Advent Calendar (part 2)

In the previous post, I made an Advent type calendar with a little stocking for each day in December (1st-24th).  Each stocking will be stuffed with an activity card listing a Christmas activity to be done that day.  I searched the internet for some ideas and came up with some ideas on my own.

I'll probably stuff the stockings on a nightly basis after referencing the next day's schedule (I'll be more likely to take on building a gingerbread house on my days off).  On really busy days, I can have a couple treats or trinkets to put in the stocking instead of a card.  The activities will also change as our kid(s) get older and can actually sit through a Christmas concert and participate in volunteer activities : )

Since several of the activities involve making something or require some preparation, I created a "to-do" and shopping list for all of the activities.  That way, each year I can get everything ahead of time without too much hassle. I added links to some of the ideas I found below:

Activities at home:

• Pop some popcorn or make a snack, put on your pajamas, and pick out one of your favorite Christmas movies to watch
• Read a brand-new Christmas book
• Watch a movie and read a story about the very first Christmas, the birth of Jesus 
• Pick out your favorite Christmas song and have a sing-along and dance!
• Tomorrow is December 6, which is St. Nicholas Day!  Read about St. Nicholas and leave a shoe out for him tonight!
• Take a Christmas themed bath

Activities out:

• Go out and get some holiday ice cream from DQ or a shake from Steak n’ Shake
• Drive around and look at Christmas lights
• Go ice skating or sledding 
• Go visit Santa Claus
• Pick out a toy to give to a needy family
• Visit the Children’s Museum or another Christmas display somewhere
• Walk around the mall

Crafts/Kitchen

• Make a gingerbread house
• Bake some Christmas cookies (save some for Santa!)
• Make reindeer food
• Make Christmas drinks (hot chocolate, cider, eggnog)
• Make Christmas Cards for your Grandparents
• Make a Christmas craft
• Put together a Christmas puzzle
• Write letter to Santa and mail it
• Draw or create a nativity scene

Additional activities:

• Attend a Christmas show or concert
• Visit a nursing home and bring some treats or decorations
• Your choice!

I printed the list and stuck it onto Christmas paper which I will laminate (if I get a laminator for Christmas...*hint, hint*).  I'm going to keep a copy of the file and paper so I can easily print new ideas out each year and add them to the rest.

My list isn't set, so I am looking for other suggestions!  It would be nice to have extra ideas on hand!  I hope this will become a fun holiday tradition for our family!