we Made reindeer sandwiches- they are pb&j cut in triangle halves with pretzel antlers, cranberry nose and raisin eyes!
This is the Mitchell Family's 25 Days of Christmas
This is what the lid looks like with the verse on it.
( Sorry- I need to rotate the picture, but you get the idea. This is for the first 12 days.)
Reindeer cookies:
1) Nutter Butter cookies as the face, use icing to attach choco chip eyes, red M & M nose and a twisted pretzel for the antlers.
Hand print wreath:
1)Trace a bunch of your child's hand print on construction paper, cut out.
2)Take a paper plate and cut out the center, glue hand prints around to make wreath.
3) Attach bow and decorate- if you like.
Snowman Pitcure:
We have done this activity every year since Bryce was 2 or 3!
What you need:
cotton balls
white construction paper cut into 3 different sized circles (I use different sized bowls)
construction paper for background (to glue everything to)
black construction paper to make a top hat or a girls hat
googly eyes, buttons, orange tissue for nose and little chenille balls for the mouth
Markers, glitter etc
I suggest having everything cut and ready for them to assemble- give them the pieces and let them make a snowman!
Day 12: Matthew 1:18-25
Make Christmas star ornament out of popcicle sticks, glue and glitter. Add a string or ribbon and hang on tree.
This is what the lid looks like with the verse on it.
( Sorry- I need to rotate the picture, but you get the idea. This is for the first 12 days.)Merry Christmas! I am so excited- I love Christmas time. It is my favorite time of year and my kids too! Here is a list of some fun things I love to do with my kids at Christmas time. I subscribe to Family Fun magazine and I always tear out the ideas I like and then add it to the appropriate folder (ie Christmas, Fall, Thanksgiving. Summer etc) You can also print coloring sheets at http://www.coloring.ws.com/ and http://www.enchantedlearning.com/ has a ton of crafts also. I always print a bunch of whatever activity or color sheet and put them in my folder for the following year- just to have it!
Crafts:
Candy Cane Frame:
1) form a heart with the candy canes and hot glue together, run a ribbon through the heart and hot glue to secure
2) trace heart onto felt and cut out. Hot glue candy canes to felt and add a picture.
Crafts:
Candy Cane Frame:
1) form a heart with the candy canes and hot glue together, run a ribbon through the heart and hot glue to secure
2) trace heart onto felt and cut out. Hot glue candy canes to felt and add a picture.
Reindeer cookies:
1) Nutter Butter cookies as the face, use icing to attach choco chip eyes, red M & M nose and a twisted pretzel for the antlers.
Hand print wreath:
1)Trace a bunch of your child's hand print on construction paper, cut out.
2)Take a paper plate and cut out the center, glue hand prints around to make wreath.
3) Attach bow and decorate- if you like.
Snowman Pitcure:
We have done this activity every year since Bryce was 2 or 3!
What you need:
cotton balls
white construction paper cut into 3 different sized circles (I use different sized bowls)
construction paper for background (to glue everything to)
black construction paper to make a top hat or a girls hat
googly eyes, buttons, orange tissue for nose and little chenille balls for the mouth
Markers, glitter etc
I suggest having everything cut and ready for them to assemble- give them the pieces and let them make a snowman!
Extra fun ideas:
Find baby Jesus in your manger scene and place him in a different spot each night before bed and have kids look for him each morning. As you get closer to Christmas, move baby Jesus closer to his manger.
Find out who decorated the first Christmas tree.
When you see Christmas lights tell someone Jesus is the light of the world.
Have a doodle dinner: get the large pieces of construction paper and crayons. Let the kids decorate them with Christmas words and scenes. Then you can take them to Office Max and have them laminated.
Theme:
Polar Express Day:
Make sure the kids are still in their jammies!Before the kids sit down (the night before probably) tape a bell under their seats.As you get ready for your school day greet the kids with a train ticket- just make one up and get a paper hole punch. Tell the that you need their train tickets and hole punch it like in the movie. Then read the polar express to them. After have them check under their seats for a bell and ask if they hear it ringing? As crafts you can make bell bracelets just get some pipe cleaner and bells and string the bells through and tie around their wrist or ankle. for a snack make hot cocoa with a candy cane stirrer. Make a train ride booklet at www.mrsmcgowan.com/winter/train You could even go on a train ride at the zoo. To end the day watch the Polar Express.
A good site to go to is http://www.littlegirrafes.com/
She has some really great ideas- you may even be able to tailer them to some older kids?
Advent Calendar: 25 days of Christmas:
Day 1: Micah 5:2-5 Make reindeer shirts. This is one of my favorite parts- The kids have made these shirts every year since they were born! What you need: White shirt, fabric paint in black, brown and red, fabric markers, any color, paint brushes ( I use the cheap foam brushes) and your kids hands and feet. This can get messy so be careful-
1) Lay out the shirt and place a plastic bag in the middle so paint doesn't soak through to the other side
2) Lather one foot with brown paint, have child stand up and place foot in middle of shirt (toes facing the neck) this is the face, wipe foot clean.
2) Lather both hands with black paint, have child place hands by foot print to make antlers, wipe clean
3) Take markers and make eyes, nose and mouth and I always write their name on the shirt with the date.
4) let dry and then wear all Season!
Day 2: Psalm 72
Make gingerbread kid cookies and share cookies with a neighbor.
Day 3: Isaiah 11: 1-6
Let your light shine (buy new flashlights for the kids and put in the box) Ask them how we can do this. Make gingerbread house
Day 4: Psalm 121
Please help someone today without being asked, at the end of the day discuss how it felt to help that person
Build a fort from blankets and read Christmas stories, turn on Christmas music and sing and dance!
Day 5: Romans 15: 12-13
Make cotton ball snowmen! I have reindeer lollipops in my box to give to the kids
Lay on the drive way and star gaze, tell of your dreams for the future!
Day 6: Isaiah 7: 14-15
Fill a shoebox for Samaritans Purse (or bring something to donate to a shelter or church)
Make a photo frame and take a picture. (I bought some wooden gingerbread frames from Hobby Lobby last year on sale for 50 cents or something.)
Day 7: Isaiah 9: 6-7
Make a hand wreath, go ice skating. I also have gigantic green and white lollipos in the box.
Day 8: Psalm 98
Write a letter to Santa and drop at Macy's Department Store- they donate to a charity for every letter they get. make paper snowflakes.
Day 9: Luke 1: 26-38
Paint wooden Christmas craft (also found at Hobby Lobby last year on sale for cheap)
Day 10: Luke 1: 39-45
Look at a globe and find some places in the world where the people are hungry, hurting or dying. Pray for peace for them. Ask God to make you a peacemaker too.
Paint wooden snowmen (Hobby lobby last year)
Day 11: Luke 1: 46-50 and 56
Make a star chain to count down the days left until Christmas
Work on Awana teacher gifts (Hot Cocoa baggies: empty several pouches of hot cocoa into a Christmas ziplock bag, add marshmallows and a few candy canes for stirrers. Add a tag that says:
With freezing weather drawing near
You'll need to warm the spirit
So here;s a little Snowman Soup
Complete with stirring stick
Add hot water, sip it slow
And it's sure to do the trick!
Or Cookies in a jar (http://www.familyfun.com/ to get recipe)
Please compliment someone today.
Polar Express Day:
Make sure the kids are still in their jammies!Before the kids sit down (the night before probably) tape a bell under their seats.As you get ready for your school day greet the kids with a train ticket- just make one up and get a paper hole punch. Tell the that you need their train tickets and hole punch it like in the movie. Then read the polar express to them. After have them check under their seats for a bell and ask if they hear it ringing? As crafts you can make bell bracelets just get some pipe cleaner and bells and string the bells through and tie around their wrist or ankle. for a snack make hot cocoa with a candy cane stirrer. Make a train ride booklet at www.mrsmcgowan.com/winter/train You could even go on a train ride at the zoo. To end the day watch the Polar Express.
A good site to go to is http://www.littlegirrafes.com/
She has some really great ideas- you may even be able to tailer them to some older kids?
Advent Calendar: 25 days of Christmas:
Day 1: Micah 5:2-5 Make reindeer shirts. This is one of my favorite parts- The kids have made these shirts every year since they were born! What you need: White shirt, fabric paint in black, brown and red, fabric markers, any color, paint brushes ( I use the cheap foam brushes) and your kids hands and feet. This can get messy so be careful-
1) Lay out the shirt and place a plastic bag in the middle so paint doesn't soak through to the other side
2) Lather one foot with brown paint, have child stand up and place foot in middle of shirt (toes facing the neck) this is the face, wipe foot clean.
2) Lather both hands with black paint, have child place hands by foot print to make antlers, wipe clean
3) Take markers and make eyes, nose and mouth and I always write their name on the shirt with the date.
4) let dry and then wear all Season!
Day 2: Psalm 72
Make gingerbread kid cookies and share cookies with a neighbor.
Day 3: Isaiah 11: 1-6
Let your light shine (buy new flashlights for the kids and put in the box) Ask them how we can do this. Make gingerbread house
Day 4: Psalm 121
Please help someone today without being asked, at the end of the day discuss how it felt to help that person
Build a fort from blankets and read Christmas stories, turn on Christmas music and sing and dance!
Day 5: Romans 15: 12-13
Make cotton ball snowmen! I have reindeer lollipops in my box to give to the kids
Lay on the drive way and star gaze, tell of your dreams for the future!
Day 6: Isaiah 7: 14-15
Fill a shoebox for Samaritans Purse (or bring something to donate to a shelter or church)
Make a photo frame and take a picture. (I bought some wooden gingerbread frames from Hobby Lobby last year on sale for 50 cents or something.)
Day 7: Isaiah 9: 6-7
Make a hand wreath, go ice skating. I also have gigantic green and white lollipos in the box.
Day 8: Psalm 98
Write a letter to Santa and drop at Macy's Department Store- they donate to a charity for every letter they get. make paper snowflakes.
Day 9: Luke 1: 26-38
Paint wooden Christmas craft (also found at Hobby Lobby last year on sale for cheap)
Day 10: Luke 1: 39-45
Look at a globe and find some places in the world where the people are hungry, hurting or dying. Pray for peace for them. Ask God to make you a peacemaker too.
Paint wooden snowmen (Hobby lobby last year)
Day 11: Luke 1: 46-50 and 56
Make a star chain to count down the days left until Christmas
Work on Awana teacher gifts (Hot Cocoa baggies: empty several pouches of hot cocoa into a Christmas ziplock bag, add marshmallows and a few candy canes for stirrers. Add a tag that says:
With freezing weather drawing near
You'll need to warm the spirit
So here;s a little Snowman Soup
Complete with stirring stick
Add hot water, sip it slow
And it's sure to do the trick!
Or Cookies in a jar (http://www.familyfun.com/ to get recipe)
Please compliment someone today.
Day 12: Matthew 1:18-25
Make Christmas star ornament out of popcicle sticks, glue and glitter. Add a string or ribbon and hang on tree.
This is what it should look like: 
This is what ours looks like!
Leave little notes of encouragement all over your neighborhood (mailbox, grocery store, friends door, park) i also have included a Christmas coloring book for each child.
Day 13: Luke 2: 1-7
Make candy cane frame (directions above)
Castle Hills Bethlehem Night
Day 14: John 3: 16-17 Good practice and review for AWANA!
Make stain glass star- go to walmart or target and get a few in the craft aisle or here's how to make one for yourself. What you need: black construction paper, scissors, colored tissue paper and white glue. To make: Draw or trace a star shape. Cut out around star and all of the middle pieces. Cut pieces of tissue paper to fit into each section of the star and glue. Use a hole punch and tie a piece of ribbon to hang on the tree.
Day 15: John 1: 14-18
Coloring pages- moveable santa (I think it is from http://www.coloring.ws.com/ )
Give $5 to someone who needs it and read Romans 5: 8- again good AWANA practice!
Day 16: Luke 2: 8-14
Make cards and sugar cookies to deliver to the retirement home. We are making sugar cookies cut into these shapes: angel, star, tree, heart and bells. Add this to the tag: An angel brought the glorious news that a savior had been born. Wise men and shepherds followed a bright star to the manger where Jesus lay. They brought precious gifts much like the gifts we have under our tree. The best gift of all that day was Jesus. God sent his only son that whoever accepts Him into their heart will have life everlasting and go to heaven. Let the bells ring out this holiday season as we celebrate Jesus birthday and God's greatest gift to us.
This is what ours looks like!Leave little notes of encouragement all over your neighborhood (mailbox, grocery store, friends door, park) i also have included a Christmas coloring book for each child.Day 13: Luke 2: 1-7
Make candy cane frame (directions above)
Castle Hills Bethlehem Night
Day 14: John 3: 16-17 Good practice and review for AWANA!
Make stain glass star- go to walmart or target and get a few in the craft aisle or here's how to make one for yourself. What you need: black construction paper, scissors, colored tissue paper and white glue. To make: Draw or trace a star shape. Cut out around star and all of the middle pieces. Cut pieces of tissue paper to fit into each section of the star and glue. Use a hole punch and tie a piece of ribbon to hang on the tree.
Day 15: John 1: 14-18
Coloring pages- moveable santa (I think it is from http://www.coloring.ws.com/ )
Give $5 to someone who needs it and read Romans 5: 8- again good AWANA practice!
Day 16: Luke 2: 8-14Make cards and sugar cookies to deliver to the retirement home. We are making sugar cookies cut into these shapes: angel, star, tree, heart and bells. Add this to the tag: An angel brought the glorious news that a savior had been born. Wise men and shepherds followed a bright star to the manger where Jesus lay. They brought precious gifts much like the gifts we have under our tree. The best gift of all that day was Jesus. God sent his only son that whoever accepts Him into their heart will have life everlasting and go to heaven. Let the bells ring out this holiday season as we celebrate Jesus birthday and God's greatest gift to us.
I got this from www.gospelcom.net
Day 17: Isaiah 12: 5-6
Decorate with popcorn and cranberries (or red and white pom poms)
Talk about missionaries and pray for them
Day 18: Luke 2: 15-20
Decorate pine cones with peanut butter and roll in bird seed, hang with a pipe cleaner in a tree.
Make a birthday card for Jesus and put it under the tree. Also make a baby Jesus in a manger to sit with the card. ( cut down a brown paper bag until it looks like a little manger, fold over the sides, cut up the extra paper bag for hay. to make baby Jesus use a small craft stick, let kids add a face and hair with marker, wrap baby in a small piece of fabric and glue, lay baby Jesus in the manger.
Day 19: Psalm 100 A psalm of Thanksgiving
Plant a Narcissus or tulips and have the kids tend to it daily and watch it grow, just like we grow in Jesus every day.
Day 20: matthew 2: 1-6
Have a happy Birthday jesus party, make a cake and give him a gift- such as being good that day, making a wise choice, talking nicely, being kind to a sibling etc.
Look at Christmas lights
I also have a s also have an inexpensive ornament for them to hang.
Day 21: Numbers 24: 17
Read Christmas books, make Christmas gifts for neighbors (ie: drawings the kids have made, cookies, or things from their rooms- toys and such) My Merry Christmas by standard publishing, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
Day 22: Matthew 2: 7-10
Watch a Christmas movie (we are going to have a movie marathon and watch all 3 of the Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen) make hot cocoa ( 2 tbs cocoa, 3 tbs sugar, 1/4 cup hot water, 1 1/2 cups milk. Pour cocoa and sugar into saucepan and slowly add hot water. Stir until blended. Bring to a boil. Boil over medium heat about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and add milk, stir occasionally until heated through. DO NOT BOIL. Homemade marshmallows( What you need: 1/3 cup cold water, 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup corn syrup, pinch of salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, confectioner's sugar, colored sugar crystals. What to do: First, pour 1/3 cup cold water into mixing bowl, sprinkle gelatin over it and set aside. Next, combine sugar, 1/4 cup water, corn syrup, salt, in medium saucepan over medium heat, stir until dissolved. Stop stirring and heat mixture until it boils and reaches 240 degrees on thermometer. Carefully pour hot syrup over gelatin and beat with mixer on high for 12 minutes. Blend the vanilla extract, then scrape the batter into a 9x13 inch pan lightly coated with cooking spray. Let the marshmallows sit until they are dry to the touch, this may take up to 12 hours, Invert the pan onto cutting board dusted with confectioner's sugar. Pour colored sugar crystals on to a plate or shallow dish, then use 2 inch cookie cutters to cut into shapes. Press the top of each marshmallow into the colored sugar. Store in airtight container. Makes 24 2 inch marshmallows.)
make a spinner http://www.thetoymaker.com/
Day 23: matthew 2: 11-12
Deliver Christmas gifts to friends and neighbors. Take a bubble bath with Christmas bubbles. ( Use a peeler to peel soap into a dish, add food coloring- 2 or 3 drops. Stir together, then spread flat to dry. You can add them to a jar and tie a spoon around it and give it as a gift or use yourself! http://www.craftbits.com/
Day 24: Proverbs 3: 5-8
Read Night before Christmas, sit out cookies and milk, sit out reindeer food, get into jammies and go look at lights. After the kids go to sleep for the night i take a bunch of little candy canes and go from their beds, down the stairs to their Christmas gifts. They think it is magical. We also buy the kids 3 gifts telling them about the 3 gifts Jesus received. This year i may send them on a scavenger hunt to look for their gifts? If I can come up with something?
Day 25: Psalm 145 My God and King
Make a prayer journal and tell Jesus how much you are thankful for and what you want to accomplish in the new year!
After Christmas is over I am going to go back through and try to tie in the verse with the craft or activity- so next year I will have some new things posted. Also- some of the ideas are repeated, so change what you like. And a few ideas are from the blog we are that family, located at my sidebar.
Decorate with popcorn and cranberries (or red and white pom poms)
Talk about missionaries and pray for them
Day 18: Luke 2: 15-20
Decorate pine cones with peanut butter and roll in bird seed, hang with a pipe cleaner in a tree.
Make a birthday card for Jesus and put it under the tree. Also make a baby Jesus in a manger to sit with the card. ( cut down a brown paper bag until it looks like a little manger, fold over the sides, cut up the extra paper bag for hay. to make baby Jesus use a small craft stick, let kids add a face and hair with marker, wrap baby in a small piece of fabric and glue, lay baby Jesus in the manger.
Day 19: Psalm 100 A psalm of Thanksgiving
Plant a Narcissus or tulips and have the kids tend to it daily and watch it grow, just like we grow in Jesus every day.
Day 20: matthew 2: 1-6
Have a happy Birthday jesus party, make a cake and give him a gift- such as being good that day, making a wise choice, talking nicely, being kind to a sibling etc.
Look at Christmas lights
I also have a s also have an inexpensive ornament for them to hang.
Day 21: Numbers 24: 17
Read Christmas books, make Christmas gifts for neighbors (ie: drawings the kids have made, cookies, or things from their rooms- toys and such) My Merry Christmas by standard publishing, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
Day 22: Matthew 2: 7-10
Watch a Christmas movie (we are going to have a movie marathon and watch all 3 of the Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen) make hot cocoa ( 2 tbs cocoa, 3 tbs sugar, 1/4 cup hot water, 1 1/2 cups milk. Pour cocoa and sugar into saucepan and slowly add hot water. Stir until blended. Bring to a boil. Boil over medium heat about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and add milk, stir occasionally until heated through. DO NOT BOIL. Homemade marshmallows( What you need: 1/3 cup cold water, 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup corn syrup, pinch of salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, confectioner's sugar, colored sugar crystals. What to do: First, pour 1/3 cup cold water into mixing bowl, sprinkle gelatin over it and set aside. Next, combine sugar, 1/4 cup water, corn syrup, salt, in medium saucepan over medium heat, stir until dissolved. Stop stirring and heat mixture until it boils and reaches 240 degrees on thermometer. Carefully pour hot syrup over gelatin and beat with mixer on high for 12 minutes. Blend the vanilla extract, then scrape the batter into a 9x13 inch pan lightly coated with cooking spray. Let the marshmallows sit until they are dry to the touch, this may take up to 12 hours, Invert the pan onto cutting board dusted with confectioner's sugar. Pour colored sugar crystals on to a plate or shallow dish, then use 2 inch cookie cutters to cut into shapes. Press the top of each marshmallow into the colored sugar. Store in airtight container. Makes 24 2 inch marshmallows.)
make a spinner http://www.thetoymaker.com/
Day 23: matthew 2: 11-12
Deliver Christmas gifts to friends and neighbors. Take a bubble bath with Christmas bubbles. ( Use a peeler to peel soap into a dish, add food coloring- 2 or 3 drops. Stir together, then spread flat to dry. You can add them to a jar and tie a spoon around it and give it as a gift or use yourself! http://www.craftbits.com/
Day 24: Proverbs 3: 5-8
Read Night before Christmas, sit out cookies and milk, sit out reindeer food, get into jammies and go look at lights. After the kids go to sleep for the night i take a bunch of little candy canes and go from their beds, down the stairs to their Christmas gifts. They think it is magical. We also buy the kids 3 gifts telling them about the 3 gifts Jesus received. This year i may send them on a scavenger hunt to look for their gifts? If I can come up with something?
Day 25: Psalm 145 My God and King
Make a prayer journal and tell Jesus how much you are thankful for and what you want to accomplish in the new year!
After Christmas is over I am going to go back through and try to tie in the verse with the craft or activity- so next year I will have some new things posted. Also- some of the ideas are repeated, so change what you like. And a few ideas are from the blog we are that family, located at my sidebar.
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