We love this book,Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent!

We have been reading it every Advent for years. It a page turner that each of us looks forward to.  It is one of the first daily Advent stories that we have found that is so captivating that the kids remind us we need to read a chapter each day.

We were looking forward to reading the other books in the series however, they have been out of print for the past few years. Good news though, they should all be back in print this summer.

If you have little ones around you will love Jesus Is Coming: 25 Daily Activities to Read, Color, Cut Out, and Assemble by Linda Marsh.

In this activity book the story of the Nativity is told through the eyes of a cow.  There are a couple of lines to read each day but the best part is the whole story is told through paper “dolls.” Each day there is a figure to cut out, color and assemble and place in the stable. I photo copy the pages onto card-stock so we can do it again each year. I have to have a copy shop copy the stable because it is too large for my printer.

We also enjoy, The Last Straw

It comes with an easy to assemble manger but we helped our boys make a little manger out of wood that we reuse each year. The book encourages you to place a piece of straw in the manger every time you do something kind for someone in secret.  “Soon the manger, and your hearts, will be overflowing and ready for Christmas.”

Our finger puppets are ready to go and I have printed off some coloring pages and put a few crayons in monogrammed felt pockets.

Here are the coloring pages we printed

The Mayflower Coloring Page

Pilgrim Coloring Page

Indians Coloring Page

Turkey Cartoon Coloring Page

Turkey Coloring Page

Pilgrim Hat Coloring Page

and really the best, just plain blank paper!

For the adults we will give some of these conversation starters a go!

Dinner Table Conversation Starters

Topics and Questions for Starting Conversation

50 Unique Questions You Haven’t Already Asked Your Date

I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Cindy

A friend sent me the best gift this week (actually, an entire box of best gifts) but the one that has kept me busy are these leaf pie crust cutters (I have made 5 pies in the last two days). I have had such a great time decorating my pies with these cutters.  They are fabulous. Each cutter is spring loaded so when you push the plunger it leaves a beautiful imprint.

If they are still available, run don’t walk to Williams Sonoma (sorry they are no longer available at their online store) to get some!  They are simply amazing!—-just like my thoughtful and generous friend!

This Advent calendar is a work in progress (I still have about 20 more birds to make YIKES). There is something about those branches in my entry, I hate to see them go. I thought the branches could stay for another holiday if they had some  birds swinging from them.

If you want to make some little birdies here is the template I used

Little Birdie Advent Calendar Template

Cut out the bird and trace around on two pieces of felt. This is your stitching line and not your cutting line, so use disappearing marking pen or  tracing pencil. I could also see these birds made from beautiful scrapbooking papers.

Cut out the embellishments. I have drawn on the template what I used but when making so many it is just easier to freehand some shapes. If I had not waited to the last minute and had more time these birds would be over the top with embroidered embellishments.

Stitch the shapes to the top piece of felt. I made an eye by embroidering a French knot (not shown in picture).   For the numbers I used little beads. You can sew them on the heart now, or string them on the holder later. I had hoped to find “number” brads. The numbers could also be embroidered.

Pin two pieces of felt together and stitch around the bird leaving an opening at the top (wider than what you want when finished because you will add your hanger in later). As you stitch around place the beak on top and catch it in your stitching. Don’t forget to add your eye and numbers like I did. It is much more difficult to add them later.

Cut around the bird. Slip a piece of ribbon, cord ,string or elastic gold thread in at each end of your opening and stitch back and forth at each end. You could do this in the previous step if it is easier.  It is easier and one less step but, I kept clipping off the hanger when I cut the bird out.

Fill with chocolates and let the holidays begin!

You might also be interested in these Advent Calendar Ideas:

Wooden Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

Stocking Advent Calendar

We made this wooden Advent calendar for our kids. This time my crafty partner was my husband, whom cut all the pieces for me. You probably could make it out of heavy cardboard if you don’t have a way to cut the wood.

I would have chosen something nicer and smoother for painting if I was purchasing something new for this project. We used a piece of 3/8 inch plywood left over from another project.

Download template and trace onto your wood (you only need one star)

Christmas Tree Advent Calendar Template

Star Template

Cut out your trees. You will cut a slot to the midpoint on each tree—-one at the top and one at the bottom. The slot needs to be the same width as the width of your wood.

This is so the tree fits together like this

Sand, prime and paint your tree and star. I left mine plain green but you might decide to give yours  ornaments. Drill a small hole in the top of the star. Notice the notch out of the top of our star—–it doesn’t work so well to try to put your hole there. Instead, drilling a hole in the side gave us a nice way to thread fishing line through for hanging.

Use a thin screw with threads on each end to attach the star to the tree.

We sat down as a family and made a LONG list of things we would enjoy doing in December. I then printed the list and cut them into strips of paper and placed each idea into an empty match box. Here is a tip; make sure you get “strike anywhere matches” so you won’t miss your boxes. We wrapped all the boxes. My P-Touch labeler worked perfectly to put the numbers on each box.  Then using about 3 yards of curling ribbon for every 5 boxes we tied on the boxes. Don’t forget to start with the first box to be opened and then add on.

Then again using the skill of my handy (adult) craft partner, he stapled the ribbons to the bottom of the tree.

Ta Da you have a handmade Advent calendar full of ways to spend time with your family!