Yay we finally got snow today! What a fun way to kick off this festive time of year. I love this little advent calendar because it helps add to the anticipation of Christmas for me and it gives Avery something to look forward to each day. I have been trying to come up with ideas to fill each one of these little boxes. Some of them will be traditions and some will be little trinkets (I just wanted to be able to say that word – gotta love it).
I have been making a list of traditions (old and new) that I want to make sure we have a chance to experience as a family this year.
Here are the Old:
- A visit with Santa and have her write a letter (a letter in pictures, even better).
- Take a drive to look at Christmas lights in our area with a stop for hot chocolate.
- Read the Christmas Story in the Bible (in Luke) to remind us the true reason for Christmas.
- Plan one night to just sit by the fire and listen to Christmas music as we admire all the twinkly sparkly lights.
- New Christmas Jammies for Avery on Christmas Eve (thanks “Gramma Clean”).
- Make rosettes.
- Read a Christmas book to her every night before bed.
- Take Avery shopping to pick out her cousin gifts.
- Make a special night to watch a favorite Christmas Movie (It’s A Wonderful Life, Polar Express, Elf, A Christmas Story… “F-R-A-G-I-L-E, huh, it must be italian” -Love It!).
- Oh yeah, and how could I forget about Rommegrat!
And the New:
- Plan something service oriented as a family.
- Vote on a “Best Christmas Lights” house and have a card and award to leave on their doorstep.
- Sprinkle reindeer food in the front yard on Christmas eve and leave a silver bell for Christmas morning.
- Have a kid crafty day.
- Host a holiday party this year.
- Make homemade marshmallows this year.
- Buy one Christmas book and one Christmas movie to add to our collection.
- Plan a special night or afternoon at the movies (maybe Enchanted, it looks funny).
- Have a “Red Ryder” gift this year, one at the end that she can search for.
What is on your tradition list? Anything new you are adding this year?
you guys are so cute! I love your Christmas ideas. I can’t think of any holiday traditions…except that today we went sledding, and we did the same thing last year the first time it snowed.
You are such a go-getter. I am tired just reading this list! Ha ha! I wish I had the energy that I used to for stuff like this. Hopefully when Luke gets a little older and I don’t have to be chasing all day long! (I’m going to go take a nap…)
One of our traditions is…getting a new ornament for each of the kids every year. It was something I did growing up that I thought I’d pass on to my own kids one day! Then, we let the kids help decorate the tree with their ornaments. They really seem to enjoy that!
Where did you get your advent calendar? It’s so cute!
Your snowman is so cute! You sound like such a fun mom. Thanks for the ideas for Christmas. I may have to steal some from you!
mWe have lots of the same tradition. I am going to steal the idea of putting things to do in the advent. Great idea. By the way, I made “THE” fudge last night for a party w/some of Neal’s buddies…It was a hit and Kami, it is to die for! Thanks for the recipe. I’ll post some good crock pot recipes soon.
I’m FOR SURE making my own marshmellows!!! I have some great tiny cookie cutters we can use…let’s add it to our baking day!! Can’t wait
Did you make that calendar? I L-O-V-E it! If you bought it- where?
That picture w/the snowman and your house lights should be your Christmas card! It is a good thing I am not a woman that feels the need to compete with others around me,you would have me whooped in a day:-)We love collecting Christmas books and read them all month.Also,you can’t beat Mr. Krueger’s on Christmas Eve.
I am going to make the marshmellows first, then I am going to make some graham crackers, and then I will make the fudge, (again) so I can have some totally homemade S’mores.
Then I think I will make some homemade cocoa puffs in honor of Martha.
Love, Mom
Seriously, Your house looks so warm and inviting in the night picture. That was a great storm!
Also, cute calendar. Lucky Avery.
I got the advent calendar at Bed Bath & Beyond, then I covered it with different patterned paper to make it my own.
Love the snowman. Love the advent calendar. Love the pictures. You’ve got me all excited to enjoy a month of traditions! Love December!!
What a nice idea. I am sorry I am just barely getting to commening on your blog. I am workign on it, as I promised. It was so fun to see you guys, I only wish we could have had more time. My new favorite tradition is making gingerbread houses, in the future I will keep it away from George.
Kami, we need to make the snowflake marshmallows together! I’ve been wanting to do that for years! I love that calendar too. If you want to see an awesome display of christmas lights on a house, my favorite is what I call the “gingerbread house”-it’s on 8th east, just south of the Orem City cemetery. I might just leave an award on their doorstep, every year I look forward to seeing the display! Thanks again for letting us use your leftover Christmas lights!
Such a cute idea Kami!! Where did you get that cute advent calender I have been looking for a cute one and i have had no luck!!
what a cute photo…
I love the snowman, and your house looks darling.
I would love to get together for lunch for over the holidays.
(this is Lori by the way… I’m too lazy to switch the sign in name)
What a cute little mom you are. . .Love your traditions list. . .your snowman. . .love your cute Avery. That has got to be the cutest little snow guy with a sign I have ever seen. I must drive by your house today!
Don’t worry I will honk! Happy Holidays!
You have the cutest blog ever! I love all your picture and your Christmas traditions. I thought my blog was coming right along until I looked at yours. I guess I still got a lot of work to do. haha
OK, I got home last night and read my sisters blogs and I am feeling a little inferior. Kami’s house looks like it should be in “Better Homes and Gardens” and Becky has become quite the photographer. Maybe when I am done changing this diaper while simultaneously plucking dried stuck on fruit loops off of my wood floor I will create a blog.
How fun. I have made a list of things to do this Holiday season too. I was depressed to find out that I missed the festival of trees
oh well. I guess I’ll have to catch that one next year. Thanks for new ideas. I’ll let you know how they go. I like the idea of picking a favorite house and leaving a card. I love driving and looking at lights. I could do it every night and drive Brian crazy with it. I love it.
So cute, can I come hang out at your house?
did you make that? Its so cute I need one.
i came across your blog at just the right day… really like your tradition list & then the new things you are planning on doing today. you must like to stay busy?!?! ha i think i am going to try to do some of them with my boys this month – so thanks!
our tradtion is the boys always get to pick a new ornament each year to add to the tree. i also buy a photo ornament & i add a picture of them in front of the tree. i like seeing how they change from year to year.
thanks again & i will be back to visit again