Tomorrow starts December

being crafty gives the boys and i something to do in a moment's notice and we all have fun doing it. the boys enjoy creating things and i enjoy watching their abilities and interests change. aiden's drawing/coloring has really improved and i love to see the details he adds or simply what he chooses to draw. it's a heck of a lot more fun than playing make believe. i am not good at that. maybe i could do a tea party but my boys are into pirates, superheros, knights and stuff.

brady loves art too. his coloring skills are way beyond where aiden's were at his age. he loves to paint, use markers and cut. cutting paper (into a small bowl to catch his clippings) is just as calming to him as playing with dirt and sand is. (i haven't told you about his love of dirt/sand have i?) just lately he's been more resourceful in using his scissors. he uses them to cut open his breakfast bar wrappers (his daily breakfast of champions) and he cut open a santa air freshener that was in his goody bag when we visited the other day.

i am not the best at always carrying through with my intentions. so many times i plan for or start things and never see them through. be it a book, a good deed, a phone call, even laundry is often left in the washing machine longer than it should. the good thing is i am aware that i do this. the funny thing is i am always insisting that my boys, mainly aiden since he is older finishes one activity before flitting to the next. so many times i catch myself starting something with them, like a book. i start it, i don't like where it's going, i think about picking out another instead. luckily i stop and realize they're interested and no i can't do that! so i do finish it through.

same applies to an advent calendar that i have always wanted to make. i never knew how or what kind, just that i have always thought 'i could make that'. so. i decided since we'd be doing many holiday activities in december i would make an activity advent calendar.

we put it together already and it's hanging in the dining room, i don't have any pictures of it though, maybe i'll take one.

i also haven't filled it yet.

i think my plan is to do a few at a time. based on our schedule. some days only fit reading christmas books whereas others beg for making christmas cookies.

i just printed out my list and i'm mostly sharing it here so that it will be more of a commitment that i follow through with it. while i am sure aiden won't allow us to miss a day, still i don't want to cheap out on it.

• get christmas tree
• make advent wreath
• deliver christmas cards in neighborhood
• read christmas books
• make christmas cards/gift tags/place cards
• make christmas garland
• watch a christmas show/movie
• make christmas cookies
• make christmas decorations/choc covered pretzels
• make christmas ornaments
• pretend to be santa/reindeer/joseph...
• make wrapping paper
• take a drive looking at christmas lights
• make "christmas crack"
• make gingerbread house
• sing christmas carols
• write our own t'was the night before christmas
• (christmas) shrinky dinks
• christmas crayons
• write a letter to santa
• eat a candy cane
• make a happy birthday card for jesus
• make a wreath
• make sock snowmen

as if i need the month to be anymore busy right?