Christmas Countdown Paper Chain

I had high hopes this year of making a super cute advent calendar like the ones I have seen onHomemade By Jill, but alas, here it was the weekend before December and I still hadn't made anything. Maybe next year? While browsing some favorite blogs, I saw a super cute and easy one at d. Sharp's Journal, and really like the idea of having your advent calendar be activity based, instead of treat based. We all get PLENTY of treats this time of year, and I love the countdown without the sugar. Growing up, I always made paper chains, I don't know why I had so much fun making them, but I loved it. So the "quick & easy" in me took over, and I decided to make a paper chain to count down with activities written for each day. I found some super cute double sided paper at Pebbles for my chain.I wrote a fun Christmas activity for each day, some are big, some are small.
I haven't the perfect place to hang my chain yet, above the pantry is where it currently is, but I don't love it there. It needs to be high enough so the baby can't rip it apart, but still in a fun spot.
Below is a list of my activities, they are Christmas traditions from years past, and some new ones we want to start as a family. My family has a "Christmas book" with Christmas stories that my Mother has collected over the years, so we have reading out of that book on a couple of different days. What are some of your traditions? I would love to hear them, please leave a comment below, I want to incorporate different things each year.

Countdown to Christmas activities:

01: Write a letter to Santa

02: Read a story from the "Christmas Book"

03: Watch one of the Christmas Classic movies, Rudolph, Frosty, etc.

04: Church Christmas Party

05: Drive through the neighborhood and look at lights

06: Go caroling at a nursing home

07: Make Jingle Bells

08: Buy a soft toy from IKEA and donate it to Toys 4 Tots. (IKEA donates $1 from every soft toy sold to UNICEF, 2 good deeds in one!)

09: Bake treats and give to the neighbors

10: Go to Temple Square and see the lights

11: Go to the family Christmas Party

12: Read a story from the "Christmas Book"

13: Make candy cane reindeer

14: Visit Ogden's Christmas Village

15: Read a story from the "Christmas Book"

16: Watch Elf

17: Listen to Christmas songs as we travel to Grandma's house down south

18: Christmas dinner with Grandpa & Grandma B

19: Watch home movies from Christmas' past

20: Read a story from the "Christmas Book"

21: Watch Charlie Brown's Christmas movie

22: Make snow globes

23: Bake gingerbread cookies

24: Read the Christmas story from the bible and talk about Christ's birth.

A Grand Thanksgiving Tradition, Homemade Pie.

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, I love Thanksgiving. I love the season of gratitude, being with family, and eating yummy food. For me, Thanksgiving Day has a lot of unofficial traditions, playing games with family, watching football, and my Mother's home made pie. My Mother is an excellent cook, anything she makes is from scratch and absolutely delicious. Every Thanksgiving Day I look forward to her pies. Apple and Pumpkin with home made crusts are a given, but one that has become a non traditional staple is the Sunny Banana Cream pie. I don't remember when it first was served on Thanksgiving Day, but my late older brother was sure to request it every Thanksgiving Day, it was his favorite. My Mother still serves it every year we are at her house, and my husband has grown to love this tradition as well. We are making it this week and I thought I would share the recipe, though I don't have any photos to post, I can post them after the holiday.

Sunny Banana Cream Pie

2 bananas

1- 8 ounce pkg cream cheese

2 cups milk

1- 3 ounces pkg instant banana cream pudding mix

Toasted coconut to garnish, if desired

Slice bananas onto graham cracker pie crust. Gradually add 1/2 cup of milk to softened cream cheese, mixing until well blended. (With a hand mixer or Kitchenaid mixer.) Add pudding mix and mix remaining milk; beat slowly 1 minute. Pour into crust and chill. Garnish with coconut.

Makes 1, 9 inch pie.

Graham Cracker Pie Crust

12 double graham crackers

3 TBSP sugar

7 TSBP melted butter

Put crackers in a zip lock bag and use a rolling pin to roll into fine crumbs. Combine with butter and sugar. Mix well. Press firmly into two 10 inch pie pans. Chill 45 minutes or bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool before filling.

I love fun, quirky, family traditions. Do you have any in your family? Please share! Happy Thanksgiving!