advent calender activities

since this is clint and i's  first Christmas together as a married couple we wanted to start some new traditions over the holiday season.  i made up a list of fun Christmas and winter activities for us to do during december. i also know that starting in december is the season of advent.  a time for us to prepare our hearts as we anxiously await the come of Christmas, not the commercialized Christmas, but rather the coming of Christ in the form of a helpless babe.

• mail Christmas cards
• read scriptures about the coming King to prepare our hearts - here are a few: Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:18-24, Luke 2:9-14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke:2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-12,  Micah 5:2
• decorate the house
• hang mistletoe
• wrap presents
• host a cookie swap
• go to a Christmas parade
• bake cookies for neighbors
• games night with friends
• hot chocolate bar
• watch elf
• dance under the twinkly lights to Christmas music
• make decorations
• go for a walk in the snow - be sure to bring your camera
• host an ugly sweater party
• camp in the living room under the lights
• go skating
• build a gingerbread house
• make a red and green meal
• drive around looking at lights
• watch rudolph
• go sledding
• picnic by the Christmas tree
• make snowangels
• go see a Christmas concert
• make Christmas cards
• make reindeer food
• bake a birthday cake for Jesus
• go on a hayride
• surprise someone with an unexpected gift
• go caroling
• make bird garland
• make a snowman
• make the house smell like Christmas

if you are looking for a great advent devotional heather from birch & bay will be releasing hers this week so you should really go and get it! 

What type of winter activities do you like to do? What do you like to read to prepare your heart for the advent season?