Christmas Book Advent

It all started with this FREE basket I got from a rummage sale. (Why is it the less I pay for something the more I like it? )

I spray painted it red and added a bow. Then I gathered 25 books about Christmas or winter or snow.  I numbered star-shaped sticky notes and stuck them to the cover of each book.

Inside the back cover I put another sticky note with a treat or activity relating to the book and piled them all in the basket.

Here's our advent plan: (which I'm sure I will end up switching around a little. I have an advantage in this because my kids can't read yet so I can tell them the note says pretty much whatever I want!)

1. The Littlest Christmas Tree -Drinking Straw Christmas Tree here
2. The Mitten-Mitten activity here
3. Mooseltoe - decorate the tree or do the puzzle found here
4.  A Very Special Snowflake - snowflake craft here
5. The Littlest Angel - Blessings Tree here
6. Are You Grumpy, Santa? - visit to Santa and Strawberry Cheesecake Santa Hats
7. All You Need for a Snowman - the egg carton snowmen found here
8.A Silly Snowy Day - shape turtle (post to come)
9.  Rock-a-bye Christmas - make Christmas Tree Bells
10. The Night Before Christmas - color Santa according to the description in the book
11.  Flip and Flop - a version of these footprint penguins
12. Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect - Shop for Toys for Tots
13.Christmas Mice! - the Christmas version of our Halloween Mice
14. The Polar Express - have hot chocolate like they do on the train
15. The First Night - take out and play with our Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set or candy nativity
16. Stella, Queen of the Snow - make snowmen out of marshmallows
17.Christmas Mouse- dollar store shopping for gifts to give (from the kids to others)
18. The Snowman Band of Snowboggle Bend - dance to Christmas songs
19. Not Enough Beds: A Christmas Alphabet Book (Carolrhoda Picture Books) - take "naps" in funny parts of the house, like the bath tub
20. Is That You, Winter? - splatter painting like the illustrations in the book
21. Christmas Angels: Read and Share - make a birthday cake and sing for Baby Jesus
22. A Christmas Present for: Me! - treat!
23.  Christmas in the Country - play in the snow
24. Christmas Tapestry - celebrate Christmas Eve with family

(For even more activity and book choices go to 24 Book Inspired Crafts!)

This is a pretty ambitious list around here so we'll see how many times I tell the kids the post-it says, "Have a treat at the kitchen table so Mom gets 5 minutes of peace."

Linking to I Can Teach My Child, The Sunday Showcase, I {Heart} Nap Time, Vanilla Bean Girls, Homemaker on a Dime, Sew Can Do, DIY Home Sweet Home, Monday Madness, The Southern Institute, Home Savvy A to Z, The Girl Creative, The Gunny Sack, One Tough Mother, Today's Creative Blog, The Inspiration Board, Ginger Snap Crafts, Sweet Peas & Bumblebees, I Gotta Create!, Someday Crafts, A Creative Princess, The Artsy Girl Connection, The Crafty Nest, Delicate Construction, Bacon Time, Family Ever After, Tatertots & Jello, Tutus & Tea Parties, Six Sisters' Stuff, Shine On Fridays, Blissful and Domestic, Vanilla Bean Girls
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