One family activity that we do every year around this time of year is Advent. Advent can take many forms and can be done in SO many creative ways. In our home, during this season of having small children, we have a fun advent activity tree that we do every day starting on December 1st leading up to Christmas eve. Included in each insert on the tree is a scripture verse of the Christmas story and a small gift. Every other day Judah and Mercy take turns opening the advent numbers.

We do verses from Luke 1:26 to Luke 2:11 throughout the month of December. In the past we have pasted them on the wall or fridge and on Christmas eve we read the entire story together as a family. This year we are going to put them on paper, let the kids draw a picture of the story and we will make an advent book to read together. (Plus it will be a fun memory for me when they get older)

We also include a small gift, and when I say small I mean it. I have wrapped several little things that are fun to open but are necessities that the kids will use. They are colour coded and one of them is placed in the insert each day. (If I put them all out they would be opened for sure! – we are working on self-control:) I have included things such as; a tooth brush, playdough, art supplies, colouring books, hair bows, trail mix, a veggie tales DVD’s, pencils, stickers, etc. These are all things that could be found in a stocking but rather than being overwhelmed on Christmas with a bunch of stocking stuffers we do one per child, every other day, leading up to Christmas.

The most special part of Advent is that we get to explore the entire story of Christmas as well as ponder it for the whole month. It prepares our hearts to recieve the revelation of Christ and the beauty and mystery of His birth. It allows the kids to take it all in and to learn the remarkable the events leading up to His birth. We are excited for tomorrow as it marks the first day of our advent activities.

May to experience the awe and wonder of the birth of our savior!