This season has truly been a blessed one. Tiring at times, and very different trying to "get it all done" with an almost 2 year old at my feet, but so so sweet. Billy and I wanted to be very strategic and intentional with Christmas in our home. Starting new traditions, continuing old ones, but most of all making much of Jesus - it is, after all, his birthday. After browsing multiple blogs and attempting to browse pinterest I decided I wanted to make an advent calendar that served many purposes. The first purpose was to share the nativity story and make it a part of each day in December. I also wanted to make one that had a little something "special" for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. Not a gift, necessarily, but a family or "mommy & me" activity. And the third purpose was to just create a new tradition to be brought out each December 1 we have together in years to come. Luke absolutely loved it; He learned the story of Jesus' birth and memorized Luke 2:10-11 and soaked up all the newness surrounding Christmas. He loved getting to pick a card each day and hang an ornament on the little tree. In fact, he now picks up any and all receipts/pieces of paper/business cards and proudly "reads" a fun activity to us...ie: "ooooh...says, make rudolph cookies!!!"
**Disclaimer: while each pocket had a fun activity our days often changed (along with my energy/patience) so sometimes our activity got switched around or just plain looked over.** Also, the activities for each day were sometimes very simple (such as decorate the Christmas tree, put Christmas stickers on windows, help wrap Christmas presents, eat popcorn & watch a Christmas movie...) while others were more complex on days that I knew we'd have more time (make cinnamon ornaments, make Christmas cookies, paint a handprint Christmas tree, etc). So, here are a few pictures of my hand-made felt Advent Calendar and a few snapshots of our fun days leading up to Christmas. Had I decided to start this before November 27 it probably would have turned out a little differently. But hey, I seem to be a bit in love with change so maybe I'll make a new one in the year(s) to come ;)
Our little calendar, with a special felt "ornament" & activity for each day
Day 1 & 2 were a little lame - 1) buy & 2) decorate our Christmas tree ;)
A few of our crafts from the calendar... handprint Christmas tree, ornaments, paper plate rudolph, and sponge paint clothes-pin Christmas wreath
Gingerbread House making
Christmas Movie & Popcorn
Making Cinnamon dough ornaments... in which we learned Luke is allergic to raw cinnamon.
Christmas cookies!
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