Francie does the dab in her new holiday llama PJs.
Thanks to Beebee's genius idea six years ago, the shoe holder advent is a December tradition at our house, and now at my brother's place, too. We have aimed to make the daily surprises age appropriate, and include more activities and acts of kindness than simply things. It's kind of a big undertaking to prepare, but one we spent most of Thanksgiving planning and preparing. For posterity (and next year's prep work - so as not to reinvent the wheel), below are the lineups for both Hazel's and Francie's 2017 advents. And some photos, too.
Hazel, 1.5 years old, in her CO beanie at their place in Telluride.
Hazel's 2017 Advent:
Dec 1 - hot chocolate packets and Christmas movie recommendations for a Family Movie Night
2 - toy blocks
3 - kid book with audio CD
4 - cookie cutters with instructions for making salt dough ornaments for friends
5 - elf hat a
6 - playing cards
7 - recommended family outing for 12/8 to a Rock n Roll Academy winter concert at the Sheridan Opera House
8 - cookie mix and instructions to bake cookies for 911 dispatchers/firefighters
9 - recommended family outing for Telluride Mountain School Holiday Gala on 12/10 at the Sheridan Opera House
10 - cash (from Beebee) to buy a Toys for Tots item to give to a kid in need
11 - gloves and "go sledding" activity recommendation
12 - large dreamcatcher, handmade by Francie and Beebee
13 - "H" ornament
14 - Frozen nightlight
15 - recommended family outing to the Mountain Village holiday gala and Santa visit
16 - CO beanie
17 - Colorado map
18 - mini candy canes and instructions to "candy cane bomb" cars in a parking lot
19 - toy stackers from Thinker Toys
20 - toy animals to accompany stackers
21 - Lifesaver candy
22 - favorite Hartman family cookie recipes
23 - Heiffer International donation (from Beebee)
24 - Night Before Christmas book (from Beebee)
Francie's 2017 Advent:
Dec 1 - fancy holiday dress
2 - supplies and instructions to make button tree ornaments
3 - cash and shopping for Toys for Tots gift
4 - foam holiday stickers
5 - pre-printed Letter to Santa
6 - new holiday llama PJs
7 - materials and instructions to make a photo ornament for Hazel
8 - popcorn and hot cocoa packets for Family Movie Night
9 - stick-on earrings and family outing to see Annie play
10 - special brunch date with Mama at Original Pancake House
11 - materials and instructions to give out bean soup mix
12 - Heiffer International donation (from Beebee)
13 - Christmas Bingo game
14 - holiday headband and instructions to hand out the button tree ornaments and bean soup mix to teachers and staff at school on the last day before Winter Break
15 - new beanie and family outing to watch the Christmas Ship parade on the Willamette
16 - Cinderella craft and girls' outing with Morgan and Mila to a teddy bear breakfast show in LO
17 - gingerbread house kit
18 - instructions for buying and putting together "homeless bags"
19 - cookie cutters and mix to bake cookies for local firehouse
20 - family outing recommendation to zoo lights
21 - new gloves and family outing recommendation to go sledding or ice skating
22 - Christmas tin and instructions to bake and bring holiday cookies to the neighbors
23 - "C" ornament
24 - new notebook and thank you cards
*** other advent ideas include: writing a letter to "orphans," something for foster children, participating in collecting socks or serving food at a soup kitchen, visiting Santa, the Menne's annual cookie party, reading Night Before Christmas, new Christmas book, something for Hanukkah, making a birdfeeder for the birds, doing something kind for the earth like picking up trash, any other holiday crafts, love bombing, annual homemade ornaments, sledding, ice skating, skiing, donating blankets and socks for the cold, gifts for postal workers, Nutcracker, Alpenrose, holiday craft bazaars, researching acts of kindness
Beebee and Francie on Thanksgiving crafting a dreamcatcher for Hazel
Francie and the finished dreamcatcher
Mama and Francie making button tree ornaments
Button tree ornaments and cards all packaged to give teachers and staff
Completed gingerbread house
Francie in her new holiday dress and Mama heading out on a girls' date
Francie and Mila before the holiday teddy bear brunch show
Letter to Santa
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