advent

i have had lots of questions about the advent calendar that i made last year.  basically i made paper pockets out of double sided christmas paper, numbered them, and then slipped a paper card in each.  all of the cards have a scripture reading (here are the scriptures) and some of them have a christmas songs to sing.  as a family, we sit down and write fun activities on yellow stars and i sneak them in the pocket when no one is looking.   here is a pic of what it looks like this year. 

this year i found a list of fun ideas to chose from for activities this year (thank you pintrest)... thought i would share it with you:

Deck the halls!

Take photos for Christmas cards

Buy a new Christmas album and listen to it

Make the house smell like Christmas

Make Christmas Cards

Read a Christmas Story Book

Wrap Christmas Gifts

Make a new Christmas Decoration

Color a Christmas picture

Build a snowman or hang up paper snowflakes

Make hot chocolate and stir with candy canes

Make a treat and take it to a friend

Watch a christmas movie and eat popcorn

Go out for a Christmas treat

Do something nice for someone

Do service for someone in need

Have a campout in front of the Christmas tree

Call grandma and grandpa and sing a Christmas song

Take gifts to teachers and friends

Read a story or watch a movie about the birth of Baby Jesus

Make cookies and write letters for Santa Clause

Read "The Night Before Christmas"

Christmas!!!

and for our opinion on santa... here is last years post.