Advent Calendar

I cannot believe it is December already!! I love the holiday season. I love the commercials on Tv that make me feel warm and cozy, the tree lighting up my living room, the goodies and the anticipation of Santa’s arrival. Honestly, I love everything about the holidays. I’m a total holiday nerd. I also know how fast my kids will grow up, so I try to soak in as much holiday fun as we can.

When Jake was about three I decided to give him an Advent Calendar. Every day there was a toy or a fun activity. I also sprinkled in a few nice deeds on the calendar. It seemed like I was creating a kid who expected to “get” things all the time. I was also stressed trying complete all of the activities with a three year old and a baby. I couldn’t wait for the season to be over! I was ruining Christmas, for me.

The next year I started waking up. I dreaded the Advent calendar and Jake was looking forward to 25 days of gifts. Now I had two boys that would want things, Sam was two. I decided that the entire calendar was going to be an opportunity to give to others. What had I been thinking the year before? I didn’t want to turn my sweet little boy into a greedy child. I wrote down a bunch of ideas for our calendar and then looked at the calendar to plan each day. I knew there were days that we couldn’t “shop for the food bank “, so to avoid hating the advent calendar, I planned these activities for days that would work. This year was much more smooth, and my love for the advent calendar was returning.

Every year I’ve gotten smarter and found new ways to give back and also ways to enjoy Advent. Now I love Advent again! And I’m so happy!!

I’m going to share what we do each day. You can ONLY read this and plan your own calendar if you PROMISE not to over do it and get yourself to the point of hatred. This is a season of hope and love, not stress and hate. If you can’t handle an advent calendar, DON’T DO IT! Maybe read a devotional each day, or set aside time to pray as a family. Advent should not be a time of stress. Make Advent less about things and more about Jesus, family and love.

This is how my family celebrates Advent. This has been a few years in the making, but we are finally getting the hang of it.

Day 1

This week has a rare picture taken by Derek.

We made cookies today for our local volunteer fire department. They have a weekly meeting on Tuesdays, so we made the cookies and put them in the freezer. We will drop the cookies off before their weekly meeting.

We made chocolate cookies. In Sam’s defense this beater is very difficult to lick without getting it all over your face.

I spilled cocoa all over Max! As I was spilling it, I was lecturing my children on not making a huge mess.

If you don’t have time to bake cookies or make a treat, there is nothing wrong with buying something and delivering it. Meat and cheese tray, Chex mix, store bought anything. As long as your kids understand why you are doing this, it’s a success!!

Day 2

Make something for our Pastor.

I asked the boys if they wanted to make cookies, Chex mix or cinnamon rolls. The vote was cinnamon rolls. We had planned to make some rolls this weekend, since it was a snowy weekend. It was a great way to share our rolls.

Jake was the only child who helped with this activity. The boys went sledding today. I didn’t mind making these alone. Jake is going to deliver the rolls.

Day 3

Write a letter to the solider.

We have our own soldier, Derek’s brother. Jake was way more into this activity than Sam.

Day 4

Help your grandmothers. Today we had to travel, so the boys went to my mom’s house. The boys helped my mom decorate for Christmas.

Now they need to help their other grandmother, which won’t be too difficult as she lives down the road.

Day 5

Buy toys for tots. My boys have been selling some of their toys so that they can buy Christmas presents for our family. Today they took some of their money and bought toys for tots. Dad was in charge of this activity, therefore there are no pictures. 😉

Day 6

Read to your brother.

Day 7

Make a meal for someone.

Sam prepared lunch for his grandparents. Honestly I did most of the work, but he is 5 and I can handle it. 😉

Days 8-25! Ha!

My kids have sold a bunch of toys, books and puzzles they don’t use anymore. With some of the money, we donated to a charitable cause.

We made a treat for the birds and spread it in the yard.

We like to treat our mailman each year with goodies.

Go and look at Christmas lights.

Buy and donate food to the food pantry.

Eat lunch with Jake at school.

Light bath.

Play bingo at the nursing home.

Movie in front of the tree.

Make treats for the neighbors.

My boys also used some of the money they earned from selling toys to buy each other a Christmas gift.

This list is not complete as the holidays are busy and I didn’t always snap a picture, and it is now the end of January as I’m finishing this post, so I can’t remember everything we did. We love Advent and we love celebrating the birth of Jesus!!

Blessings!