I remember I was all excited to do an advent calendar for the twins when they were just a year old. They were much too young to know what was going on though and we maybe got to day 4 and then sort of gave up on the idea. Last year, we never got around to it, and this year as I wrote about here, we’re really wanting to simplify the season and not stress ourselves out with feeling like we have to do anything. But we also want to solidify some fun family christmas traditions and after brainstorming a list of simple activities (most of which don’t need any prep at all and alot of which I got from my good friend Sophie who is the queen of the advent calendar), we decided the advent calendar was something we were going to do this year. If we miss a day, or have to modify an activity, we’ll just roll with it.

Our calendar uses four supplies. So easy! You could throw it together tonight if you wanted to!

• a stick
• yarn
• brown envelopes (from Michaels)
• sticky advent numbers (from Michaels)

The idea is that the boys will open an envelope together each morning and there will be a written activity for them to do that day.

 

Here’s what we came up with:

Dec 1 – Christmas P.J.s! and a tasty treat!

Dec. 2 – Make paper snowflakes

Dec. 3 – Get our Christmas tree and decorate it!

Dec. 4 – Holiday party with friends!

Dec. 5 – Making a blanket fort, to snuggle up with a flash light and christmas books

Dec. 6 – Make Marshmallow snowmen

Dec. 7 – Make a christmas paper garland

Dec 8 – baking gingerbread cookies

Dec. 9 – Christmas movie night and popcorn!

Dec. 10 – Visit Santa!

Dec. 11 – Make a paper nativity scene

Dec. 12 – make christmas cards for family and friends

Dec. 13 – Drive around and look at Christmas lights with hot chocolate.

Dec. 14 –  Make a christmas dough ornament.

Dec. 15 – Make a gingerbread house!

Dec. 16 – Christmas movie night and popcorn!

Dec. 17 – Family Christmas Party!

Dec. 18 – Bake christmas treats for neighbours and friends.

Dec. 19 – Make Christmas play-dough.

Dec. 20 – Walk through our downtown park to look at the lights!

Dec. 21 – Decorate a christmas tree for the animals.

Dec. 22 – Write a note of appreciation and draw a picture for a family member

Dec. 23 – Make reindeer food to sprinkle in the yard.

Dec. 24 – Make a birthday cake for Jesus.