Advent.

A few years ago my mom and Annie (who was living in Hermiston at the time) came to visit to work on the Christmas advent countdown above.  My wonderful mom ended up doing most of the work (all of the sewing, I think!) and I just love how it all it turned out!  So, thank you, Mom!!  Each day I put a card with a Christmas activity for the day or a little prize (like a treat or fruit snacks) and the girls really enjoy it.  So do I!
Here are some of the cards I have put in:

I really enjoy drawing the pictures that go with each activity.

1- Put girls Christmas tree in their bedroom (and take it out a few nights later when it is too distracting at bedtime) and put out nativities and Christmas decor.

I love those wall hangings!  My mom made some identical to these and hung them each year in our home.  One day a few years ago when I was a thrift store I found these for a few dollars each.  I love them!

I’m not really into tacky crafts, but I guess when it’s your kids baby feet you make exceptions.  I love this Christmas decoration and I will hang it until the day I die.

2- Put lights on the Christmas tree and begin to decorate.

Helping with lights.

3- Write letters to Santa.  (Elna asked for “a doll with my hair” and Hattie asked for a “doll with red hair”

4- Make cookies with mom. (for a cookie party that I went to the next day)

5- Deliver cookies (from my cookie party) to friends.  This was one of my very very favorite things we did the whole Christmas season.  We taught the girls to sing We Wish You a Merry Christmas the way that I did growing up (We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy new year, Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin, Merry Christmas from the Harr-is-es and a happy new year!), and they sang it so perfectly (and loudly!) and we all just had so much fun together.  A dreamy fun night!  I wish we had taken a picture.

6- Roast marshmallows in the fireplace and make s’mores.

7- Write Christmas notes to my cousin, Marilyn, who is serving a mission.
8- Gingerbread houses with friends. (see separate post)
9- Decorate little Christmas trees.

10- Drive around and see fun Christmas lights.
11- Ward Christmas party—sit on Santa’s lap.

“I want a doll with my hair” said Elna.  She was very brave.  She has been saying for months that she would sit on Santa’s lap.  And she did!  Georgia was too young to know what was going on.  And Harriet knew exactly what was going on, and wasn’t interested.

12- Bake with Grandma Fae.

13- Roast marshmallows again!

14- Have a pizza picnic under the Christmas tree.

15- Make snowflakes and hang them in the girls’ room.

I had no idea what a hit this activity would be.  Elna was obsessed with it, and made snowflakes every day for the rest of the month.  She still does, occasionally.  She loves crafts!  She loves using scissors!

16- Sing to people at a senior living center.  I had this idea last year, but never did it.  This year, I decided to see if my girlfriends wanted to join us with their kids, and they were so enthusiastic about the idea.  We had a practice at our house a few days before we did it and then on the day the kids all got in their Sunday clothes and looked so cute!  It was wonderful!!  The girls practiced for a week and sang their hearts out.  Elna sang her O Holy Night solo and did so well.  I hope we will do this every year.  It’s such a sweet way to feel the spirit of Christmas.

Hattie, William, Tyler, Elna, Abbie, Ethan, Chad, and Lindsey.

17- Send gifts in the mail.  We sent something to my parents and something to their cousin Jody—a purple dress that she saw Elna wearing one day while skyping, that she loved.  We also sent a baby pack carrier to a volunteer group who collects baby carriers to give to refugees who can use them. 

Elna drew a card for Grandma and Grandpa’s package—a nativity scene.  The stable and star, Joseph (with a cane) Mary (with a belly button) and the baby Jesus.  Also, the three wise men.

18- Scavenger hunt to find gifts under the tree.  The gifts were two squirrels that the girls had adored at the store one day, that I was able to sneak into the cart without them seeing. 
19- New nail polish for Christmas Sunday.
20- Christmas dresses.

 

21- Go to the temple to see Marilyn do a Christmas harp recital.

22- Take the girls shopping to get gifts for each other.
23- Make a birthday cake for Jesus.  This is one of my favorite traditions!

24- Christmas caroling with Brian’s family.  I love this annual tradition!  I didn’t get a picture of us caroling, but I got a picture of the girls afterward in their Christmas jammies from Grandma and Grandpa.

Three girls in matching jams!

Reading a Christmas book that DeWin recorded reading—so when you open the book his voice starts reading.  So fun!  I love this picture of Georgia especially.

I hope the girls will have happy memories of Christmas time in our home!  I love making it fun and magical for them!