Our Advent Activities

Last year we started an Activity Advent Calendar, with a fun Christmas activity planned for each day of December.  It worked out great for us, so we are doing it again this year, with a few changes to our list.  While it seems like a lot to do, most of the activities on our list are things that we are going to do anyway (cut down the tree, wrap presents, mail Christmas cards, etc), or things that are pretty easy to fit into our day (movie night!).  The rest are things that I really want to do before Christmas (make gingerbread houses, christmas crafts, etc) but probably won’t get around to if they aren’t on my calendar.  A lot of my ideas never actually happen because I either forget, run out of time, or don’t plan ahead and lack key ingredients / supplies, so making a plan is perfect for list-loving me.  And I love that it makes even wrapping presents into something exciting.

Since we are back in San Francisco now, I added a few activities this year like ice skating, going out to see the neighborhood lights, and going to the Nutcracker.  These take extra time and planning, but I am just so happy to have the option to go out and enjoy the holiday season that I really want to take advantage of it.

Our activities are printed on little cards, and slipped into the pockets of our Santa Advent Calendar, so it is very easy for me to switch things up if our schedule changes last minute, or I forget to buy the graham crackers.  And if things get really crazy, no one will ever know if we skip going to Union Square and instead have an extra movie night.  :)

Here is what is on our list this year:

• go cut down a christmas tree & decorate it
• decorate the house
• purchase gifts for a child / family in need
• write a letter to santa
• family movie night with christmas movies (like this, this or this) and popcorn
• sing christmas carols
• go to the academy of science to see the reindeer
• address and mail christmas cards
• get all dressed up and go see the nutcracker
• make gingerbread houses out of graham crackers
• drive around to see neighborhood lights (and tom & jerry’s house in noe valley)
• breakfast for dinner pajama party
• get a new ornament for the tree (or 12 because these are so bright and cheerful!)
• build a fort with christmas lights
• donate old clothes / books / toys to a homeless shelter
• make paper snowflakes
• go see the christmas tree at union square
• christmas craft day (more on this to come)
• go visit Santa & take pictures
• make christmas gifts for teachers
• perform a random act of kindness
• go ice skating (we don’t live near snow, but we do live near embarcadero Center!)
• wrap presents
• have a slumber party out by the christmas tree
• make and decorate christmas cookies (and save some to leave out for santa)