Tonight at Family Connection (at our church) we were talking about Christmas traditions.  We went around and shared some of our favorites.   So I’m going to share my favorite one on here.  We got this from a fabulous family a few years ago.

We make a Christmas Calendar for the month of December.  Each day has a Christmas activity to do together.  It has really helped us focus on the season and be intentional in making Christmas a special time. 

So here’s what we do… 

I grab a piece of poster board, draw a calendar on it, fill in the days with festive activities, and stick it to the wall!  TA DAA!  We plan our month as a family.  Some of the events take all day, others are just quicky things for when we’re busy. 

It’s not one of those fancy advent things, like I see daily on Pinterest, but it’s a fun family affair with the kids coloring and adding glitter, and we all look forward to making it and following it. 

Here’s what’s on our calendar:

1. Make Christmas Calendar

2. Start Advent – We try to do something to do with Jesus each day ~ there are many ideas on Pinterest

3. Get and Decorate Our Christmas Tree

4. Get Christmas Library Books – We love the Little House Christmas!! 

5. Use Christmas Plates from the Dollar Store

6. Christmas Shopping

7. Festival of Lights (a show in Grand Rapids)

8. Hot Cocoa and Family Games

9. Watch a Christmas Movie

10. Make Ornaments

11. Watch Old Disney Christmas Shorts on youtube (here’s the link to my playlist)

12. Color Christmas Pictures for Nursing Home Residents
    

13. Make Christmas Cookies

14. Christmas Caroling at Nursing Home/ Christmas Party with Friends

15. Brunch and “You Are My Gift Day”  – post to come to explain that… it’s a good idea I think I had, or maybe I stole it! 

16. Christmas Play at Church

17. Christmas Craft

18. Christmas Shopping for a Needy Family

19. Go to Bronners in Frankenmeuth (LOVE THIS PLACE!!)

20. Go to Grandpa and Grandma’s (they do their own traditions there)

21. Clean the House for Christmas!

22. Make Chocolate Treats

23. Drive Around and Look at Christmas Lights (one of my friends chooses a house and prays for the family – that’s neat, huh?)

24. Christmas Eve!  Play games, eat appetizers, read “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, open one gift

25. CHRISTMAS!!  Read the Christmas story from Luke 2, have cinnamon rolls shaped in a wreath, open presents, and PLAY! 

And those are our 25 Days of Christmas! 

If I had started at this point, I would do the 12 days of Christmas or something, but plan on doing it for the whole month next year!