Almost Advent

Tomorrow starts our Advent, as we countdown to Christmas.

"How is it already December?" I seem to keep asking myself.

Anyway, as some of you recall, I had an Advent Activity plan last year that didn't work out as planned. Basically, we were going to choose one each day from a basket I never put together. We did some, but I didn't figure out how to control the choosing, like we can't make snow ice cream if there is no snow.

But I've got it figured out this year: socks! I'm hanging a swag of socks on my mantle, cheerful holiday-themed socks I picked up for $12 total in the dollar section. Each sock, hanging from a numbered clothespin, will contain an activity. I got the idea from Family Fun (though, my activities differ from their gifts). And since we won't check the sock until after school, I can manipulate the choice by inserting an activity we can do that day.

And so here is my list, very similar to last year, of activities I might include:

1. Make a holiday wreath with greenery from yard.
2. Make gifts for teachers and others.
3. Decorate our chalkboard with holiday pictures.
4. Make paper decorations for doors and windows.
5. Make snow ice cream/angels/paintings/snowman.
6. Have a holiday tv marathon--Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, Olive!
7. Go caroling by telephone by calling family members and singing to them.
8. Donate canned goods to the local food pantry.
9. Make fleece blankets to donate to the Linus project or scarves for another charity.
10. Hang our holiday branch on the front porch to decorate.
11. Make gingerbread houses.
12. Walk around the neighborhood at dusk and look at decorations.
13. Start a neighborhood Secret Santa chain.
14. Have dinner by candlelight.
15. Have a holiday book read-a-thon.
16. Watch Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, The Nutcracker, or other seasonal movie.
17. Learn about another winter holiday.
18. Stuff, seal, and send Christmas cards.
19. Make a holiday treat for animals (either our cats, birds and squirrels, or shelter animals).
20. Print covers of thank-you notes.
21. Decorate a backdrop for our Nativity.
22. Host a family Solstice party and stay up late.
23. Play "Christmas morning" and practice how to thank someone for a gift.
24. Read the Christmas story in the Bible and talk about how every child is special.

And when I'm not up for those, a couple of pieces of candy in the stockings will no doubt be greeted with cheers, too!