Window Marker Christmas Tree

Yesterday I showed you how we decorated our Christmas tree.
Well here's a fun idea for the kids and it can be redecorated as often as you want.
I saw THIS on Pinterest and thought it looked like fun so we made our own:

Using the Crayola Window Markers (amazon affiliate link), 

I drew a Christmas tree on the outside of our patio doors. 

Then, I let my 4 year old use the markers to draw ornaments and decorate the tree from the inside.  She even added a few presents under the tree.

Now we can wash off the inside of the door to create new ornaments each day while the tree stays up on the outside.  The easiest way I've found to clean off the Window Markers is to use a Clorox wipe.  It was much more efficient in removing the marker than Windex.

Oh, and if you have to leave the room for a few minutes to take care of your baby, you might come back to find this: 

That is just one way we are having fun getting ready for Christmas.  

We are also doing the Elf on the Shelf.  You can click HERE to see our Elf's adventures.  

And we are doing an Advent Calendar.   

With a new baby, I needed something easy.  Last year I used a 24 count muffin tin and had activities planned for each day.  You can read all about that HERE.  Like I said, this year I needed to take the easy way out and what's easier than buying an advent calendar.  

I got this one made by Playmobil (amazon affiliate link).  It has doors numbered 1 - 24 to open each day and a piece of the playset is behind each door.  I bet these will go on sale after Christmas so that would be a good time to stock up for next year.

The girls (ages 10 and 4) have both enjoyed opening up a door each day and getting a new toy to add to the scene.  They are both really into horses so this scene was perfect for them.

What fun things are you doing to lead up to Christmas?

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Easy Advent Calendar

Christmas time can get real busy real quick and this year is no exception for us.  Not only are we still doing our advent calendar but we've also added the Elf on the Shelf into our Christmas traditions.  You can read all about that HERE.  We are using the same advent calendar we received in 2010 thanks to my mother in law.  She gave us a mini muffin tin with magnetic numbers to cover up each hole.

 I have it set up in the kitchen and each morning, or right after school (depending on how busy we are) the kids take off that day's number and read the little slip of paper inside.  I add the paper each day, pretty much making up activities as I go along.  Most are easy like "Mom reads a Christmas book while you sip hot cocoa".  Some just say what we are already planning to do that day, like "attend the church Christmas party".  And some days there will be a treat such as a small toy or something sweet to eat.

And if this wasn't enough, we've also been doing a scripture chain.  More about that tomorrow.

Do you have an advent calendar?  There are so many cute ideas on Pinterest and some of them can get pretty elaborate.  So even while this is yet another thing to do each day this Christmas season, I am still trying to keep it pretty simple.  Most of the advent activities are simply spending quality time with my kids which you can never get too much of.

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Our Good Deed Santa

For the past couple of years we have been doing an Advent calendar and this year I was going to use the mini muffin pan one that my mother in law made for us.  I got it out and rather than fill it with treats, I was going to write an activity on a slip of paper and put that under each number.  I was planning to think of an activity the night before and add that to the pan so there would only be one slip of paper in it at a time.  We even started doing this on December 1st.... and then we forgot about it.

We were still doing some sort of holiday activity each day/evening but I forgot to write it on a slip of paper and put it in the muffin pan.  And the kids forgot about it too.  So I packed this away for next year.

While browsing Pinterest one day, I saw this Santa advent  and wanted to do it, I really did. It seemed like something we could start part way through the month too.

But as usual, things are crazy around here and I forgot about it until a few days ago.  The kids were acting up and I wanted them to think about others, so I modified this idea a bit and called it our "Good Deed Santa".

Instead of adding a cotton ball for each day, we are adding a cotton ball for each good deed we do.
Here is what our "Good Deed Santa" started out looking like:

Yeah, I know he's not as cute and jolly looking as the original, but I had to put this together quickly or else it would never get done.

And here he is after a couple of days of good deeds:

It's nice to be able to recognize the kids for their good deeds and they can visually see all the good they are doing.  I also like how this brings the 'Spirit of Christmas' into our homes by having the kids help others.



Thanks for stopping by,

Christa

Christmas Countdown with Advent Calendars

Today is December 1st and our advent calendars begin.

Here is what ours looked like last year thanks to my mother in law.  She mailed us the mini muffin pans and the numbered papers with magnets that attached them to the pan.  I was in charge of adding a piece of candy or slip of paper with an activity on it.  It was fun and the kids looked forward to it each morning.