It must be December

because we have got out our Advent Tree, Santa and Rudolf! For the past few years we have had a knitted Advent Tree and each day we pin on a decoration. This is the tree awaiting its first decoration..

and these are the decorations

Rudolph and Santa

The boys of course also have a chocolate Advent Calendar each.

Do you have an Advent Calendar of any kind?

First Sunday in Advent

Ok how did it get to be Advent already - I think this year has just flown in really quickly.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. At Church we have a candle which we light each Sunday during Advent and this year we also have some Advent boxes - one for each Sunday! The first one contained an alarm clock! How many of us dislike the alarm going off in the morning - but we know that it means that we have to get up and start  getting ready for the day. So on this first Sunday in Advent we know that we have to start getting ready for Christmas - getting ready for the birth of Jesus - not just getting in the food and the presents. The countdown has begun!

What are you doing to get ready for Christmas, to prepare for the birth of our Lord Jesus?

Merry Christmas

Had a very hectic day running around getting things done, but finally all is ready. Kids are in bed just waiting on Santa to arrive. Their advent activity today was to make a cake and get ready for Santa. The joke was: Spell hard water with 3 letters - I C E!!

Wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas.

Advent Days 22 and 23

Day 22 activity was to watch the DVD Polar Express. This was the first time I have watched the film. It is a definate aaahhh! type of film and the boys enjoyed it. The joke was: How do cats greet each other at Christmas? - Have a furry merry Christmas and a Happy Mew Year!!

Day 23 they had to make pom pom santa and reindeer, but as I was taking Mum to meet my sister, they haven't made them yet. Another task for tomorrow! The joke was: What Christmas carol is the favourite of parents? - Silent Night.

Advent activities

Just in case you're missing the jokes and activities.
Day 19 was to make Snowman table decorations, joke was Why do birds fly south for the winter?; Because its too far to walk!!

Day 20 was to do a Christmas crossword puzzle. Sorry I have got lost with the jokes, cant remember todays.

Day 21 was a computer game again. Joke was: How are Christmas trees like bad knitters?: They both drop their needles!!!

Christmas Journal Day 11 &12

Another two pages done for my Journal.

The prompt for Day 11 was your Tree, as I had taken photos of my tree last year I wanted something a bit different. I like this paper with lots of trees on it, so have printed out the words of O Christmas Tree.

Day 12 is of Andrew with his Snowman paper chain, which was one of the boys activities from their Advent calendar.

Today was a quiet day in their Advent Calenders as I thought we might need a bit of catch up time. They could choose their favourite Christmas game on the computer to play. Joke was Why did Santa spell Christmas N-O-E?: Because the angel said 'No L'!!

Christmas Journal Day 7,8,9,10

Had a busy night - managed another 4 pages for my Christmas Journal.

Day 7 is about shopping - its much easier doing it on the Internet now.

Day 8 is about the weather. I always think it looks nice if it snows at Christmas, but not so good if you are travelling. The inspiration for the tag on this page came from Tim Holtz 12 Tags for Christmas.

Day 9 is from my Advent Hope readings.

Prompt for Day 10 was wrapping paper - so kept this page nice and simple.

The boys Advent activity today was a Quiz about Christmas songs. The joke was: What do you get when you cross an apple with a Christmas tree - A pineapple!!

Advent Update

Day 14 of the boys advent activities was to make small Christmas trees out of card. Day 15 was to put up the tree and to read the poem Twas the Night Before Christmas. Day 16 (today) was to do silk painting pictures. These were really good, they were pre-printed Christmas scenes and the boys really enjoyed doing them.

I have managed to do another page in the Christmas Journal, it is of the boys with their Hama Beads decorations.

Advent 12 & 13

Yesterday's activity was to make a Snowman paper chain and I have to admit we have not got round to doing it yet. Joke was: Why does Santa have 3 gardens?: so he can ho-ho-ho!

Today's activity was to make up a Christmas Alphabet, with a word for each letter of the alphabet that has something to do with Christmas. Joke was: What did the guests sing at the Eskimo party?: Freeze a jolly good fellow!!

Day 10 & 11 Advent

Well yesterday's activity was a bit of a miss. We tried to make snowglobes using water with glitter in it - but they didn't work. Never mind the kids said they enjoyed trying. Joke was: What do elves learn in school?: The elp - abet!!

Today was Andrew's school play, so for an activity I just directed them to a Chistmas website to play a game. Joke was: What do you call a cat on the beach at Christmastime?: Sandy Claus!!

Andrew's nativity play went well, but he is very tired tonight.

Day 8 & 9 Advent

Yesterday's Advent activity was to go and see the film The Golden Compass. We went to McDonalds for lunch first and then to see the film. It was really good and we all enjoyed it.

Joke was: What do you have in December that you don't have in any other month?: the letter 'D'!!

Today's activity was to make a snow scene. We had great fun doing this. Todays joke: Who is not hungry at Christmas?: the turkey - he is already stuffed.

Day 6 & 7 Advent

As promised here are the pictures of the boys with their Christmas Hama Bead decorations.

Yesterday's activity was to play an online Christmas game and todays was to do a Christmas Word Search. The jokes were: What do snowmen eat for lunch?: Iceburgers. What bites but has no teeth?: Frost.

Day 5 Advent

Andrew got an unexpected day off school today - the heating was broken. Thankfully it has now been fixed and school is on as usual tomorrow.

Todays activity was to make a Hama bead decoration. It has been ages since we did this, but it was good fun. They are now waiting to be ironed, photos will follow tomorrow.

Today's joke was: What comes at the end of Christmas?: the letter 's'!!

Day 3 & 4 of Advent

Didn't get around to posting yesterday. In their Advent calendar yesterday the boys got a Christmas code worksheet. Joke was: Why did the snowman cross the road? To melt on the other side!

Andrew's favourite Christmas song is The 12 Days of Christmas, so today they had to type up the words of the song and find pictures or draw pictures to go with it. Andrew has already done his - he loved it. Todays joke: Why did the reindeer fly over the mountain?: he couldn't fly under it!!

Painting Santa

Day 2 of our Advent calendar. Today the boys had to paint a Santa candle holder. They enjoyed doing this. John thought it would be good practice for painting his Warhammer army which he is hoping to get for Christmas.

Todays joke was: What bird can write? - A PENguin!!

Advent

I can't quite believe today is the first of December and Christmas will soon be upon us again. In addition to having their usual chocolate Advent calendars this year, I got this one in B&Q yesterday, altered it slightly. I have put activities in each day and a joke for each day for the boys to do. They have also covered a ring binder folder to make a Christmas Journal to keep the various activity sheets in. When each day has been done I will cover that days drawer with paper.

Todays activity was to complete a Christmas maze which I had downloaded from the Internet. Today's joke was

Where do snowmen go to dance? - Snowballs!

The children are getting on better than me as I have not actually started a Journal yet for this year. I am going to follow Shimelle's Journal, although I will probably change some of the prompts as I did it last year. Hope to get this started either tonight or tomorrow (maybe!!).