The Countdown to Christmas!

With just a few more days until December, it’s time to start thinking about ways to make the Christmas season more meaningful to our family.  In preparation, I thought I would share what we are planning to do as a this year.  As always, I’d love to hear how you celebrate the holidays, so feel free to leave additional ideas/ links in the comments section!

First of all, beginning December 1st, we will be reading one story per night from the Jesus Storybook Bible.  After hearing so many great reviews of this Bible, my mom gifted us with one last year.  The author found a way to weave the arrival of Jesus into each story, & if you start at the beginning & read one story per day, you will end with the stories of Christmas.



We will also celebrate each day, by doing an activity together as a family.  I will most likely repeat last year’s chalkboard advent calendar.



Here is the list, as it stands (I may make some changes):

December 1- Decorate Christmas Tree/ Begin Jesus Storybook Bible
December 2- Stuff & Stamp Christmas Cards
December 3- Shop for Angel Tree Gifts
December 4- Watch Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town
December 5- Read Christmas Books
December 6- Church Christmas Party
December 7- Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 8- Family Christmas Night (at church)
December 9- Wrap Toy Drive Presents & have a paper snowball fight!
December 10- Make Ornaments
December 11- Watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
December 12- Christmas Game Night
December 13- Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
December 14- Pancakes with Santa & Downtown Dazzle
December 15- Live Nativity & Conservatory Holiday Show
December 16- Make Cookies
December 17- Ding Dong Ditch the Neighbors
December 18- Watch Frosty & Frosty Returns
December 19- Make a Gingerbread Nativity
December 20- Christmas Caroling
December 21- Minivan Express (Watch Polar Express/ Visit Christmas Farm)
December 22- Act Out the Nativity story
December 23- Christmas Comes Early!  (Open presents from mommy & daddy!)
December 24- Sing Christmas Songs
December 25- Christmas Day/ Read about Jesus’ birth

To create this list, I thought about our schedule, our traditions, & local events sponsored by our church, schools, & community.  I inserted any of those events that would fit our schedule.  Then, I scoured the Internet for additional ideas & placed those where they seemed to fit best.  We have Netflix & some Christmas movies on DVD, but you may need to check here to plan for TV specials.

So, that’s what we will be doing for Christmas!  What are your plans?  I’d love to hear them!