Our 2009 Christmas Advent

We're gearing up for Christmas around here. I only need to pick up one more item for Creed and then I'm done shopping for him (actually I will probably even save a few things for his birthday). Unfortunately, I'm struggling to come up with ideas for the rest of my family so the only other person that I can check off my shopping list right now is my mom.

We're hoping for low-stress holidays around here so I'm trying to be prepared ahead of time. I usually put off getting our advent calendar together until the night before it starts, but this time I started last week. Years ago, I saw an Ikea ad using their gift boxes to create an advent and I bought the boxes and stashed them away until Creed was big enough to enjoy it. I hung it up in the basement above his train table using some 3M picture hanging strips that are like velcro so they can be pulled off the wall without doing any damage (I cut each strip into smaller pieces). Next, I need to figure out how to add numbers to them, then I need to fill them up with goodies and slips of paper with the activity that we will do that day. I'll try to post a picture when it's finsihed

I don't have them in order yet, but here are a few of the things I'm thinking about including this year (Since we're trying to make the most of our time in Utah, I tried to include several local events).

1. Put out our shoes for Sinterclaus

2. Attend a live Nativity

3. Go see the lights at Temple Square

4. Drink Hot chocolate and read a Christmas Story

5. Watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas

6. Visit Santa at the Sugarhouse

7. Drive around to see lights and give an award to our favorite house

8. Go to the Infectious Disease department’s Christmas party

9. Pick out a Christmas Tree

10. Make a snowangel or snowman

11. Read the Christmas story from the scriptures

12. Address our Christmas cards

13. Dance around to music from the nutcracker

14. Go to the Festival of Trees

15. Go to Candlelight Christmas at This is The Place Heritage Park

16. Attend Ward Christmas party

17. Ride the Polar Express (This one is expensive and I'm not sure if Creed is quite ready for it so I don't know if we will include it)

18. Make a gingerbread house

19. Make Christmas Cookies

20. Write a letter to Santa

21. Drop off gifts to the neighbors

22. Camp out around the Christmas tree

23. Visit friends and family around town and take pictures of all of them wearing a Rudolph nose or Santa Hat. Develop pictures and use them to decorate.

24. Wrap presents

What would you include?