Christmas countdown....3..2..1

As a child I would count down the days to Christmas and spend each and everyday anxiously awaiting for the day to arrive.  As the years have gone by and I have children of my own I can honestly say that I do not look forward to Chirstmas.   Sorry for all those fa-la-la-la-la-ers out there that can't wait for the holiday season I didn't mean to offend but I see Christmas bring out the worst in so many people.  The stress of gift buying, the long lines and impatiant patrons.  The crazy traffic and long hours in the kitchen cooking for hours so that everyone can gobble up their food and return to the "big game"  (when is it not a big game?)  Yes, I have  a little post Thanksgiving bitterness left over but really.  So my thought for today was, how can I make it fun this year for me and my children.  Even if it gives me the opprotunity to live vicariously through their experiances.  Second thought was how to do I bring the true spirit of Christmas into our home without feeling overwhelmed with projects and entertaining?  So I sent out on a web search for ideas.  My solution?  An easy to put together advent chain that gave simple scripture sudies and activites/ thought/ prayers to do everyday.


So far it has worked great.  Of course today is only day one but my eldest daughter who is only 6 was able to cut everything out on her own.  She and her four year old sister were able to staple all the pieces together and with in 30 min. It was completed and ready to be disassembled daily until christmas.  I opted not to attach any candy or treats to the chain because they get enough of that through out the holiday season and I felt that it took away from the overall message.  For any that are interested in making one for or with your little ones here is the directions.

Supplies:

- 4-5 pages of construction paper
- stapler
- daily count down print out.  Avalible Here


Directions:


1.  Cut out each square on the daily coutdown print out so you have 28 strips.


2.  Cut strips of construction paper the same with or slightly larger then the with of the countdown strips.
we cut along the with of the paper so each strip measured aprox 1"x 8.5"


3. Staple each count down strip to a strip of constuction paper.


4.  Loop first strip (begining with either the #1 or the #28) and staple it creating a loop or circle.


5.  Find next strip (#2 or #27) and loop it around the just created and staple.


6. repeat step 5 being sure to go in order until chain is completed.

Happy counting!