I posted the full countdown list here but I also added it to the bottom of this post as well with some of the activities marked off.
We sent a shoebox for O.peration Chr.istmas Child. Blakely went with me to pick out all of the toys to put in our shoebox. I explained to her that we were going to send some toys to a little girl who didn't have any toys. She said "me sad" and did really well picking things out. When we got home and started packing up the shoebox, well, that was another story. She wanted to play with everything and was saying "me new toy"! So yeah, we are working on that. But all in all it went well and I am glad we did it. I think we will do something else similar this month too. And I have no pictures of this one...I was too busy making sure she did tear open all of the stuff!
We decorated Blakely's Christmas tree. 2 things come to mind when I see these pictures. One is that this child has grown up so much in a year!
And two is that she needs a bigger/better Christmas tree. After Christmas I will be hitting up Hob Lob to get a new one for her!
We also painted some ornaments to give to family members. I don't think I have mentioned this but my girl is obsessed with painting. OBSESSED. They paint occasionally at school and now that is all she talks about. I swear she would have sat in her chair and painted all day long. You should have seen the struggle it was to get her to go take a bubble bath....her second favorite thing to do.
During her nap one day I decided to make her a felt Christmas tree. I was going to have her cut out snowflakes and decorate the windows with them but I quickly found out that she can't be trusted with scissors juuuuust yet. Also, I have a ton of felt in my craft closet so it was easy peasy to whip this right up. She thinks it is awesome and plays with it every day. I highly recommend doing this with your littles!
We have also made pine cone birdfeeders. She wasn't all that interested in this but I think it was because I had it all set up for when she woke up from her nap. She was still a bit cranky and only wanted to eat the peanut butter! She really loves checking to see if we have any birds though. So far we don't but my mom said it can take up to a week for the birds to find new feeders. We shall see.
sneaky grin...
She is really enjoying the Christmas activities. I have a bunch set up for this week. I don't do one a day I just do one when we can. Lonnie is off next week so I am saving quite a few things so we can do them as a family. This time of year is just magical and I can't help but walk around with a smile on my face. I am so lucky.
1. Go to a Christmas Parade.
2. Go to Garvan Gardens and see the lights.
3. Make some treats for some special people. (Can't be too specific!)
4. Fill a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child
5. Open an early Christmas present
6. Make a pallet on the living room floor and watch Christmas movies.
7. Make hot chocolate (with lots of marshmallows) and sit by the fire. (NO TV)
8. Make a Christmas craft for family.
9. Decorate Blakely's Christmas tree.
10. Go to the Arlington and see the life size gingerbread house.
11. Color another page in her Christmas coloring book and date it. (same book from last year)
12. Daddy/daughter date night.
13. Spend the night with Gran Di. (because we all know she will have fun Christmas stuff for B to do!)
14. Get pictures made with Santa.
15. Decorate cookies and leave them out for Santa
16. Read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.
17. Do three random acts of kindness
18. Make a red and green lunch or dinner.
19. Cut out snowflakes and decorate the windows with them. Changed to make felt tree
20. Decorate a gingerbread house.
21. Make a pine cone bird feeder.
22. Make apple cider and read Christmas books before bed
23. Drive around to see Christmas lights.
24. Make or pick out gifts for her teachers.
25. Go to a Christmas event (Santa story time or Christmas craft) at the library.
Ok, I've tried commenting twice. Here's the short story.
ReplyDelete1) your felt tree isway better than ours.
2) Tay loved the pine cone bird feeders.
3) Blakely rocks turtlenecks.
Please post. Please post.
How fun! I agree, your felt tree is awesome. I wish I was better at crafts!
ReplyDeleteI like her mischievous smile, sneaky little B!!!
Aiden also LOVES to paint, I try to let him do it once a week and not stress about the mess it makes. I love your felt tree, and want to make one SO bad for Aiden, but our town doesn't sell felt large enough. :( I should order some online though for next year!
ReplyDeleteYou are mommy of the year, I wish we lived closer together so we could do some of our crafts together!
All ya'll with your Christmas Countdowns! I am lucky to get one holiday related thing done a week!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, so much Christmas fun going down at your house this year!!! I am jealous but loving seeing/hearing about it. B is looking so BIG!!!
ReplyDeleteOh and the shoebox wanting to play with the toys once home.. Oh I feel you. We took Lids with us to actually deliver toys to poorer children around here and Lids was fine to give the toys but then had a hard time not wanting to stay and play with them too!