Advent

I decided earlier in the year that I'd do an advent calendar for the girls with sweeties and small toys in the pockets for each day of December. But then my Nov-Dec issue of Mothering arrived in the mail, and it had the most splendid suggestion for advent calendars: instead of sweeties and toys, do a special activity each day as a family. I love it! So I thought I'd share the idea with you too. Below is what I've listed for each day. The girls will reach into the pocket each morning and pull out a slip of paper. Whatever is written on that paper is what we will do that day. It's a bit ambitious, some of these things, but I'm hoping it'll give us something to look forward to each day and accomplish. I also better add that I stole some of the ideas from the ideas in the magazine, though some are originally mine too.

You, of course, would need to adapt it to your lives if you choose to do it too. I've incorporated already planned events into the calendar, and have taken into account days when I know we'll be more busy than others. (For instance, I have a couple of nights out planned for December, so on those days we'll just do something simple and easy.)

I hope this will inspire some of you to do something similar. Sorry for leaving it so late, but I've just gotten around to it myself!

Merry Christmas!

McFarlane Family Advent Calendar Activities:
1. Make paper chains and use them to count down Christmas!
2. Create gift tags using recycled and repurposed items from around the house.
3. Put together a shoebox of presents to send to a charity.
4. String popcorn and cranberries for a tree outside for the birds to eat!
5. Cut colourful snowflakes and hang them in the window.
6. Produce a family video e-card and send to family and friends.
7. Go to a Christmas party at Mummy’s class!
8. Make gingerbread men for the Christmas tree.
9. Have a Christmas picnic in our pajamas on the floor.
10. Make festive cookies and deliver them to our new neighbours.
11. Look through old photo albums and talk about the pictures.
12. Wrap up presents in brown paper and decorate them.
13. Take a walk and pick pinecones.
14. Make a wreath using paper plates and tissue paper.
15. Watch a Christmas movie with Daddy.
16. Read a story about Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus.
17. Pick up Musha at the airport!
18. Make Lolly a special birthday tree ornament.
19. Go for a special walk with Daddy and Musha.
20. Eat dinner by candlelight only with the fancy dishes
21. Go to a Christmas party at FunWorld and meet Santa!
22. Take Musha to the shop to make your very own teddy bears!
23. Eat ice cream while watching a cosy Christmas movie.
24. Go to midnight mass with Caspar and Nina.
25. Eat chocolate gravy for breakfast and open presents!