Simple Holiday Activities Calendar

Well, I've finally taken pictures of our family's holiday activities advent calendar. I came upon the idea at A Peek Inside the Fishbowl, and I just fell in love with the thought of all the fun things we could do together as a family this season. And, like many mamas, I've been looking for a way to change the focus of our holiday celebrations. I think this might do the trick.

Each day, the little one opens up an envelope to find a fun, frugal holiday activity we can do together. He thinks it's the bee's knees and told me he hopes we can do this "every single year from now on." I smiled one of those wistful mama smiles and said that shouldn't be a problem.

Anyway, here are a few close up shots:











































The tutorial at A Peek Inside the Fishbowl was so simple, and I had everything I needed except for the small clothespins. I used paper from an Austin paper store that I had picked out for letter writing a few years back (and had hardly used), and I just love tying folded linens and such up with jute string before I put them away, so I always have that on hand.

I chose to make one envelope for every day in December, rather than stopping on the 25th. That way, we can enjoy those days after xmas with a little holiday fun, too, and the gift opening on the 25th doesn't feel like the culmination of all that holiday energy. Like every good story, there's a denouement. It gives the holidays some closure.

Here's the list of activities I chose for this year (the links are all kinda nifty, if you've got some time on your hands):

Dec. 1 Listen to our Dr. Demento xmas tape for first time (this show been the soundtrack of my holidays since 1987 - I just can't feel festive without it)
Dec. 2 Watch The Nightmare before Xmas
Dec. 3 Make paper snowflakes and decorate the windows
Dec. 4 Put up the xmas tree and decorate it
Dec. 5 Town's tree lighting ceremony
Dec. 6 Put up the rest of the xmas decorations
Dec. 7 Write letter to Santa
Dec. 8 Write annual xmas letter to family and friends
Dec. 9 Make xmas cards for family and friends
Dec. 10 Make a popcorn chain for the tree
Dec. 11 Make xmas ornaments
Dec. 12 Make pretty name tags for gifts
Dec. 13 Visit Santa
Dec. 14 Read xmas stories
Dec. 15 Drive around looking at xmas lights
Dec. 16 Bake xmas treats for the dogs
Dec. 17 Bake xmas cookies
Dec. 18 Make an xmas card for daddy
Dec. 19 Make vegan Chex Mix
Dec. 20 Present wrapping party with music, movies and Chex Mix
Dec. 21 Solstice - Star watching with hot chocolate and peppermint straws
Dec. 22 Wander through Hyde Park's xmas lights (a neighborhood that really does xmas up)
Dec. 23 Watch A Christmas Story
Dec. 24 Watch It's a Wonderful Life, open 1 gift, leave treats for Santa and the reindeer
Dec. 25 Empty - to be filled with a letter from Santa
Dec. 26 Make a list of what we're thankful for
Dec. 27 Have a picnic beneath the tree in the living room
Dec. 28 Family game night
Dec. 29 Make a fire in the fireplace (we're in TX, so this is a big deal)
Dec. 30 Make New Year's resolutions and tuck into stockings
Dec. 31 Take down decorations and toast the new year

So, there you have it - our family's holiday activities. It's worked out even better than I'd hoped. This is one tradition we'll definitely be keeping, though I'm sure we'll change some of the activities up as the little one gets older. What does your family do during the holidays that keeps the focus on family and togetherness?