advent calendar

happy december 1st to you all (and happy birthday to my mom)!  the advent calendar is a big deal in our house. big.  huge.  the last year couple years we've had the cardboard calendar with the teeny tiny doors and a teeny tiny piece of chocolate behind each door. kids love it - even if  half the doors get opened before their assigned day and the entire surprise & overall process only lasts about 10 seconds. gotta love the simple joy that it brings.

but this year i thought i'd start a new tradition.  we'll still have the $1.99 chocolate one - there is no way i'd get away with doing away with that!  but we'll have this one too.  a simple way to celebrate & prepare for christmas in a wee more special way.

each day has a verse from the nativity story as well as a fun christmas activity.  i've listed them if anyone wants to take a peek, as well as a way for me to remember in the years to come.  i'm looking forward to sharing this new tradition with my family.  merry christmas!

nativity versus

day 1--matthew 1:18

day 2--luke 1:28-33

day 3--luke 1: 34-35

day 4--luke 1:36-37

day 5--luke 1:38

day 6--luke 1:39-45

day 7--luke 1:46-48

day 8--luke 1:49-52

day 9--luke 1:53-56

day 10--matthew 1:19-21

day 11--matthew 1:22-23

day 12--matthew 1:24-25

day 13--luke 2:1-4

day 14--luke 2:5-6

day 15--luke 2:7

day 16--luke 2:8-12

day 17--luke 2:13-14

day 18--luke 2:15-16

day 19--luke 2:17-19

day 20--luke 2:20

day 21--matthew 2:1-2

day 22--matthew 2:3-6

day 23--matthew 2:7-8

day 24--matthew 2:9-11
got this great scripture sequence here

activities

day 1--drink hot cocoa

day 2--watch charlie brown christmas

day 3--make christmas lists

day 4--create a nativity scene

day 5--send christmas cards

day 6--listen to christmas music REALLY loud

day 7--bring canned goods to the food pantry

day 8--string popcorn and cranberry garland

day 9--make snowman marshmallow treats

day 10--put $ in salvation army bucket

day 11--turn off all the lights and sing silent night by candle light

day 12--sing 12 days of christmas

day 13--make cards for teachers

day 14--take a walk or drive to see the christmas lights

day 15--wrap your baby lay in a "manger"

day 16--read twas the night before christmas

day 17--make cookies

day 18--wrap a present

day 19--watch the grinch

day 20--make a gingerbread house

day 21--make angels

day 22--bake treats and deliver to neighbors

day 23--open one present

day 24--bake more cookies and celebrate christmas eve