Thursday, December 1, 2011

Christmas begins. . . .



Since we've moved to Australia, Christmas time is usually the hardest, it's the time we miss family and all our family traditions the most. I miss the cold, and well, it just doesn't quite feel like Christmas when it's 90+ degrees and your swimming and having BBQ's, but hey we've decided to embrace the differences.

This year, since Tilly is now old enough to really start enjoying it, we have decided to do an advent calendar and spend the whole month celebrating and doing special things as a family.  We want Christmas to be fore than just gifts, we wanted it to be more about family and doing things together and with and for other people.
I made this one, it's a bit wonky so don't look to closely. I still have to sew button ornaments on, and do the numbers, but at least I had the main part done before December started which is good for me.




Today was Day 1 and we put up the Christmas tree and added the lights, the ornaments come tomorrow.


Here are some of our ideas in no particular order.  Hope you enjoy :)


Decorate Christmas tree

Make cinnamon ornaments for the tree
Open a special present
Go to the beach
Unwrap a book to read
Go to get picture with Santa
Make Jammie and Papa and Nana and Grandad Presents
Make Christmas cards
Make gumdrop Christmas tree
Go to the Christmas party at church
Go see Christmas lights
Make ornaments
Have a family Christmas movie night with treats
Choose a special treat
Open Christmas Eve gift (for our family this is always p.j's and read Night before Christmas
Bake cookies and decorate them with friends then take to neighbours
Have lunch at a special restaurant with our family
Go for a picnic  at the park
Make rice crispy trees to take to kids at church
Read a Christmas story together
Open presents and Call grandparents on Skype
Write Santa a letter
Prepare treats for Santa and reindeer
Go to Carols by candlelight


What kind of things do you do as a family?  What traditions do you have?