Our Advent Season.

Today's post is all about our new Advent Calendar.

I've been wanting to make some sort of Advent celebration forever 

and I finally saw one on Pinterest that I just loved.

                                                                      Source: potterybarnkids.com via Melonie on Pinterest

But since it was $65 at Pottery Barn, I decided to take a swing at replicating it.

I found some snazzy free printables on Pinterest also:

                                                                           Source: soeclectic.com via Melonie on Pinterest

and used iron on printable paper for the first time ever.

That stuff is rad y'all!  

You can print out ANYTHING and iron it anywhere you'd like.}

Since the whole idea behind Advent is preparing your heart for the birth of Jesus,

I decided not to go the route of having a treat or gift for each day.

Instead, we did one thing everyday that celebrated the coming of our Savior.  

Here's our list if you'd like some ideas to make one of your own:

{We started on December 1st}

1~Go to the Ole Fashioned Christmas Party at school.
2~Write a letter to Santa

3~Put up Christmas clingies {Gotta love the dollar aisle at Target}

4~Spend the day at Universal {Yay for year passes...thanks to our family

for the gifts of money that made that possible.}

{We saw Grinchmas and it was awesome.}

5~Make a Christmas craft.
6~Pick out & decorate our Christmas tree. 

7~Family Movie Night~The Elf
8~Set up manger scene.

9~Go Christmas caroling

10~Make gingerbread houses.
11~Search the house for Buddy the Elf that came to visit us.

12~Pick out a Christmas coloring page online.
13~Learn a new Christmas song.
14~Family Movie Night~The Grinch
15~Make a Glitter Star & read about the wise men.
16~Pick out your own Christmas ornament.
17~Make Christmas cookies.

18~Read the Nativity Story.
19~Drink yummy hot chocolate.

20~Buy Christmas gifts.
21~Watch a living nativity.

22~Go ice skating.

23~Wrap presents.
24~Open Christmas Eve package.

{Which were pajamas, seen here as we sprinkle

reindeer food out in the back yard. :) }

25~Receive the gift of Baby Jesus.

And all of the gifts from Santa et al. 

So, here's the completed project.

I'd say it was a huge success.

Selah was so excited every day to see what we would do next.

I'm not gonna lie...it was time consuming.

Both making the tree and coming up with activities.

But 110% worth the effort. 

And something we will do for all of our Christmases to come.

My heart smiles at the thought of the memories to come as we

celebrate Advent every year as a family tradition.  

Yay for checking this one off of my list. :)