I think we have 9 days left, but I can’t be sure.

i’m swamped with last minute minutia.

by this weekend i should be ready to sit back and enjoy the Christmas season.  all 5 days that we’ll have left of it.

we really are trying to do advent every day.  but honestly, it’s spotty.

we did have a great time and made a monster of a mess last night when we made gift tags.

here’s a glimpse at the fun.  (don’t be fooled by the lack of smiles.  my kids are protesting the camera again.)

my good intentions were just that.  good intentions.

i’m way behind on my advent countdown.

there are too many things to do.

this whole count down business is making me nervous.

day 15 was spent online shopping.

day 14 didn’t happen because my kids staged a picket against having their picture taken for any more of my blog posts.

so that leaves us at day 13, i think.  i don’t even have a picture of bag #13.  oh well.

advent activity:  go out to eat together (my kids were back on board for this, although i did have to sneak some photos by shooting the reflection in the window)

our town leaves much to be desired.  true.  but this is the place the kids always want to go to if the opportunity arises.  best place for a burger, fries, cheeses sticks and a chocolate shake.

only 13 days until Christmas  (i think) !!!

advent activity:

take pictures of a favorite tradition

we unpacked the german Christmas candle carousel and lit it to make sure everything still worked.  the boys were fascinated by the spinning angels.  or maybe it was just the open flame.

only 16 days left before Christmas!

wow!  it is really creeping up on me this year.  i better get shopping!

advent activity:

go for a bike ride (where did these activity ideas come from?!!)

temperature outside:

ummm, we’re taking a pass on day 17.

only 17 more days until Christmas!!!

Advent Activity:

Drink hot cider

only eighteen days left before Christmas!

YIKES!

time’s tickin away.  i’m off to start my Christmas shopping.  i sure hope there’s something left at amazon!

advent activity:

make silly hats out of construction paper and craft supplies

only 19 days until Christmas!

activity:

it’s 21 degrees right now.  this may or may not take place tonight…

Only 20 days until Christmas!!!

activity:

discover how to say “i love you” in 4 other languages

(i know this picture resembles a mug shot.  that’s what  kids look like when their mom is constantly snapping pictures of them.)

1. sign language

2. quechua (ancient inca)

3. greek

4.  japanese

Only 21 days left until Christmas!!!

i don’t know who made this advent calendar, but whoever did, did not plan very well.

they should know better than to plan a time consuming activity for a crazy day like a thursday when people are running here and there.

today our advent activity read:  ” make and decorate sugar cookies together”.

if you’ve ever made sugar cookies with kids (or without kids) you know it’s not a quick little project.

there are steps involved.

first you make the dough.  then you refrigerate the dough.  then you clean up. then you roll out the cookies and bake them.  then you clean up. then you let them cool.  then you make the frosting.  then you decorate the cookies. then you clean up. again.

well, it’s almost midnight and as promised, i am blogging about our advent today.

we made the cookies and frosted them. (well most of us did.  one of us was caroling with the cub scouts.)

here’s the proof.

Only 22 days left before Christmas!

as promised, i am updating the blog.

i remembered something yesterday.  i remembered why i do not craft.

it takes too darn long!

that’s why i usually leave it to my uber-crafty sister tatertotsandjello whose blog is literally saturated with craftiness.

so, my goal yesterday was to make an advent calendar for the kids.

after surfing for ideas online for a few minutes, i headed out to the craft store.

{by the way, there are TONS of great ideas for advent calendars out there, for any of you even more last minute than me who wants to make their own}

i thought i could whip out this simple paper bag-strewn clothesline advent calendar in an hour or so.

my goal was to make it, stuff it with goodies, and open the first bag with the kids last night.

well, long after the kids were all in bed, i strung the last of the bags on the line, exhausted from so much crafting, covered in glue and glitter, and wanting nothing more to do with my cricut.

but, it’s finished.

the kids love it.

and we opened our first {two} bags this evening.

in each bag is a scripture, an activity, and four little treats for the kids.

day 1: buy and read a new Christmas book.

luckily i had been to barnes & noble just last weekend and picked this up:

the kids named him … what else but …  Buddy the Elf.

buddy will sit on the shelf during the month of december watching over the kids, magically flying back to the north pole every night to report to santa, and then magically reappearing on a new shelf every morning.

the {little} kids are excited to see who will be first  to find buddy each morning.

what a genius idea!

only 23 days left before Christmas!!!