Day 16: Bring Coffee to TheHusband (Random Act Wednesday)

For those who don't know, TheHusband works an evening shift (which is why neither he nor I is in these photos very often). Tonight, I packed up TheBoy, telling him we were getting coffee to take to some special people - I didn't want to mention the idea of Daddy in case he was busy, and the coffee was for everyone.

TheHusband wasn't there when we got there, but we allowed in to wait until there was a lull.

One of the supply staff members was there and was happily enjoyed a cup of coffee too.

Shortly after, TheHusband made it back. I'd called him ahead of time, so he knew we were coming, but everyone was still pretty excited.

And then we got a private light show.

Also, I was the recipient of a random act of kindness today: I stopped at the grocery store at lunch to pick up something for lunch.* A woman, who arrived at the checkout before me noticed that I only had one item, let me go ahead of her with her half-full cart. It was so appreciated. It really is the little things, friends. 

* While I am really enjoying these Advent activities, it has put a cramp in my meal planning. Next year, a wholesome meal just might be one of our activities.

Day 18: Give Gifts

Tonight, after TheBoy's My Gym class, we gave the gifts that he chose and wrapped to his classmates and to his teachers. It was very sweet.

Day 17: Wrap

Tonight we wrapped up the gifts that TheBoy picked out the other day.

Day 16: Mickey's Christmas Carol and Hot Chocolate

And, of course, this:

Day 15: Set up Nativity

Because all Nativities should be in front of Harry Potter.

Peg People Nativity Set from DressyDollsCompany

Day 14: Messiah Sing

We go to Masterworks Chorale's Messiah Sing every year.

We met my parents and brother and his girlfriend for dinner before. And saw many old family friends there.

This year, he made it through intermission. Pain that it starts at 8:00. Too late.

Day 13: Make Cornstarch Clay & Ornaments

Today was a day. Dinner got delayed. Then, for the first time ever, TheBoy refused what was made completely. So PB&J instead (another delay). We finally made it to our activity. 

When I pinned this dough for ornaments on Pinterest, the recipe was in the description: 

1/2 cup cornstarch 

1 cup baking soda

3/4 cup water

Bake at 175 for an hour

So I went with that... 

And it was liquid. 

Another delay. 

Not that he minded. 

Fortunately, the original source (The Woodside Kitchen) was also mentioned in the description. I discovered you had to heat it over low-medium heat on the stove to thicken it. (Duh. This really should have occurred to me.)

Once we figured it out, we were all good. 

     

Day 12: Donate Warm Pajamas (Random Act Wednesday)

Back to Derby Street tonight. This time to donate TheBoy's pajamas from last winter and some extra overnight diapers we had to their pajama drive. We have kept and stored away the majority of his clothes in case we end up having another boy some day (not an announcement), but we figured there were kids that could use them now.

Day 11: Give a Giving Tree Gift

One of our favorite stores is Magic Beans, a local parent-owned toy store (with a fantastic website). Our local store is at the Derby Street Shoppes (another favorite). This season, they've set up a Giving Tree at Magic Beans to benefit the children of the Germantown Neighborhood Center.

TheBoy chose an ornament from the tree

Fortunately, it was for a three-year-old boy. I was secretly nervous we'd have to choose something for an 11-year-old girl. And while I work with 11-year olds, it was much easier to select something for a little guy.










TheBoy agreed that Legos were a good idea and helped me pay for them

Derby Street was also sponsoring free hayrides on Tuesday nights, so we got to enjoy the decorations and a ride after we got the gifts.

Day 10: Shop for Gifts for Friends (plus)

Today's plan was to take TheBoy shopping at the dollar store to help pick out gifts for friends. I got this idea from a friend who did it with one of her sons a couple years ago. But then I got sidetracked on Instagram and added in another idea from another IGer.

First up:

We picked up a couple things for the kiddos in TheBoy's gym class and a couple other friends. I kept reminding him that he was picking out presents for each of his friends. He did great at the store, and he got to pick one thing to keep for himself (who doesn't treat themselves to something little when they're out shopping? I mean, really?); and then, definitely wanted to use everything once we got home. They're out of reach now.

I distracted him with our other activity. We made fun, multicolored crayons for little hands (to give and keep). I'd seen them on Pinterest and then again this morning on Instagram. As with most projects, it was more labor intensive than I anticipated. Peeling crayons was a big pain. But TheBoy helped out and really enjoyed breaking them into "little teeny pieces."

I'd only seen them done in silicon baking molds, but couldn't find any at Target today (right next to the dollar store), and I was NOT going traipsing around all over for them. We used foil muffin tin liners and they worked just as well (and didn't ruin any pans). After the peeling, and breaking, and filling of the muffin liners, we popped them into the oven at 200 and kept an eye on them.

They were different sizes, so it was nice to have them in the liners so I could remove them one at a time when they had juuuuuuuust melted (I didn't want them to cook) to let them cool. It was one of the most successful crafts yet.

Day 9: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Tonight we made Grinch pancakes.

hat head.

And ate them on the couch while we watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the animated version, obviously). It was his first time having a meal in front of the tv and his first time watching the special. 

dimple.

Not sure who had more fun.

Day 8: Happy Hanukkah!

I am not Jewish. But I have an affinity for Jewish culture. The town where I lived in high school was mostly Jewish, I studied the Old Testament and Jewish Culture in college, and, you know, Jesus was Jewish. I think it's important to understand.

So tonight, we made a card for Auntie Laura and read The Story of Hanukkah.

I can't post a photo of the front of the card, there has to be some surprise for Auntie Laura when it arrives in the mail. It's pretty impressive though.

Day 7: ZooLights (Stone Zoo)

We tried this last year. I thought ZooLights was at BOTH Zoo New England zoos. TheHusband had to work, but I coordinated with my parents (who drove over an hour) to meet TheBoy and me there. So after driving around Roxbury for 20 minutes I realized it was only at Stone Zoo.

We ended up having dinner at Bertucci's instead.

This year, TheHusband was off and we went as a family. To the right zoo. (Small details.)

We skipped all the Santa stuff and little amusement rides, but thoroughly enjoyed a few animals (including a reindeer) and the lights.

Day 6: Make and Play (Cotton Clay)

Used The Ultimate Book of Kids' Concoctions again for cotton clay. Fun fun!

You need: 3 cups of cotton balls, 2 cups of water, 2/3 cup of flour.

Tear up the cotton balls:

Mix the cotton with water in a large pot over low heat. Slowly add flour, and stir. I kept the heat really low and was able to mix it with my hands. When mixed, allow it to cool on a towel. 

Play away! It's a great sensory activity, you have to wring out lots of water and it gets pretty mushy. You can add food coloring when you're mixing it over the heat, but we left it white and made snowmen.

Day 5: Take Coffee to the Fire Station (Random Act Wednesday)

This year, each day of the week has it's own theme. Today was Random Act Wednesday.

We picked up some coffee and donuts and took them to one of the fire stations nearby. I forgot we live in a small town, so two fire fighters ended up with an entire Box o' Joe and a dozen donuts. Oh well.

And, no, this wasn't supposed to be about treats, but TheBoy got munchkins, too.

Also, the manager who helped us at Dunkin' Donuts was fantastic and helped me bring everything to the car. Maybe he's doing Random Act Wednesday, too.

Day 4: Take a Gift to a Friend

Today we decorated the packages and took the gifts we made over to our neighbors across the street.

Calendar!

In addition to our regularly scheduled Advent activity this evening, I finally finished the actual calendar.

Each of the cards is a photo from last year's activity for that day. Each card is also a magnet, so when we're done, TheBoy can have them for the magnet board in his room. 

And I'm just now noticing that the lights are uneven. I may not sleep tonight.

Day 3: Making Gifts for Friends

This year, Mondays are going to be for making (and likely some shopping for) gifts.

Tonight we made bathtub soap crayons for friends. I found the recipe in a book (remember those?) called The Ultimate Book of Kids' Concoctions.

Logistics
First, we grated Ivory soap:

Mixed it with a little bit of water and food coloring and stirred:

Once it stuck together, we smushed it in some cookie cutters and put them in the freezer to set:

This photo is a total lie. He hated touching it, "too slimy."

Pro tips: Let them set in the freezer for a while (the book suggested 10 minutes, an hour seemed to work). And then let them warm up a bit before popping them out of the cookie cutters. Only 2 were salvaged:

But we did make some red "dough" too and froze them in an ice cube tray - much easier.

Day 2: The Tree

The tree is one of my very favorite parts of the season, second only to the music. The year, we decided to get a small tree for TheBoy's room. Last year, we did a paper tree on his wall, which was ripped up a week later. I'm sure this one will see some level of destruction too, but it smells good and is lit beautifully.

Logistics
This was one of our more expensive activities. The tree cost $20 a local nursery, including the stand. And, (bonus!) we had lights from previous years that actually still worked (I feel like this never happens), so no extra money on those.

Day 1: Christmas card photo shoot

Had to take advantage of the little bit of snow we had this morning. Don't know if we got a keeper, but TheBoy enjoyed being out in the snow.

We took some Christmas light photos, too. Our two previous cards have had lights, so I need to decide if we'll keep that tradition going.

Logistics
Practically, it just makes sense to do this activity at the beginning of the month. It gives me plenty of time to choose photos for a card and get it designed. I'll be using picaboo.com this year (thanks Groupon).