We are closing in on the 12 days before Christmas. When I was having coffee with my girlfriends, this tradition of ours came up in conversation and so it seemed like a great time to revisit this idea. It has been a few years since I’ve shared how we spend dedicated time together during the month of December. It’s our take on the Advent calendar or a countdown to Christmas. I keep it ridiculously simple and it’s far and away our favorite part of this month. You are just in time to begin the 12 days of family Christmas activities in your own home.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
If you search “Advent Calendar” on Pinterest you will be flooded with ideas on how to present this countdown calendar. You can get really creative, that’s for sure! Over the years, we’ve had different versions but when we moved to our current home, I decided to keep it very simple. Essentially we have these little brown envelopes ( I picked them up at Michael’s) and a set of stickers to number them. They sit in a holiday dish and that’s it.
TIME TOGETHER
To keep it even more simple, you could simply have a piece of paper folded in the dish and let the children read what it says each morning. Beginning with “12” there is an activity to do together each night. Now let’s be super clear, moms! The last thing we want to do is complicate or add to the to-do list during December. That’s not what this is about. Each activity can be tailored to your schedule and it doesn’t have to cost a penny.
Despite my children getting older, we still do so many of the things we did when they were little. Don’t get caught up in needing to go above and beyond. Last night we made cards for someone special. We used craft supplies on hand and had the best time sitting around the table drawing and painting. Not only do we hope to bring a smile to someone’s face, but we laughed a ton and just enjoyed being a family with the Christmas music playing and a time out from the “busy” we all experience.
SPECIAL GREETINGS
One of the nights we have hot cocoa and the kids each pick a Christmas story to read. Nothing fancy but a long-standing tradition. When they were really little we would turn off the lights and read the stories with flashlights.
Something struck me when we read these this year. My son chose The Polar Express. Upon opening it, he read a written message left by a dear friend of mine when he gave the book to us. He unexpectedly passed away a few months ago. My son asked about him and it was a lovely opportunity to keep his memory alive. But it also made me realize how special it is to have loved ones write in the books they gift. I LOVE opening a book and seeing my mom’s writing with a sweet message. So if you are giving books as gifts, don’t forget to add a short but loving message.
HOSTING MADE EASY
If it’s a weekend, sometimes we invite another family to decorate cookies. No major dinner. . . it’s just dessert and everyone has fun making treats. I simmer hot cider on the stove for the children and the adults enjoy something a scrumptious cocktail.
Or skip making cookies together, and just make these delicious bars ahead of time. Your guests will LOVE you!
IDEAS FOR YOU
Here are a few ideas to get you started. It’s a great time to incorporate giving back and asking your church about local families who could use some extra love. Let me know if you already do this, too, and have ideas to share in the comment section.
We actually do this for the entire month of December and have been doing this since the children were tiny. It is, without a doubt, our favorite part of the month. There is something about carving out time each and every night to do something special together that really makes the season meaningful. While some activities may only take ten minutes, and others make take an hour, they are memories that last forever.
In all honesty, this season has been a bit excruciating. The grief I feel over the loss of my Dad is intense. Most evenings I am not up for this but when we are all together doing whatever it is, it’s the BEST part of my day. It honestly brings so much joy and puts everything in perspective. I hope you’ll give it a try for your own family.
CHRISTMAS TABLE
In other news, if you are hosting Christmas dinner, one of my tricks is to head to JoAnn’s and pick out a yard or two of plaid fabric. Drape it over the table and you are already looking super festive. More details on this table here.
What are your plans today? I am off to catch up with a lifelong friend and then get caught up on laundry and cleaning. Safe to say I am behind, but that’s perfectly ok. Enjoy the day, friends.
The 12 days of Christmas actually refer to the days between Christmas day and Epiphany. Your time schedule would actually be Advent, before Christmas. Though your activities do look fun.😊
Thank you, Nadine. Not my intention to confuse anyone. This has always been our advent calendar (that and our beautiful candles which hold strong meaning for us). And so many wonderful ideas on Pinterest if you search “Advent.” Just so happens I am behind this year and if families want to jump aboard this tradition there are just about 12 days until Christmas. Never too late to begin an advent tradition with the family. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Beautiful post today. I adore all the meaningful ideas. Bless your heart and love when you said it is perfectly ok to be behind. I am too! ❤️
We do something similar too. I try to incorporate the things we do every year anyway and not make it over the top. I like to incorporate taking our boy shopping for each of us as well. We don’t do Santa and I think it’s good for him to consider how to make things special for his loved ones. In seasons that were more crazy we just did things once per weekend. It was a nice way to bring in traditions and extra fun without it being something we had to do EVERY day.
Thank you, as always, for the great ideas. I love your simplicity, and I’m sure your children will remember these special times and traditions…and hopefully pass them on to their families someday. Our boys are 17 and 13, and I feel like we’ve gotten away from some of the holiday “must-do’s.” I’m going to try incorporating some favorites between now and Christmas day, even if it’s not every day. Know this time must be very challenging for you, given your year, and it’s so great that even though you don’t feel like it, you’re doing the family time events…crazy how our children really make us feel so much better.
My daughters are 19 and 22 years old and we still do many of the special activities that you mentioned. We still love to watch Christmas movies together and we drive to look at lights, as well as decorating together and singing (not very well) Christmas songs! These are memories that will stay with them for a long time. I love your other suggestions and we will definitely make time to add some of them to our holiday season this year.
I love these ideas! There’s a house near where I live that’s pretty famous for its light show this time of year and it’s one of my favorite things about the holidays!
This was such a joy to read. Very inspiring, Courtney, thank you. Your blog reminds me of sitting on the couch and chatting with a friend. Your words are honest and true, I appreciate that so much. Often times, the internet shows only the shiny and bright that a person wishes their life to be (or maybe it really is that way, I don’t know). While reading your blog, I first heard the phrase “Keeping it real” and you do just that. I appreciate YOU.
Beautiful traditions you are creating with your kids Courtenay! Love your “Advent Calendar”. I also love the image of the Christmas table centerpiece! I went back to the old post and was thinking, “where did she get that lovely wood tray? It must have been expensive” … so imagine my surprise when I read that you made it! So genius!