Our Advent Calender and activities

So as I have told you I believe in the wonder and joys of Christmas and want to welcome my boys to the warm arms of tradition. I want them to relish advent each year and I want them to look forward to each day rather than just Christmas day itself.

I couldn't find an advent calendar that met our needs so in 2009 I made our advent calendar. It has tags on with the tasks or activities on the back. They have changed as the boys have grown older, but have included or include:

Write and post your letter to Father Christmas
Help ice the Christmas cake
Make Christmas cards
Make shapes with the cookie cutters and playdough
Make Jelly Baby Jesus cakes
Do an advent wordsearch
Make this years thumbprint tree ornament
make a christmas present
Make your teachers christmas gift
Sort out old toys for donating
Make a tree decoration
Visit Grandma's grave
Do some christmas crafting
Make a borax pipe cleaner decoration
Make meringue snowmen
Make gift tags
Make Christmas shrinky dinks
Make paper snowflakes
Go to a Carol Service
Colour in some Christmas pictures
Make some Christmas fairy cakes
Make a loo roll nativity display
Make paper chains
Collect Pinecones
Start reading about the nativity
Have dinner with Family
Write your Christmas cards and deliver local ones
Make dried orange slices
Make angels
Make salt dough ornaments
Make reindeer gingerbread cookies
Make pomanders
String popcorn to go on the tree
Make snowman soup
Make a bird feeder
Sing and dance to Christmas songs
Make some Christmas cookies
Watch a Christmas movie
Make reindeer food
Read a Christmas Story
Make up a Christmas story
Take a walk in the dark to look at the Christmas lights
Help trim the tree
Make mince pies
Make spiced cider
Go to the school Christmas Fair
Find Mistletoe, hang it in our house and kiss under it
Help wrap presents
Make Thick Hot Chocolate and Homemade Marshmallows
Put up a wreath
Meet Father Christmas
Decorate our gingerbread house
Make a family traditional dessert

Bissell Vac and Steam Machine Review and Giveaway

I have hard floors downstairs which I love. They are much more practical than carpet with 2 mucky boys and a dog. Over the past 8 years I have tried all sorts of ways to keep them clean and I think I have finally found the product that does that for me. It is the Bissell Vac and Steam Machine . This amazing suel action machine vacuums and steam cleans either independently or at the same time. It means that I have done away with my vacuum and steam cleaner downstairs (which I gave to my brother in law). What I like: You can either vacuum or steam clean or do both It is lightweight and easy to manoeuvre The handle is adjustable great for a home with people of different heights and for getting the kids involved. You need no chemicals The pads are washable and reusable It comes with a two year guarantee It warms up fast (within 30 seconds) so no long wait to start cleaning It costs under £100 It is space saving. No need for a separate vacuum, steam cleaner or mop.

Tissue paper poppy badges

Remembrance Sunday will soon be upon us and my boys take part in the annual church service and march as Beavers. This year MadDad will also be marching in his capacity as Manager of the U7's football team. We are great believers in remembering what people have done for us and the boys have been busy making tissue paper poppies at Beavers.

Don't feel pressured in to spending at Christmas and a giveaway

According to a recent survey by Whyte & Mackay 46.2% of people confess to feeling pressured into spending £100-£200 more than they can afford. I have to admit that this really shocked me, but them with the rising cost of things and also the unrealistic expectations of people it is often very hard to keep a lid on spending. Other irritations were: · Christmas dinner preparations (25%) . The most common complaint is when mum-in-laws unfavourably compare the way dinner is served to the ‘proper way’ (i.e. her way). · Cruel present choices (24%). The majority felt that parent-in-laws purposefully bought presents for them that they wouldn’t like, from terrible Christmas jumpers to regifting items already in their cupboards. · Fighting over board games (15%). The most frenetic choice is the team game of charades with 34% of those who have fought with their parent-in-laws coming to blows. Monopoly is the board game that seems to cause the least amoun

Pippa Ainsworth19 November 2012 at 19:49
Some great ideas there. I really want a 'fillable' advent calendar for my two this year. Bud is 2.7 now and I think he would love it. I've pinned this and may 'borrow' a few of your ideas.
Susan Mann19 November 2012 at 21:19
Those are fab ideas x
helen21 November 2012 at 20:42
I'm making advent stockings similar this year...never thought of the pound shop for pegs...off there at the weekend, thanks!
Anonymous26 November 2012 at 14:05
This is SOOO cool, and there I was thinking I had literally just come up with the idea of filling our calendar with tasks, mwhahaha. These are great though, I might take some inspiration from your tasks!

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