Advent Calendar- December 9 – Grab Bag

Advent Calendar- December 9 – Grab Bag

Originally posted 12/9/2010.  Updated 12/9/2011 at the bottom.

Last year we began another new tradition with Advent Calendars. I noticed the December before that we were so busy doing fun things that we didn't have time to enjoy the fun things. So last year, I made one fun thing a day (even if it was a coloring page).
I put the ingredients for the fun thing (or a slip of paper outlining the fun thing) in paper bags alternating red and white and lined them up on the bookshelf. Every morning the children got to open a bag and find out what our thing was that day. They liked it so much, that we are doing it again this year, but with fancy boxes instead of lunch bags.
Here are some of our fun things:

• Decorate the house
• Make Christmas cards
• Movie Night
• Disneyland treat (Signa chose candy and William chose suckers)
• Dinner at the Rainforest Cafe
• Outfit at Build-a-Bear
• Decorate the Tree
• Drive around and see lights
• Go caroling
• Make wrapping paper
• Go out for ice cream
• Go shopping
• Decorate cookies
• Go see Santa
• Make reindeer food
• Have hot chocolate and cookies
• Have a gingerbread decorating party

12/9/2011- we are doing many of the same things this year, but with more focus on crafts and less on OUTINGS that cost MONEY.  The kids don't seem to care which it is, so I figure if I can save a buck AND get a free decoration, why not?!?!  So far I have new ornaments (salt dough and outdoor bird feeders), new garland made of paper, and lots of snowflakes all over.  We do have some fun outings planned, though.  I've been posting our daily activities on Facebook.