Oh, I couldn’t help myself–I had to show you this cute little thing.
Twenty-four origami envelopes–each with a different family friendly activity to do sometime during the day before bedtime. You’ll want to start out by making a list of things you and the kids would love to do as a family–then pick your favorite 24.
Next, write one activity on a sheet of origami paper–or Christmas scrapbook paper then, fold each paper into a cute little envelope. I’ve included an Origami Envelope Tutorial in the post below–if you want to use the one that we did.
Each envelope is either numbered or dated–that gives Mom the ability to plan the slightly longer activities on the weekend–and to put the simpler ones on the days when you might have a bit more going on. You might want to plan something really special for Christmas Eve.
Let your kids take turns reading the envelopes each morning. You’ll be surprised at how much fun they’ll have all day long as they look forward to drinking hot chocolate by the Christmas tree, or painting each others toenails.
After all…
so much of Christmas is about anticipation–isn’t it?
Activity Ideas
Read a favorite Christmas picture book—if you love books like us, this one could work for 20 of the activities!
If you’d like to make these cute little “Flap Lock” Origami Envelopes–all you’ll need is a piece of square paper…any size. I used Christmas scrapbook paper.
1. Fold the paper in half to form a triangle.
Make sure your edges are even.
2. Take the top corner of the first layer and fold it down to the bottom edge.
3. fold the right corner about 1/3 of the way to the left.
4. Take the left corner and fold it to the other end. Your envelope should be rather square shaped now.
5. Fold the point of the flap over the other flap back to the left edge of the model.
6. Fold the point of the flap up to the top corner of the flap.
6. Make a squash fold on this flap.
7. Make sure you flatten it well, as this will help secure the envelope closed.
8. Fold the very top point down to the bottom edge. Or, the bottom edge of the square you formed by “squashing.”
9. Put the top flap (the portion you just folded down) into the “pocket” that was formed by the squash fold.
This has to be the cutest little advent calendar that ever walked the earth!
ahhhh….ok, so…you know what I mean.
Teeny, tiny drawers filled with teeny, tiny prizes. Absolutely adorable and better still–it cost well under $5 to make. You could actually make one of these for each of your children and spend less than you would buying them a Happy Meal. And this was just soooo fun.
The main purchase is the little match boxes. I found them at the grocery store and get this–packs of ten were 93 cents! You’ll need 3- 10 packs.
Empty the matches into a large Ziplock bag and put them in your storage.
Be on the lookout for tiny prizes…
You’ll be surprised at what you’ll find once you start looking.
Tape the boxes together in groups that will be stacked up in columns of 8 boxes.
I did a 3 stack and a 5 stack. Then I did the rest in groups of 4.
Now group them together and make sure they are all level with each other.
First I taped two columns together and then all three. Don’t worry about how ugly the tape is–it’s not going to show.
Find some skinny, Christmasy ribbon and cut into 24 pieces about 3 inches long.
I used wide packaging tape to stick them in loops to the bottom of each box. It’s more sticky and sturdy–and we want the pull loops to stay put. I experimented with big loops and shorter loops–the shorter ones worked much better.
Number the boxes as you go along–that is much easier than going back and working around all the ribbon.
Now cover the back and sides with your favorite Christmas wrapping scraps.
Now, have fun finding tiny little prizes…
and flat-ish candy…
to fill the drawers.
Now in just a couple of days—let the merry countdown BEGIN!
A friend of ours, “Utah Grammie” over at Main Street Memories, witnessed a pretty incredible event unfold in her family this last week. With her permission, we would like to share the story with you on Gracious Rain.
Before we begin, here’s a little preface:
On Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009 while her family was visiting relatives in Arivaca, Arizona, her sister’s beloved dog, Owen, went missing.
It happened while they were all outside ready to feed the animals. One of the horses came up behind Owen and spooked him. He bolted out of the yard and down the dirt road. Gone. The family spent the day searching for the scared puppy but no luck. Volunteer groups from the area came but the area was huge-consisting of a lot of desert full of scrub brush and mesquite tree that stretched out for miles and miles. The poor dog could be anywhere.
By the next day the family was becoming more somber. Rightly so. The desert is no place for a little city pup, what with coyotes and snakes and all kinds of hidden dangers for a creature so small on their own. On Thursday Utah Grammie said, “No news. We’re still holding out hope. In the meantime, I just can’t be flippant. Sorry. Hopefully the new day will bring good news.”
They put up fliers offering a $500 reward all over the area, but still nothing additional to report on Friday either. Everyone was heartbroken. Owen wasn’t just a dog, he was a beloved member of the family.
There’s a lot more to this, and if you’ve doubts about prayer, courage, strength….about the stars and the heaven’s alignment….about the kindness of strangers….and man’s love of God’s creatures….then you need to read no further.
Because this is the story of hope, answered prayers, and…’thanks-giving’
Everyone was supportive. Told Kathy he’d be found..he’d be safe.. Because that’s what one says..even if one doesn’t believe…..has doubts.
After all, one small city dog..in a place far away from his home..unknown terrain….what with coyotes, bobcats and all other dangers of the desert at night. And it was now 3 nights..and 4 days..
No word..even the believers, the hopeful, were losing hope. “It’s really not very likely he’ll be found alive..after one night out there..” some said {but all were thinking by now..} But that’s not the way it was supposed to be..not the way the story ends..
The reward posters were placed in the small town of Arivaca, in the bar/restaurant in Amado..the mercantile, the library….given out at the elementary school where Larry substituted as a kindergarten teacher…the shelter in Green Valley..the border patrol station..no one had seen him.
One small white dog..one large and dangerous desert..thousand of acres vs one flat-faced [pup], with bottom-less brown eyes.. all spit and vinegar…
On the day we had all but given up hope, Kathy’s cell phone rang. Bad reception..”wait, what?”
“I thi.. I ma..have fou.. your dog..” The line went dead..the caller ID said simply “unknown”..
The phone rang again..”What? Where are you? What’s you’re number..give me YOUR number!?”
He gave the first 3 digits..then the line went dead…again.
“NO..”
It rang a third time..he quickly gave the LAST 4..Kathy ran into the house to use the land-line. The voice on the other end said “I think we have him..” 4 1/2 miles. Hills..washes..no houses..then a small house..a man holding Owen..
Kathy screaming, crying, Gerri jumping. Owen was found. He’s alive!
The man, now himself close to tears, is hugged by Kathy. He hugs back..then tells his story.
Seems he has a small, modest home. 4 dogs himself. Lots of barking – teenage daughter, pretty wife. But for some reason, the barking at 2:30 Saturday morning was..well..different. The man thought he’s just step outside and check..
A coyote was trying to get something under his car..what was it? His Great Dane was furious..barking..the coyote was growling..menacing.. He let the Great Dane out..he ran off the coyote.. the man looked under the car.. Now what is this? A small, white city dog? Out here? Wha??
The man took him inside. The little dog was wearing a collar with tags..and a phone number..a long distance phone number. He couldn’t call at that hour. He started to work on all the burrs, stickers and desert this little city dog had gotten himself into.
He continued to try to make Owen {he found his name was on his tag} comfortable..feed him and give him water..he gently groomed him, talked to him, for over 4 hours..He called at 8am.
When Kathy & Gerri arrived, when the hugs and the tears and the laughter subsided..the man told the story.. no, he and his wife and daughter had not seen the fliers on a lost little white dog..they didn’t know…
Kathy hugged him.. told him there was a reward..
“No, no..not necessary..I couldn’t..”
Kathy gave him the reward. $500, just like the flier had said. The flier he had not seen.
The man appeared to be in shock..he couldn’t believe it..he said “thank you – thank you…I don’t…” Like us all, he had been having a rough time ..Thanksgiving and Christmas were a worry..he has a daughter..and a wife..and little extra beyond the basics. But not having extra money didn’t stop him from opening his home, his heart….{.and 3 long distance phone calls!} They hugged, cried and said good-bye.
Later, when Kathy’s husband, Bruce was leaving to drive back to Lake Havasu..he stopped to thank the man and his family himself. Bruce told the man he was Kathy’s hero..thanked him again. The man looked at Bruce and said..
“No..you are our hero..we didn’t know if we were going to have a real Thanksgiving or Christmas this year..now, thanks to Owen, we will..”
One small dog, one huge desert, one group of friends and strangers, one gracious God.
One happy ending…
Thank you for praying, thank “Ron ” for calling..thank the people of Arivaca, thank God. And thanks to the Great Dane..that coyote may still be runnin’….. 🙂
