Advent Calendar activities

I, like many people, have an Advent calendar for the kids. Ours was made by Laolao and features a small pocket for a small surprise to be opened each day from December 1st to 24th.

I’ve always felt an Advent calendar should start on the first Sunday of Advent. I suppose that would get complicated, as the number of Advent days would vary from 22 – if Christmas falls on a Monday – to 28 – if Christmas falls on a Sunday. This year the December 1st-24th convention is not far off, as the first Sunday of Advent falls on November 30th. But one of these years I may make my own calendar that takes into account the varying number of Advent days.

Finding 24 small surprises or gifts can get both complicated (to think of that many different things!) and expensive. But the surprise doesn’t always have to be a purchased gift. Last year, Grace posted a number of ideas for incorporating seasonal actvities as the surprises in an Advent calendar (and other ideas for non-purchased gifts). I was already thinking along similar lines and used some of her suggestions last year. This year I’ve done the same, and added some activities we like to do.

So my list this year includes things like:

• draw pictures and wrap gifts for our three overseas sponsored children (Ethiopia, China, Indonesia);
• make Christmas gift tags using cardstock and stickers;
• get our Christmas tree (we always go to a local tree farm to enjoy the fresh air, a horse (or tractor) & buggy ride, and some hot chocolate);
• make tree ornaments and popcorn & cranberry or paper chain garlands;
• decorate the Christmas tree;
• shop with Laolao for Mommy’s Christmas present;
• make our Advent banners (good for 3 or 4 days!);
• see the holiday lights downtown;
• take a moonlit walk on the night of the full moon (13 December this year);
• make cookies, nuts and bolts, a gingerbread house, etc (good for a few days’ activities);
• make chili one day for an Advent dinner with some friends;
• make invitations to a tea party;
• prepare treats for the tea party;
• host the tea party (see, you can make some things last!);
• go sledding;
• go for a country-side walk;
• special late-night movie night at home;
• a treasure hunt to find movie-night treats.

Not everything is an activity. We do have a few actual gifts, including things like these:

• an Advent bulb plant like an Amaryllis (thanks to Grace for this idea)
• a few little gifts purchased last winter in Ethiopia
• a few little gifts remaining from our trip to China almost four years ago!!
• a new Christmas movie
• some hair ties for Mustang, a little pouch for Button
• a Christmas story written by Mommy (presuming I can get it done in time…)

And when we make craft projects the craft supplies will be gifts, too!