When Meg was just a year old I was looking through a Pottery Barn catalog in January and found an Advent quilt on clearance. I mean really on Clearance. I think it was twenty bucks and I was head over heels with it. I started making plans as soon as it arrived and couldn’t wait for December to come.
When it finally came I was totally prepared. We did crafts, stories and songs. The advent quilt event of the day was always done. You have to remember that at this time I was perfect mom with one child!
Over the next few years I was able to maintain this perfection and the Advent quilt became a tradition. In 2004 Elle’s due date was December 21st and we had just moved into a new house in November. The advent quilt was somewhere packed and I couldn’t find it. We still did our Christmas traditions, but the advent quilt was not there to oversee it all. I missed it.
Fast forward to 2008. I had four kids and was still on an adrenaline rush after the Adoption and had energy but didn’t focus to well. I tried the Advent quilt and failed miserably. I couldn’t keep up with everything. Remember, I HATE crafts but feel an impulse that I have to do them! The advent quilt became more of a nuisance than a fun thing. Last year, I did even less with the quilt although we still put it up.
This year I’m doing it differently. There is not one craft on the quilt line up. The activities are simple, easy to switch around and bring our true meaning of Christmas into view. For all of you craft lovers out there I assure you that the kids will have plenty of opportunity to get messy with paint and glue between scouts and school! I want to have fun with my advent quilt and not be ruled by it. I have also learned that the advent quilt activities have to grow with your children. Make it fun for them or there isn’t much reason to put in all the work.
With the holiday season starting after Halloween, many of our typical Christmas activities are already done by December. We put up our tree Thanksgiving weekend. Our sponsored child’s gifts have to be turned in by December 1st. There is also the fact that somedays have two activities scheduled. Then of course we have a birthday to throw in! With all of these factors in mind here is my list, in no particular order:
Christmas lighting at our local courthouse/Concert with Meg and Mita
Elle’s birthday
Making Christmas Cookies
Wrapping Gifts- is “more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (NIV)
Caroling for the Grandparents
Elf someone
Story starter: A few days before Christmas the elves were scurrying around the workshop finishing up on the toys when the lights went out…
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:1-14
Luke 2:15-20
Santa Letters
Local Concert all four girls are singing in
Go out of your way to be nice to someone today and then tell us about it at dinner tonight.
School Parties
Elle’s Daisy Program
Elle’s Birthday Party
Story starter: It was the night before Christmas and Selena Gomez had yet to start her Christmas shopping…
Christmas Day Rocks! Happy Birthday Jesus.
Write Christmas Cards to kids in the hospital over Christmas
Christmas movie marathon
Tell a Christmas joke at dinner tonight. You have all day to find one!
Deliver gifts to the neighbors.
Drive around and see the Christmas lights.
Story Starter: Bella was getting ready for Christmas Eve when she heard the cat calling out. Going outside to investigate, Bella notices tiny footprints in the snow….
Hot chocolate party!
I’m most excited about the story starters as my kids love to tell tales right now and are so dramatic. Four girls dramatic. Who would have thought!
Check out some other Advent themed posts:
StopDropandBlog
Quiet Fish
As I mentioned at the beginning of the holiday season, my girls are getting older and that means that some of our traditions are changing. I recently thought of a way to continue a Christmas tradition that we have outgrown by passing it down to my youngest niece.
