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

Win a XXL'MAN SIZE' Faux Leather Bean Bag for Fathers Day

I have a fab competition for you to win a Man Sized Bean Bag just in time for Fathers Day from Bean Bag Bazaar , which is worth £69.99. We are big fans of bean bags as they make perfect additional seating and can be popped in the garage when not in use and we are looking forward to reviewing one in Maxi's new bedroom . a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dumping the tumble dryer and Ecoforce giveaway

We have a tumble dryer, but it broke before christmas and we couldn't afford to get it repaired, so I have been managing with an old fashioned wooden clothes rail and hanging bedding over the doors to dry, This last would of weeks however, I have been hanging the washing outside and it has been drying much quicker and with less creases, so I am going to take the plunge and instead of getting the dryer replaced I am going to give it away. Ecoforce heard me on twitter bemoaning the fact that I was chasing laundry round the garden as my pegs were not working and very kindly sent me some of their Ecoforce pegs to try and they have been fab. So in conjunction with Ecoforce I have a year's supply of green cleaning and washing up wonder products worth £50 comprising the following: EcoForce Peg Basket x 1 EcoForce Clothes Line x1 EcoForce Pegs x 2 packs Several of each of: EcoForce sponges, scourers, cloths, duster and bag grips Dishmatic Dishmatic Refills x

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.

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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