Each year I try to do some sort of fun thing for Advent. This year we’re doing a combination of things. First, I made these cute little numbered ornaments for our Advent activities.
Click here to download the Advent Ornaments
You simply print and punch out with a 2” circle punch. Then using mini-clothespins attach each one to a mini-Christmas tree or a string of garland.
Each day we take one down and do whatever activity is on the back. For this you can print my activities on the backs (they are included in the download) or you can print just the ornaments and write in your own activities.
Last year we did The Jesse Tree, so this year I ordered some Make your own Advent Candles and Bartholomew’s Passage. I have to say that these candles didn’t come with any instructions, so if you’re a newbie like me here are some instructions on making Beeswax Candles!
We’ll light the candles each night as we read a chapter from our book. If you’re not up for purchasing a new book, you can always read any Christmas Story and on Christmas Eve read Luke 1-2. If you’re curious…here’s our activity list for our Advent Ornaments:
1. Candle lit bubble bath!
2. Make paper snowflakes & decorate!
3. Fill Operation Christmas Child Boxes
4. Make personalized Christmas Ornaments
5. The Minivan Express
6. Rootbeer floats tonight!
7. Bake something yummy!
8. Make Christmas Cards for friends/family
9. Have hot chocolate and marshmallows
10. Make a pipe cleaner candy cane craft
11. Make Christmas Star Paper Chain
12. Make Candy Ornaments
13. Use Puppets to tell a bedtime story
14. Family Game Night
15. Make Gingerbread house with Nana
16. Dance and sing to Christmas Music
17. Make a christmas craft
18. Dress Fancy for dinner tonight
19. Wrap Christmas Presents
20. Watch “It’s a wonderful Life”
21. At home pedicures!
22. Watch a Christmas movie with popcorn
23. Read or Watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
24. Make birthday cake for Jesus!
25. Merry Christmas! Open presents!
Here are some more Christmas Ideas:
- The ADVENTure of Christmas
- Snowflake Votive Candles
- Felt Christmas Tree
- Sugarcone Christmas Tree
- Gingerbread House
- The Jesse Tree
- Minivan Express Tickets
- Polar Express
- Nativity Scene
- Handprint Ornament
- Monogram Ornament
- Operation Christmas Child
- Paper Cup Rudolph
- Santa Craft
- Beaded Snowflakes
- Paper Snowflakes
- Sparkly Snowflakes
- Tortilla Snowflakes
- Cottonball Snowman
- Marshmallow Snowman
- Stained Glass JesusHope you have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Your ideas are so much fun!
Thank you so much! I made my boys a calendar a couple years ago with the favor tins on a canvas and I was filling it tonight but was just plum out of ideas! Thank you for some very fun and fresh holiday traditions in the making!
I love the idea of the candlelit bubble bath!
Great ideas! I have a felt nativity Advent calendar with pockets. I could stick a little piece of paper with an activity for each night in the pockets! I just might do that today! We loved Jotham's Journey last year and we are reading Tabitha's Travels this year, I guess we are skipping Bartholomew, but we can read that one next year. My daughter was excited to read the one about Tabitha. Have fun!
This is my favorite blog to come to every day. Your writing is always so upbeat and I love that you posts once each day.
Thank you for sharing some terrific activities. I am always looking for ways to keep my kids busy at night! This is perfect!
Wow! Thanks for all of the great links. We're reading Bartholomew's Passage this year too. We read Jotham's Journey last year and everyone loved it!
I love your ideas! This is my first year homeschooling. I put up a tree in the "classroom," but hadn't decided what to do with it until I saw your Advent ornaments. So, THANK YOU for sharing!!! Also, just to let you know there is a typo on "make Christmas cookies."
JILL: Thanks, got it fixed, you can re-download if you want :o)
Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 4 post on Dec. 01, 2010. Thanks again.