Our Advent Calendar

It's finished!  We've set out our plans for the next month's activities as we anticipate the coming of Christ!  Are you celebrating advent?  Are you interested in it?  Here are our family activities:

1. Christmas on the Farm
2. Decorate Christmas Tree (Sunday #1)
3. Make Paper Chains
4. Set up Nativity
5. Drive around and look at Christmas Lights
6. Santa Clause Day, decorate and hang stockings
7. Make Christmas Ornaments, Open Stocking gifts
8. Make Christmas Cookies
9. Give Cookies to a friend (Sunday #2)
10. Read a Christmas book at bed time.
11. Make a Play Dough Baby Jesus
12. Hot Chocolate for dinner!
13. Send Money to Heifer International
14. Sleep Over with a friend
15. Board Game Night
16. Christmas Movie and Popcorn (Sunday #3)
17. Play with Nativity Set
18. Decorate Wrapping Paper
19. Rootbeer Floats
20. Sing Christmas Songs Together
21. Make a Present for a Friend
22. Hike or Sled (weather depending)
23. Christmas Treasure Hunt (Sunday #4)
24. Christmas Eve Service, Light Christ Candle, Bake a Birthday Cake
25. Christmas Day, Open Presents

Thank you What's in the Bible for helping us prepare our family with the new Everyday Emmanuel book and many fantastic blogs that gave us ideas to fill in the blanks for our family!

Keeping cool

It's hot out, has anyone else noticed?  Last night we pulled out the baby pool and put some water in it so it would be warm-ish this morning.  I thought the boys would spend most of the morning in it, keeping cool.  I was so wrong.  Monkey spent about 20 minutes in the pool and was done, "it too cold"... Crackers spent a little longer - mostly standing next to the pool and pouring cups of cold water down his chest.  Our friend the Roamer, didn't go in at all!

The plan for the rest of the day?  I don't know yet.  We'll have lunch around 10:45, then naps.. after naps - staying cool, somehow - maybe I'll keep them in their shorts and give them a popcicle.  I hate sitting them in front of the television.

Any ideas?  What are you doing today to keep cool at home?  What are your toddler & preschooler's favorite summertime activities?