Advent Activities 2015

It's that time again!  Tomorrow begins our 2015 Advent Activities and the return of Ollie, our Elf!  Life is about to get crazy fun!  

Our activities are based on our already full schedule so there are times we have to do morning activities, times Daddy is at work, times that not all the kids are home, and we won't throw in the fact that we try to make these things all our babies will enjoy (from little bitty to middle school age)... it's a lot to work around!  However, we love the memories we make doing all of these fun things.  Many are favorites we bring back year after year so they have become traditions that are near and dear to our hearts!  

So without further ado, here is what we'll be doing this year!

Our Advent "Calendar"

Christmas Charades

Snowman Donuts for Breakfast

Hot Chocolate by the Fire

Make Salt Dough Ornaments

Get A New Ornament

Visit Santa

Fancy Dinner

Reindeer Evangelists

Waffles and Ice Cream for Breakfast

S'mores by the Fire

Look at Christmas Lights

Grinch Movie Night

Christmas Pizzas

Christmas Bingo

Paper Snowflakes

Cinnamon Roll Trees for Breakfast

Snowman Sundaes

Christmas Party Day

Santa Hat Photo Shoot

Gingerbread Houses

Picnic by the Tree

Pedicures

Cookies for Santa

Open PJ's and Read Twas the Night Before Christmas

Many of these have a biblical basis (check out The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel), and some are just good ol' fashioned fun!  I'm always happy to answer any questions about what on earth we are doing or how we've tied it into our faith!  I hope you follow along on Instagram (@mrsmarick) as I will be posting a pic there of each activity!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season as we prepare to celebrate Christ's birth!

Advent Activities 2012

Last year was the first year we did an Advent Activity Calendar.  I had so much fun creating the calendar, and the kids had a blast doing all of the activities!  I knew that we'd do it again this year.  There were some activities we wanted to repeat and some things I wanted to change up just so it wasn't exactly the same as last year.  

This year some of our activities will have a bible verse referencing that point we are driving home while doing the activity.  Others will reference the book The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel.  (If you do not own this book, I highly recommend you click on the link and order it immediately!)  And lastly, some activities are simply just for plain ol' family fun!

I hope that you will enjoy our activity list.  Please feel free to use it and share it, and if you have questions about any of these activities or would like more details into what we are doing, just ask!  I hope that you will have as much fun celebrating Jesus this month as our family will!

Write a letter to Santa

Open your special ornament and hang it on the tree

("The ADVENTure of Christmas" pg. 12)

Make Paper Snowflakes

(Isaiah 1:18)

Snow Man Sundaes

Reindeer Evangelists for 5 Friends

("The ADVENTure of Christmas" pg. 14)

Neighborhood Prayer Walk

Grinch Movie Night

Attend Christmas Parade

Secret Santa

(Acts 20:35)

Visit Santa

Christmas Pizza

Santa Hat Photo Shoot

Dollar Tree Shopping

("The ADVENTure of Christmas" pg. 44)

North Pole Breakfast

Look at Christmas Lights in our pajamas

("The ADVENTure of Christmas" pg. 24)

Dress fancy for dinner

Christmas Carols

S'Mores in the fire place

Picnic in front of the Christmas Tree

Hot Chocolate by the fire

Decorate Gingerbread Houses

Christmas Music Dance Party

Make and decorate cookies for Santa

("The ADVENTure of Christmas" pg. 36)

Unwrap your Christmas pajamas and listen to Popo read "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

("The ADVENTure of Christmas" pg. 60)

Read the story about the Birth of Jesus