Countdown to Christmas!

The holiday season is such a fun and busy time! I love to see the kids' excitement as we tackle each of our family traditions, from decorating the Christmas tree to baking cookies to setting up the nativity scene to finding the naughty elves each morning. This year we did a grown up tree in the front room, with all gold and red unbreakable ornaments that could hold up to curious little hands. I also set up a smaller tree in the basement for the boys to hang up their special ornaments they've been given by grandparents, as well as the ornaments they make at school. That way they were safe from baby hands and if they did happen to fall, they landed on carpet and didn't break. :)

A couple of years ago we started a Christmas Countdown, where each day we pulled out a slip of paper from a little mitten that gave us an activity to complete for that day. The activities ranged from outings to crafts to fun snacks to helping/serving others. Last year I conveniently "forgot" to take on this project again--with a new baby at home, we could barely get the necessary things accomplished and I didn't want the added stress of planning and prepping for extra activities. But this year I decided to take it on again, and it is really so much fun! I tried to stay fairly low-key, and I have to say it was just as much fun as it was two years ago. The kids enjoyed every minute, and it really does make the Christmas season seem to last longer. I recycled some of our favorites from two years ago and added in a few new ideas, and we enjoyed every minute!

Here are some highlights:

snowman pancakes and fruit candy canes for dinner

making movie night necklaces & watching Christmas with the Cranks

making christmas potpourri bags for our neighbors

race to the top tree decorating game

reindeer noses!

reindeer donuts--a favorite from two years ago

gingerbread house party with our friends sven, roman, & chloe

And that was just 7 of the 24 things we did this Christmas season!