Advent preparations

Inspired by this post by Just Something I Made, that I found on One Pretty Thing, I am working on my Advent Calendar. We started doing a Jesse Tree a couple years ago (intermittently, on days I remember!), and I thought it would be cool to add Advent day ornaments with activities. I want to foster a spirit of Generosity this season, so I tried to come up with activities to do that. Now, I don't have a stash of wooden spools, but I do have a bunch of plastic ones. My plan is to spray paint them with silver or something, and then used purple paper to add to our purple bows and lights for the Jesse tree. The plan this year is to use our artificial tree for our Jesse tree, since this year we know where it is!

So, here is my brainstorming list of Advent Activities, some for a day, some for a week:

1. Put together a box for a soldier in the military
2. Make Christmas cards for godparents
3. Make paper chains of good deeds or do advent straws for manger
   
4. Donate something warm for the homeless
5. Pick a gently used toy to donate to someone less fortunate
6. Donate some baby items to the local Food bank (on Our Lady of Guadalupe's Feast)
7. String popcorn for the birds
8. Make cookies
9. Decorate and deliver cookies to the neighbors
10. Make Christmas ornaments for godparents and grandparents
11. Do chores without complaining (for a week. Or a month. Or a lifetime--guess I'd better work on modeling that one!)
12. Surprise someone by doing their chore secretly
13. Memorize the Prophesies of Light (Isaiah and Micah)
14. Eat dinner without complaining (for a week)
15. Go grocery shopping and donate food to the local food pantry
16. Learn a new Christmas song
17. Help clean the house for the new Church Year
18. Decorate the Christmas tree
19. Have someone over for Dinner
20. Write a letter to a Great (Great) Grandparent (my kids have an amazing number of Great grandparents still living, and even one Great-great!)
21. Family game night
22. St. Lucia day buns
23. St. Nicholas day (Birthday party this year...)
24. Draw names for Sibling gift exchange
25. Mail presents for people who live far away
26. Make get well cards for kids in the hospital
27. Read book about Polish straw tradition
    

I may tie things together a bit. For example, eating dinner without complaint may earn food to take to the food pantry. The extra chores for "new year's" clean up can earn money towards a new toy for a poor person. Now I just need to put it in order, and make sure that I am prepared to actually DO the day's activity...Oh, and make the ornaments!