Monday, December 3, 2012

Christmas Advent Calendar

This year I wanted to do something a little different. I am trying to raise my kids to have big hearts and understand that its not always about receiving but also about giving. I also have to make it fun for them.
December 1- 1st day of Christmas. Santa Claus is coming to town. I purchased a pack of Christmas cards from the dollar tree and yes it took a lot of time but I wrote the words to Santa Claus is coming to town inside the card and signed it Love Mom and Dad. We watched the movie and I found white cotton candy at the dollar tree. Scratched off some of the label and wrote with a black paint pen. Santa's beard. They were scared to try it at first and even thought it was really his beard. lol. I also painted Santa Claus on their nails. Looked something like this. I didn't do the face. I put it all in a brown paper bag and made a colorful 1 on the front of it. I also put on the back of the bags what we will do that day and on the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.We also made Santa Handprint ornaments. Recipe Here. I put the year and their name on it.

December 2- Snowflakes was our theme. We made snowflake ornaments with white playdough. They are still drying but says on the container will dry hard. I will put a coat of mod podge on them a ribbon and those will be given out. I wrote tho song Let It Snow on the card and we sing those songs all day long the kids love it. We cut out paper snowflakes and decorated the house with them. I even figured out how to get Mickey's face in one. We were suppose to make snowflake tortilla's but ran out of time. This will be done on the 3rd day of Christmas. Recipe can be found here.

December 3- Writing letters to Santa. On weekday we won't have as much time as on weekends to this one will be pretty fast. On the back I put on the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me a 3 french hens. Inside the bag I put 3 Santa sheets of paper my mom printed off the internet, envelopes, and a new pack of pens. Next year I want to add cute Christmas stamps to decorate the envelopes with. After they finish writing them we will bring them to Macy's to drop them off in the big red mailbox. Might not happen until this weekend.

December 4- Teaching my kids to feel good about giving not just receiving is important to me. Today we played wegivebooks.org. For every book you read they help out with giving books to those in need. Right now they are helping out those affected by hurricane Sandy.

December 5- We read the book I've Seen Santa. We actually already owned the book so I just wrapped it up and inside the bag I found some candy at the dollar tree. Pack of 6 I hid them around the house and they had to find them. 2 of them were Santa.

December 6- Dance to Christmas music. I let the girls pick some Christmas songs to dance to. I found cute little poprock candies at dollar tree that came with a sucker and had Christmas characters on it.

December 7- Have a sleepover under the Christmas tree. My girls always love sleeping in the living room. Hubby moves a mattress to the floor and we watched a Christmas movie on netflix. We actually fell asleep pretty soon. lol

December 8- Polar Express Day. We watched the movie and while watching I made some bell ornaments by tying a red ribbon to some cute bells I found at the dollar tree and made them each a necklace with the bell. After I wanted to do a hot chocolate tea party but our tea pot and cups are MIA. More then likely packed away. So we just had hot chocolate. Then we went to the mall and rode the little train that goes around in a circle. Waved to Santa who was next to the train. When they get older I would love to go ride the trolley car.

December 9- Was Ornament day but my mom wanted to do something with the girls so our stuff was pushed to the side. They did make some cute paintings at my moms. Next year I would like to try and cut out ornaments with them using cookie cuters and some foam paper.

December10- Nature Scavenger Hunt. I set up 2 a just in case it was raining outside and one for outside. It rained really hard that day so I am thankful for the inside one. I put things like Santa, snowman, red ornament, candy cane, gift, different Christmas stuff. The last one I put open your box and it was some bubble gum.

December 11- Nativity Story. I know I have this book around here. Must also be packed away. I printed the nativity story and wrapped up a small nativity set, I already had. I would like to look for a plastic one so they won't break it. That is on my list for after Christmas sale. Also I wanted to put the song Away in the Manger in the bag but ran out of time.

December 12- Read One Snowy Night. Also a book that we already had. I wrapped it up and inside the bag I put red felt that was cut in the shape of a hat with needles and thread. We will make ornaments out of them. Hopefully they come out cute and no one sticks themselves.







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