Advent countdown

I have really come to love this time of year more and more as I've grown older and especially as I've become a parent.  I think for many years, especially when I was working full-time and we had money to spend on presents, the focus really was on Christmas day and there was little time to spend doing the activities that I now find the most meaningful.  Although I wish we had the money to be able to give presents as we once did I have found that not being able to doing the typically shopping has actually relieved quite a bit of pressure and stress from this season.  I have a few items I will always spend money on: sending Christmas pictures, make goodie plates for friends and family, and putting together yearly picture collages of the kids for their grandparents through a great Costco program (check it out, it's super cheap and easy!).  But other than that we really try to make our focus family events, memorable meals (the Grice traditional fondue Christmas Eve dinner and sticky buns for breakfast), and fun crafts at home.

With the baby due to arrive any time (literally!) I haven't had the time or energy to do as much as I would like but have managed to fit in at least one fun activity each day, so far.  Here are a few ideas if you are looking for them:

Crafts:
Tissue paper stars, candy canes, Christmas trees, wreaths, snowman, etc.  Making tissue paper crafts is one of my all-time favorite activitites with the kids because it doesn't require anything other than cardboard (recycled cereal or cracker boxes), glue, and tissue paper (I save what I get from birthdays, showers, etc so have a ton).  Here's what you do:
1. Draw the shape of whatever your kid wants to decorate on cardboard paper and cut it out.
2. Cut appropriate colored tissue paper into approx. 3x3 inch squares.
3. Have kids crumple the squares into small balls
4. Put glue on shape (small portions at a time) and allow kids to stick tissue balls on the glue.  The more colorful the better.
5.  Hang the crafts all over your house!
6.  You can do this any time of year.  We've made numbers, letters, leaves, pumpkins, etc.
7.  Another benefit of this project is that it can be done over many days.  It often takes my kids a few days to finish something.

Baking:
My all-time favorite recipe to make with the kids this time of year is reindeer cookies.  They are easy and have specific steps the kids can easily perform (starting at about age 2).

Reindeer Cookies
36 large pretzels
handful of broken pretzels
1 lb white almond bark
82 chocolate chips
36 red M&Ms

1. Lay pretzels out on wax paper (I do it on our table since our counterspace is limited) spread apart a bit.
2. Melt almond bark according to directions (I have better luck on the stovetop than in the microwave).
3. Spoon small amounts of almond bark into the three spaces of about 5 pretzels at a time (if you do them too quickly it will dry before kids can make eyes, nose, and antlers). 
4. Help kids use chocolate chips for eyes, M & Ms for nose, and broken pieces for antlers.
5. Let dry and store in large Ziplock bags.

Christmas Cards/Pictures:
Encourage your kids to color the back of envelopes for family and friends.  After I've addressed each envelope (or as I'm in the process), I hand them to the kids and ask them to color something for each person.  They always enjoy this and it's a nice way to bring up great memories of people we haven't seen for a while.  As the kids get older they'll draw more specific and meaningful pictures but when they are younger just giving them some red and green crayons and letting them so crazy is great.  I also think it's fun for those receiving the cards to see!  Just be sure to give yourself a few days to get this done as they typically run out of steam after 10-15 envelopes.

Advent Chain:
This year my daughter came home with an Advent chain package from her Sunday school class which we've been putting together, but it's easy enough to make your own too.  What I like about the one she brought home is that it is a chain of Jesus' names throughout scripture so each day we read a new verse and discuss different names that Jesus is called in the Bible.  But you can also do this with regular paper and make the typical rings and write down things you are thankful for, activitites you want to do together, things you have learned from the season, etc.

Unwrapping Christmas Books:
If you are like us you've acquired quite a few Christmas books over the years, everything from the traditional Christmas story to secular books about the season.  A fun activity I read about last year is to wrap these books up and allow kids to choose one a day to open and read as a family.  Of course you can open more than one a day if you want!  I decided to put all Christmas books away in storage last year so that they are new and fresh when we bring them out - plus it saves a little room on our shelves!

Passing out Christmas Goody Trays:
I love the process of making, putting together, and passing out goody trays to family and friends.  I think it's a great way to allow kids to participate in the process of making gifts and giving them away.  We take them to neighbors, church volunteers, family, and friends.  Of course it does take some prep work and planning but it's one of those activitites I really don't mind spending some extra time on.  This year I'm limiting my actual cooking to just a few items and trying to make goodies that require less baking time - simply because of the time and energy used to make them items.  You can always include satsumas, nuts, candy canes, hot coco or apple cider packages, etc. that don't require any prep work on your part.  Just the time spent putting together each plate and spent handing them out (preferably in person) are what warm my heart and this is what I want to pass to my kids.  It's not about how big a gift you give or how much you spend, it's about the thought and love behind it.

Attending Community Functions:
Our favorite outing, other than ones put on by our church, is the "Living Bethlehem" put on by a community church in the area.  Last night was our 3rd year attending and it has become more meaningful and special with each year.  It's really amazing how much kids take away from these events and the memories they create.  With the Internet it's so easy to look up free events that you can attend locally.