Advent Calender

We wanted to put a new twist on our advent calender this year. We have always done the store bought chocolate ones (which the kids insisted on doing again), we also made a homemade calender.

Here is what we did:

We purchased 24 red, white, and brown craft gifts bags (the very small ones). Each child was able to decorate 8 bags, then we numbered the bags. We hung string in the hallway (it took the entire length of our hallway). Then we hung the bags with clothespins.

Each day there is a new message for the children such as: calling someone to sing a Christmas song, reading a Christmas story, mailing someone a handmade Christmas card, watching a Christmas movie, riding around and looking at Christmas lights, baking cookies to take to a nursing home, and the list goes on.

Each day I wanted the children to be engaged in an activity that was giving of themselves. Isn't that was Christmas is supposed to be about?

Octopus and Seaweed!

Logan in still learning to recognize her letters. She has trouble with just a few now so to help her we made this great meal. The kids loved eating Octopus and Seaweed. She knows the letter O but we decided to use this exercise to learn the letter S and reiterate the letter O. She thought this was the coolest meal (and she hasn't forgotten the letter S!)