Busy Days And Little Treats

Unfortunately, there's not a "pause" button that gets pressed during Advent.  Life still moves on at an often overwhelming pace, and, well, let's face it, some days are just too darn busy to add another activity to the to do list.  Somehow, though, children don't seem to get this memo.  No matter how busy the day at hand is Levi will still wake up talking about stickers and his house.  So, I'm trying to come up with what I like to call easy-peasy-crazy-day activities...things that are super simple yet still special enough to keep us focused on the season.  Today, is one of those days, so last night I wrapped up a new Christmas book and put it in front of his house.  The wrapping was simple...just reused tissue paper and ribbon from previous celebrations with a snowflake tag.  I think wrapping up small gifts makes them much more special.  Don't you agree? Oh, and the book?  I so might regret this one, but I bought him The Little Fir Tree...What is it about motherhood that turns a gal so sappy?  I teared up while reading it in the bookstore, and this morning...yep, you guessed it, I teared up again while reading it to Levi.  Oh. my.  Just what the munchkin needs...a weepy mama for Christmas.

I'm expecting at least a couple of really busy days a week, but so far my easy peasy ideas are a little limited.

~I have one more Christmas book to give him, and will probably end up buying a couple more to throw into the mix.

~I'm also on the lookout for a pretty, kid-friendly, and pocket-book friendly nativity set for him to play with.

~And, I'm thinking an all day Christmas music fest would be kind of fun.  The music can travel with us and, ahem, requires zero effort on my part.  

Okay, your turn.  Help this mama out...what are your easy-peasy-crazy-day Advent ideas? 

Paper Flurry

And, the Advent activities continue....

Yesterday, we made lots of snowflakes.  Okay, okay, really I made snowflakes, and he made a paper flurry.  But, either way it was loads of fun.  Today, we'll be baking cookies.  Levi love, love, loves to cook, so we'll be a mixin' and a bakin' up a storm.  Hopefully, we'll come up with something edible that can be packaged up and delivered to friends and neighbors.

So, just in case your brain is a tad fuzzy on snowflake making, here's a little how to for you:

Step 1: Give your little munchkin scissors and scraps of paper.  Expect a mess...a very large, very fun mess...

Step 2:  Cut out squares of white paper for any adults and/or older children who want to get in on the scissor action....

Step 3: Fold Squares in half (corner to corner)...

Step 4: Fold in half again...         

                   

 

And, once again, if so desired. With smaller squares of paper this extra step often makes for difficult chopping...  

 

 
Step 5:  Cut a small piece out of the folded corner...This can just be straight across or you can get fancy with your snipping.  This will be the center of your snowflake.  I cut a small curved triangle out of mine.

Step 6:  Cut shapes out of the folded sides.  Be careful not to snip all the way through to any of the corners.  In other words leave spaces intact on each side of your cuts.

Step 7:  Cut along the non-folded side.  Being careful not to cut into any of the previously cut out spaces.

Step 8: Open, and enjoy.

Step 9: After you've made a kazzillion of these, it is likely that your little munchkin will grow bored with chopping, so hand over some stickers.  We're particularly fond of gold stars... 

Step 10:  Let the kid decorate...because stars make everything prettier...

Oh, yeah, and those fabulous snowflakes you cut out.  Well, they make for some pretty nice window decor...

But, I would suggest getting your fall pumpkins out of your lovely new wintry scene.  Hmmm....me thinks it's about time to pass those along to the chickens.

Other ways to use up the flurry of snowflakes sure to ensue...
:: glue to folded paper to make Christmas cards.
:: Let the munchkins use them in a Christmas collage.
:: Attach to string to create a garland.
:: Tie them onto the tree.
:: Or, package them up in a large mailing envelope, and send a flurry of snowflakes to a friend.

So, what would you do if a flurry of paper snowflakes landed on your doorstep?

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