advent.calendar

Last week, Simple Mom posted this super-easy-absolutely-perfect-for-my-family advent calendar.  Last year, I had some grandiose ideas about sewing one, but that is just not happening this decade.  This one took probably, at most, an hour from start to finish.  My kind of project! 

{I'll apologize in advance for the dark pics...I took them last night.}

So, I took Simple Mom's lead and headed to JoAnn's.  I had tags in hand and was looking for that perfect number paper, which I could not find.  Then, I stumbled across this mambiKit in the scrapbooking section.  Originally $10, but 40% off that day...so it ended up only being $6 for the tags and numbers.  Love it.

I already had the clothespins {dollar store...36 for $1}.  The ribbon was already in my stash as well.  I cut sticky notes for the daily activities.  I altered their design and didn't use all of the pieces in the kit, but I loved how all I had to do was fold the tags and stick on the numbers!  I loved the patterns in the kit, too!

1. mini-Christmas brunch with my aunt/mom/sister
2. make paper snowflakes
3. drink hot cocoa
4. decorate the Christmas tree
5. watch A Charlie Brown Christmas
6. have dinner with some new friends {Josh's college roomie will be in town and our kids have never met}
7. make gingerbread houses at a local kitchen shop
8. bake cookies
9. watch Frosty the Snowman
10. attend a local Christmas event
11. put stamps on Christmas cards
12. take a walk in the snow
13. color Christmas cards for the neighbors
14. go ice skating
15. build a snowman
16. attend a local Christmas production about Jesus' birth
17. drive around and look at Christmas lights
18. take Christmas treats to the neighbors
19. open a gift {Christmas jammies!}
20. make popcorn and watch Elf
21. family game day
22. spend the night at Grandma's
23. eat a cookie before breakfast
24. celebrate Christmas with family
25. celebrate the birth of Jesus {read the nativity story}

Since I put these on sticky notes, they should be easy to switch up if it we get a good snow on one particular day, so we can build a snowman or take a snow walk that day. 

We've never done the advent calendar before, but I'm just sure my kiddos are going to eat it up!  They were so excited after I put it up last night.

I would love to hear other ideas that you all do with your kids!