December Advent Calender

There are tons of ways to celebrate Christmas this season.  This is how I plan to spend my December.

1 Find the perfect Christmas tree- decorate it with family, decorate house

2 Have the missionaries over for dinner then take the family to the Turlock Christmas Parade Downtown

3 Mail Christmas cards

4 Invite some friends over for dinner - make gingerbread houses for dessert

5  Purchase or make one new ornament for each member of your family

6 Purchase or make on new decoration
7 Go to the basketball game at CSU Stanislaus - my husband will be performing at the half time show- date night
8 Write letters to Santa
9 Go to the Ward Christmas Party -see Santa, eat good food, and listen/sing to good music
10 Make some Hot Chocolate with marshmallows -invite someone over
11Go to Annual Christmas Party at you Aunt and Uncles house -game night
12 Have FHE with your parents -play games and sing carols around the piano
13 Go to Christmas in the Park -Downtown San Jose
14 Wrap presents
15 Go to mid-week Relief Society Activity
16 Celebrate your 1st Anniversary (if you are Charity or Anthony) - ride cable car in SF and eat Ghirardelli Ice Cream
17 Go do a session at the temple, see the Nutcracker, and then enjoy the lights and live nativity
18 Enjoy the Christmas Program during 3rd hour of church.
19 Read an inspirational Christmas story
20 Make Christmas candy and cookies with your man

21 Go caroling to your friends-bring them a plate of homemade candy and goodies

22 Movie Night- watch one of the classic Christmas ones- with treats
23 Go on a date - out to dinner
24 Christmas Eve - eat ham dinner, open new pj's, read and act out Nativity, drive around town and look at all the lights, leave Santa cookies and milk.  Go to bed.
25 Merry Christmas! open presents way too early in the morning, make and eat cinnamon rolls, play with new toys, watch new DVDs, and play new games. Don't forget to go to church and be spiritually fed with the Christmas Program
26 Go ice skating for FHE

27 Do a Christmas puzzle. Make it a date.

28 Take down decorations
29 Go to the beach with the fam -Natural Bridges is really fun this time of year

30 Throw a New Years Eve Party and have a sparkling cider toast

Advent -October

 Here are some fun ideas to make the month of October a bunch of fun!

1 Decorate the house and enjoy watching conference

2 Bake some cinnamon rolls and watch Conference with the family

3 Get a head start on your costumes

4 Make some caramel apples

5 Buy yourself (or make) one new decoration for your collection

6 Refresh your 72-hour kits (Anthony's Birthday)

7 Grab your favorite guy and go kite flying

8 Load up your picnic basket and enjoy the warm weather

9 Schedule those visiting teaching appointments

10 Go to a corn maze for FHE

11 Eat some candy corn

12 Do a fun Halloween craft with the kiddos or hubby

13 Meet your best friend for a lunch date

14 Go to the temple with your spouse and then drive up to Butter's Hill and make out ;) then take a picture of you both with the temple in the background

15 Watch Hocus Pocus or It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with the kiddos -make some caramel popcorn

16 Double your fast offering this month

17 Get the family together and go to a pumpkin patch - purchase pumpkins (Tali's Birthday)

18 Make some mud cake (Jeremy's Birthday)

19 Give yourself a festive manicure or pedicure

20 Take the family to the pumpkin patch

21 Take the hubster to your local Farmer's Market or Flee Market and enjoy holding hands and walking around (Karen's Birthday)

22 Host your own Halloween Party

23 Feed your soul with the Primary Program

24 Go through a haunted house

25 Make some chili and corn bread or your favorite soup -invite the missionaries over

26 Go to a carnival at the kids' school

27 Go read a book, write in your journal, or just day dream outside

28 Snuggle up next to your man and watch a scary movie -Practical Magic

29 Deck out your car for Trunk-or-Treat or dress up for the Ward Party

30 Carve pumpkins

31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! take the kids trick-or-treating or pass out candy

Advent -November 2011

1. Take down Halloween decorations, Celebrate your 21st Birthday if you are Charity, and put up Thanks Giving Tree
2.  Put up Thanks Giving and Fall Decorations
3.  Make pumpkin puree out of your jack-o-lanterns - store and freeze
4.  Enjoy a bonfire with your man - on the beach with smores & Hot Chocolate (Ron's Birthday)
5.   Pick some apples at an orchard or a friend's backyard
6.  Write a thank you note and give it to the Bishop
7.  Purchase or make 1 new decoration
8.  Make some pumpkin bread or muffins with your puree
9.  Babysit for a friend free of charge so they can go out
10.  Go shopping and buy yourself one new item to spice up your fall wardrobe -or window shop to get ideas of how to use what pieces you already have in a different way
11.  Have a candle light dinner with just your hubby -out on the balcony
12.  Pile up the fam in the car and go for a drive
13.  Craft a "Turkey Hand"
14.   Go on a nature walk or hike with some family friends
15.  Make some of your favorite home-made candy -kix candy are my favorite
16.  Rake your neighbors leaves or mow their lawn
17.  Make your husband a book or letter with a bunch of reasons why you love him (or all the things you are thankful for that he does for you)
18. Girls Night Out to the movies to see Breaking Dawn
19. Go play in a huge pile of leaves (make sure to bring the camera) (Heber's Birthday)
    
20.  Read a talk on Gratitude or something from the November Ensign
21.  Do a project with leaves - make cards for the retirement home and/or the fire department and police station and deliver them
22.  Make some pumpkin pie using your puree or your favorite pie
23.  Play a game of Flag Football or Ultimate Frisbee with a group of friends or relatives who are in town
24.  HAPPY THANKS GIVING!!!  Eat as much as you can, watch the football game, watch the Macy's Day Parade (I know a band that was invited to perform this year), and just soak up some great family time. 
25.  Make turkey sandwiches and take your love on a picnic date at the park
26.  Go splashing in the puddles
27.  Invite the Missionaries over for dinner
28.  Make sure you've done your visiting teaching
29.  Spend the night in and watch a movie - pop some popcorn
30. Go to the Temple with Hubs

 Here is a list of a bunch of activities to do during November.  Life is too short to not make everyday one that's worth remembering.  I hope you have an eventful November!