Family Fun Advent Calendar

Sometimes I can get very carried away with the gift giving part of Christmas and I forget to slow down and really enjoy the time with my family. So last year I decided that I wanted to make an Advent Calendar to really help us get into the Christmas Spirit! Not a calendar with gifts or candy, but one that brought us together as a family to do something fun.. and this is what I came up with.

 Ooops don't mind this photo... the "Christmas Day" envelope should be at the other end

since this is a countdown... my bad! :)

 

I made the "envelopes" using 12x12 scrapbook paper. I cut each sheet into four equal pieces.

 

my handsome little helper

Then I folded the two sides into the center and overlapped them just a bit.

 

 

 

I cut an opening in the front of each one to make it easier to get the card out.

 

I then hot-glued along the bottom ( to stop the paper from falling out) and along the back to close it up... and here is the finished "envelope".

 

 

 

I came up with a list of fun things for our family to do together throughout December... I start filling up the calendar with things that we need to get done to get ready for the holidays, like put up the Christmas tree(s), write letters to Santa, etc.
Then I add in lots of fun little things that we like to do together.

 

Our list...

decorate our Christmas tree

decorate the kids' Christmas trees

drive around and see the Christmas lights

write letters to Santa

make homemade ornaments

make a snowman (snow or cotton balls)

make a gingerbread house

special delivery comes from Santa (our elf)

go visit Santa

watch a special Christmas movie

go ice skating

open a special Christmas Eve present (new Christmas PJ's)

Hayride

Random Acts of Kindness day

Bake and decorate cookies

The True Meaning of Christmas

pick a special gift for your brother/sister

make a Christmas wreath

Snowball fight

family Christmas party

Christmas Craft

Rudolph headbands

Family Hand print Christmas Tree

Homemade red and green play dough

Some photos from last years fun!!!!

 mmm chocolate fountain party

 hayride

Christmas Lights
 

 Feel free to print my list here. (it is ready to be printed onto labels- the 30 count sheets- which I then stick to little pieces of colored card stock and put into the envelopes)

 

 

 

The kids were excited to pick out all of the scrap booking paper to make the envelopes. I used a red and white striped clothes line rope that I purchased from the Dollar Tree and some mini clothes pins to hang it along my wall. Our family is really loving

It reminds us that no matter how hectic the holidays can be, the most important thing is to come together and spend time with the people you love!!!!

Hope everyone is having fun preparing for the holidays! :)