Building A Magical Christmas - Crafting Our Advent Calendar

I've talked a lot about traditions through the years. The most common ones you hear me reference is my family's tradition of opening new pajamas on Christmas Eve, baking Christmas cookies, and reading Twas' the Night Before Christmas (the soldier version) whilst hanging the Army sock by the fireplace in honor of the soldiers spending Christmas in a far away land. These all mean something very special to our family. I'm sure you all have your special traditions too.

When I was younger Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year. It was my grandma's very favorite holiday and she made sure it was extra special for us, her grandchildren. We decorated trees (yes multiple ones), baked tons of cookies, sang at the local retirement home, and crafted feasts fit for a King. We even had assigned parts in our Christmas Eve organized talent show. And yes, we opened Christmas Eve jammies and read Twas the Night Before Christmas EVERY Christmas Eve. I will never forget the sound of laughter on Christmas morning - that's how I woke up, to a house full of family and Santa's gifts under the tree. It was magical.

Somewhere along the line I stopped believing in Santa Claus but I never lost my Christmas spirit because it was so fun to do all of these things with grandma. The day she died Christmas somehow died with her. The family didn't get together as one large group. Everyone went their own separate "family" ways and broke into smaller groups of family. There were not multiple trees, no talent show, and not near as much laughter on Christmas morning. I lost some of my spirit. Determined to move forward with our traditions my mama and I managed to keep a small less "talent" version of our Christmas program "alive" along with the exchange of jammies. There was no denying it wasn't the same.

Well, that was until I had my girls. I got my Christmas groove back. Christmas through a child's eye is magical - and now I see that everything my Grandma did for us wasn't so much as she loved Christmas but she wanted US to love the togetherness and spirit of joy because SHE LOVED US! So when Christmastime rolls around each year I drag out the 17 Rubbermaid containers full of Christmas decor, decorate multiple trees, wrap like an elf, visit retirement homes, bake immense amounts of cookies, share handmade gifts with my neighbors, drive through tunnels of lights (multiple times), mail Christmas cards, have holiday parties, and do immense amounts of crafting. All in an effort to to share the joy of Christmas with my children/family. 

This year I thought I'd share a fun idea with you that I added to our "collection" of Christmas fun. We had a handmade Advent calendar given to us last year from a dear friend who scrapbooks. It is pretty amazing. So, this year I hunted down things to put into the drawers. Instead of tiny toys or candy I decided to go with Christmas related items that my children would enjoy every day. Here is the list that I made:

Read a Christmas book

Go to the movie theater

Eat a piece of Christmas candy

Sing jingle bells

Sing frosty the snowman

Think of 5 names for a snowman

Make a list of your favorite Christmas cookies

Recite the 12 days of Christmas

Make a paper snowflake

Watch elf

Make a picture of Santa

Write Santa a letter/email

Drive around to see the lights

Do a Christmas craft

Think of five stocking stuffers

Watch polar express

Make up a song about Christmas

Make reindeer food

Unwrap Christmas jammies

Research the real meaning of Christmas – tell the story

Wish someone merry Christmas today!

Write a story or draw a picture about Christmas

Wrap a Christmas present

Make a puffy snowman

Draw a picture of an elf

Once I printed them up I cut them into strips and assigned them a day by placing them in the box. I can hardly wait til' tomorrow when they open their first drawer. To me, that's magical. That joy is what grandma taught me and what the season is all about.