an advent calendar.

 I’m more dedicated than ever to have a festive-in-all-the-best-ways Christmas at home. Putting this Advent calendar together the other day made me feel downright giddy. I was so excited for the kids to come up and see the Christmas tree in their homeschool space, I was so excited to dry and string the oranges, I was so excited to fill the little envelopes with different activities for every day leading up to Christmas. I’m so excited every time I hear the first few notes of Little Women’s Orchard House. Am I more excited than the kids about all of this? It’s possible. I’m riding this holly jolly wave till I’ve exhausted it like a spent balloon. For now, I’m here for it, and I love to daydream about their future selves looking back and thinking, “Mom and Dad made Christmastime really special for us when we were kids.” Within reason, within reason, folks, but it’s been fun. (P.S. You’ll see the remnants of our Native People’s Study taped to the wall and the tipi on the ground next to the tree; as we do each unit, Parker often googles coloring pages that coincide and does those while I read aloud, or for free time. I switch them out and squirrel them away in a binder of his for safe keeping.)This calendar is wholly inspired (nay, copied) from Erin’s beautiful one, but stuffed with a few ideas of my own, a few I’ve gleaned from other parts of the Internet. Should you want to do this yourself, here’s some loose ideas, and the links for the supplies below:

01. drink buttered hot cocoa and watch The Snowman or Polar Express
02. make popsicle stick Christmas characters or snowglobe mason jars!
03. make paper snowflakes + a cranberry garland
04. drop food off at a local food bank
05. go downtown to pick a new ornament out at a local Christmas shop
06. make a snack for the birds + squirrels (another idea)
07. make Christmas pancakes (with dye-free sprinkles); also, Anders’ birthday!
08. read a Christmas book
09. choose something to donate together from World Vision’s Christmas catalog
10. make popcorn and watch Charlie Brown Christmas
11. decorate the coop! make the chickens a cranberry and broccoli Christmas garland!
12. make Christmas potato stamps or gingerbread houses (another option! and another!)
13. use the stamp to decorate Christmas cards and send them to your loved ones
14. read the Nativity story (Luke 2) and watch The Star
15. have a bath with a Christmas bath bomb
16. bake cut out sugar cookies together and share with friends
17. take a deep breath and thank Jesus for your many blessings
18. drop food at a food back (again!)
19. stay in pajamas all day and listen to the Nutcracker and watch the movie — with popcorn!
20. make gingersnaps and share some with friends
21. list ten things you are thankful for
22. paint a Christmas scene
23. have breakfast in bed and watch Home Alone
24. make some ice ornaments
25. it’s Christmas! enjoy! and adults–you get one of these!

Supplies: coin envelopes (I went with Kraft instead of white), stamp set (I end up using this often in homeschooling — with Anders as he learns sounds and to read), clothes pins and baker’s twine; cedar garland and berries (foraged, or from a local farm stand!)