christmas bucket.

Are you ready for this... two posts in one day, this must be a record. If you haven't had a chance to read my Christmas advent calendar post yet, don't worry. I'm stuffing you full of Christmas nonsense today and hopefully giving you some great ideas you can do with your children (or husband) in December.

This whole idea started out from my sister in law Nikki. She makes a basket full of Christmas goodies for her daughter to help count down the days to Christmas. (I've looked on your blog Nikki for a link, but I can't seem to find that post...)

Anyways, so I decided that I LOVE this idea and wanted to do something similar with my kids, and so the Christmas bucket was created.

 

For each day in December there is a "gift" of some sort to open. Now before you think that I'm some crazy rich person, not everything in there is new. Only a couple of things are new, most of them are things we already owned, or things I made or re-used and a lot of free activities to do.

Each package has a tag on it with a corresponding number. So each day the kids will open a gift that is Christmas related. The envelopes have fun Christmas activities, games or special things to do as a family.

   

I'll give you a break down of what my gifts are.

• Christmas movies (most pre-owned, 1 new)
• Christmas books (most pre-owned, 2 new from Grandma)
• Christmas craft
• Christmas coloring book
• Homemade red and green playdough
• Gingerbread cookie decorating kit (new)
• A Nativity set (for the 24th)

The envelopes have these things on them.

• Write letters to Santa
• Make cookies and take them to the Missionaries
• Make homemade tree ornaments (salt dough, bake and paint)
• Go and look at Christmas lights
• Bake cupcakes with Mommy
• Have hot chocolate and toast before bed (they LOVE this)
• Pick names for family gift exchange and go shopping for gifts
• Bake and decorate sugar cookies with Mommy
• Sort through old toys and take to a homeless shelter
• Put on a Christmas play for Mommy and Daddy to watch

I am excited to do the toy thing, and take them to see how blessed they are, and I'm sure the Christmas play will be a hoot! I love that the last day is a Nativity set, so that we can take the time to learn about Jesus' birth and the true meaning of the Christmas season.

I've managed to keep this whole thing a secret from the kids, but I'm just dying to get started... is it December 1st yet??

Comments

[Demetria]

I did this for the first time this year and I must say, so far it has been a lot of fun! Some things I noted that the activity was for 2 nights since I really didn't have a lot of time to shop around and find neat little goodies. My son still thinks it's cool to open an envelope each day before school!

I'm going to post pics on my blog that I just started. I will be sure to include a link to your blog since my basket isn't as snazzy as yours and I want everyone to know where I got the idea from!

Thanks so much!!!

[karen]

My daughter loves this... Ive been writing a note each night from 1 of santas elves telling my girlie something xmassy for her to do that day. Ie 1... Santa is waiting for ur letter ! 2.. We read the xmas story . 3. Make decorations. 4 . Decorate tree... Every morning she wakes up and hunts for her letter from the elf. "mummy mummy the elf left it in my room and i didnt even wake up! What do i need to do today?!
Thankyou so much for the fab idea :-)

[Leigh S.]

Thank you for doing this!!! This is awesome!! I have wanted to do an advent calendar for years and I get started and it's to overwhelming!! Thank you for taking the time to also share the contents!! I love that most of them are free and involve family time!!!

[Courtneyjanet]

Foun a few ideas like this from Pinterest !!
Love the movie ideas and play dough! Never thought of little things like that!

Thanks for sharing!!

[crazyboymom]

great idea! i am looking for something new to do with the kids. Also, could you tell me what color grey is on your wall? found you from Pinterest.

[Cathe Baker]

Can't wait to do this with my girl! She's is going to LOVE this! Thanks for sharing:)

[edith]

I was doing an Advent calendar for my Hostkids again with lots of crafts stuff and this is just the right idea how to wrap it up! Thank you so much!

[Valerie Foiles]

I love this idea, and I'm going to make an advent calendar for my grandchildren. I actually joined Pinterest just to get the details on this project. I had seen it briefly on Pinterest and then couldn't find it again. Thank you.

[Darlene]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea! We don't do Santa in our house so this is going to be what we "DO" now! Thank you so much for inspiring me.

[Laila @OnlyLaila]

This is an awesome idea! I'm definitely going to try it with my son

[Teresa Bassett]

Awesome idea. You're a great mom!

[Janae Braden]

I adore this idea...thans so much for sharing...I may just have to do this!

[Dawn Thompson]

I love this idea! Like you I have several children, 4 to be exact. Does each child open a gift or do they take turns? Just curious how you split it out with the kids and the activities such as baking with you. Thanks for the ideas!

[christina desantiago]

I love this idea do u mind if u post on my blog with a link to your oage

[Elaine Corrigan]

I couldn't get enough read fast enough. Wow what a amazing idea for the Grandkids.Thanks so much for sharing.

[Crystal]

enjoyed catching up on your blog today. I won't have the opportunity to get out and get all the supplies I will need for these great projects this year.. again I will have to live my crafting dreams through you..
have a great weekend.

[Nikki]

Looks awesome Amy! I posted my advent stuff today also...great minds!

[Lynn Crapo]

Great idea! We use to do this in a different sort of way. I would wrap their gift or activity and leave it out on the door step for them to find in the morning.

I don't know how or when that tradition stopped. However, I think this Basket is an awesome idea. And safer too! No one would steal it off our front porch. (Like the paper boy. : S )