, inspirational quotes <3
A great list of activities leading up to Christmas! Anything to make those days a little less anxious, right? 😀
So many fun things to do! We don’t really have any plans other than opening presents this year!
Advent calendars have always been a cherished Christmas tradition in our home. I have fond memories of my childhood, as well as those of my children. Enjoy!
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Wonderful Advent countdown. The kids will love it. Good luck with the surgery. Merry Christmas
Brooke
I have always loved advent calendars and I can’t believe I completely spaced on them this year! My 5 year old asks me at least twice a day, how many more days until Christmas. We are just using a boring calendar.
Love your cute advent and Your list of ideas! I hope the surgery went okay. 🙂