The last days of advent

12. Watching a Christmas movie with popcorn (We watched "Elf"... what a fantastic movie. So funny!)

13. Carmel apples

(We were not quite as scheduled in the next few days. A police officer in our area got shot. All of us PD families were in shock. It was the 8th police officer shot, and the 6th one to die in 2 months within 30 miles of me. We are still in recovery...)

14. Going to Zoo Lights with hot apple cider (didn't do)

15. Cereal box boxes for gifts (We used Valerie's stamp and sharpie technique for some of these)

16. Button bracelets (Didn't finish)

17. Painting recycled wrapping paper (That turned into making calendar pages into beautiful gift bags)

18. Pressed leaf glitter ornaments (no pictures)

19. Bird seed pincones

20. Chocolate dipped nuts and fruits

21. Recycled carol lanterns

22. Christmas cookies for neighbors

23. Paper snowflakes (Didn't do)

24. Wrapping gifts

The first ten days of Advent

I have not been the best one at keeping up with this stuff. I have been posting some of it on my other blog, but a few real life things have come up, and we have had to take a step back from a few things to be able to deal with them.

The Advent Activities are going really well though. We all are just LOVING doing the activity we find every day. Me as much as the kids!

Day 1: Yule log candle holder

Day 2: Trip to Mt Rainier

Day 3: Fantasy Lights and Hot Cocoa (link, no pics. Sorry!)

Day 4: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie the play (Link, no pictures were allowed)

Day 5: Recycled paper ornament balls

Day 6: Special chocolate (I was gone all day long)

Day 7: Cutting our tree with Daddy

Day 8: Beaded key chains for gifts (no pics)

Day 9: Teasel hedgehog ornaments

Day 10: Paper crane ornaments

Day 11: Waldorf paper stars

Alex was AMAZING at these stars tonight. He made tiny ones to go onto the tree... and then covered them in silver glitter. How cool is that?

That's it so far! We have been having a blast and really getting into each craft we have been making. The kids are loving being all crafty and motivated. They have made gifts for nearly everyone. I love the creativity it brings out in them. Cyan just made this awesome gift for a friend. Check it out here!

Yes

Winter Nature Table 2009

This was fun to set up with the kids. After the hustle and bustle of the fall table with all of the things that were on it, to start with a blank slate and put only the winter things on was nice. And of course, kid things were added... and the heart from Mother Natures hands has gone missing again. Just proof that it is a living nature table with kids that love it.

Advent: Day 3 ~ Trip to Mt Rainier

Yes, those are live wild foxes. They came right up to our car. The one with the black face was close enough that I could have touched him. They had obviously been fed by people visiting the park. It was actually kind of sad... but wow. What amazing pictures!

Advent at my House

Advent at my house has always been a big deal. My mom made an advent calendar from felt in the shape of this giant tree, and we would put an ornament on each day. We loved it! This year, we are fighting back the holiday blues with crafts, so each of the pockets of my advent calendar are filled with a strip of paper that has a craft or trip to do that day. The kids are just LOVING it!

I am posting about most of the crafts on my other blog (and more) here.

1. Yule log candle holder
2. Trip to Mt Rainier
3. Fantasy Lights and Hot Cocoa
4. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie the play
5. Recycled paper ornament balls
6. Special chocolate (I am going to be gone all day long)
7. Cutting our tree with Daddy
8. Beaded key chains for gifts
9. Teasel hedgehog ornaments
10. Paper crane ornaments
11. Waldorf paper stars
12. Watching a Christmas movie with popcorn
13. Carmel apples
14. Going to Zoo Lights with hot apple cider
15. Cereal box boxes for gifts
16. Button bracelets
17. Painting recycled wrapping paper
18. Pressed leaf glitter ornaments
19. Bird seed pincones
20. Chocolate dipped nuts and fruits
21. Recycled carol lanterns
22. Christmas cookies
23. Paper snowflakes
24. Paper egg ornaments
25. Open your stocking!!

Any advent crafts or traditions in your house that you can't live without?