ad-vent:: a coming into place, view, or being; arrival: the advent of the holiday season.

Every year we celebrate Christmas with an Advent calender, usually its the chocolate TJ's box (it is only $.99), small ornaments wrapped to put on a little tree, or last year I had put little trinkets and candy in our felt garland pockets. These are all fun things but it still felt like there was something missing, the girls became obsessive over the chocolate (first thing in the morning), they got bored with the small ornaments, and trinkets...who needs more stuff? So after a conversation with KC (my go to for parenting advice) about how the kids hadn't stopped talking about what they want for Christmas for two weeks (and it wasn't even Thanksgiving), she gave me the greatest idea to start an activity advent calender, so the kids can take there focus off "I want" and get excited over time spent together, the crafts (hopefully lots of sewing), and starting new traditions. I don't know whose more excited me or them? Here is our list:

-Christmas Countdown Chain
-Root Beer Floats
-Read "How The Grinch Stole Christmas"
-Snow Downtown
-Decorate Outside
-Watch Holiday Movie w/ Hot Cocoa (I need suggestions...anyone?)
-Write Santa a Letter
-Family Art Night (got the idea from here)
-Make Paper Snowflakes and Hang In Windows
-Ice Cream Sundaes
-Make Xmas Photo Album (all years past, I cant wait to pull out the baby picts)
-Make Teacher Gifts
-Watch Holiday Movie w/ Hot Cocoa
-Search Santa Clause.net (you find out what Santa is doing to prepare for Christmas
-After Dinner Drive To Search For The Best Christmas Lights
-Winter Concert
-Read Christmas Book (haven't decided...suggestions?)
-Write/Illustrate Your Own Christmas Book
-Make Fabric Ornaments (love these)
-Make Gifts For Each Other
-Read Winter Solstice w/ Activity
-Make Gingerbread House
-Bake Cookies and Take Them To Neighbors/Friends
-Leave Santa Note w/ Reindeer Snack (Thanks Kate)