Christmas Countdown 2014

The last few years we have done a daily Christmas countdown with the kids. It is such a fun way to bring in the holiday season and to celebrate both the spiritual and secular parts of Christmas. The kids look forward to pulling their item out of the advent calendar each day. Here is our 2014 schedule-- I have posted a picture with each event in the past, but who even knows if I am going to be that on top of things this time. Yeah, probably not. Anyway, follow along if you'd like and let me know how it goes. Of course you may need to adapt activities or other things for your family. 

Day One, Monday 12.1.14

Song:  “Stars Were Gleaming” (Children’s #37)

Scripture: Luke 1:11-17

Reading/Video:  Watch “An Angel Fortells Christ’s Birth” https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/an-angel-foretells-christs-birth-to-mary?lang=eng

Activity: Go buy Christmas Coloring Books and color

Day Two, Tuesday 12.2.14

Song: “When Joseph Went to Bethlehem” (Children’s #38)

Scripture: Malachi 3:1

Reading/Video:  Read “Gloves for A Shepherd” https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2013/12/gloves-for-a-shepherd_1179029_prt.pdf?lang=eng

Activity:  Make toast and hot chocolate while listening to Christmas music

Day Three, Wednesday 12.3.14

Song:  Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains (Hymn #212)

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Reading/Video:  Listen to MOTAB’s “Carol of the Bells” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUX22dJGG4

Activity:  Write letters to Santa

Day Four, Thursday 12.4.14

Song:  “Little Jesus” (Children’s #39)

Scripture: Luke 1:26-33

Reading/Video:  Watch “Mary and Joseph Travel to Bethlehem” https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/mary-and-joseph-travel-to-bethlehem?lang=eng

Activity: Go to the library and check out Christmas books

Day Five, Friday 12.5.14

Song: “He Sent His Son” (Children’s #34)

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-19

Reading/Video:  Read “Christmas at the Hospital” http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/friend-december-2012/2012-12-21-christmas-at-the-hospital-eng.pdf

Activity: Listen to the Polar Express in Jammies

Day Six, Saturday 12.6.14

Song:  “Have a Very Merry Christmas!” (Children’s #51)

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Reading/Video: Read “The Christmas Cane”

http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/friend-december-2010/2010-12-03-the-christmas-cane-eng.pdf

Activity: Watch a Christmas Movie

Day Seven, Sunday 12.7.14

Song:  “The Nativity Song” (Children’s #52)

Scripture: Matthew 1: 20-25

Reading/Video:  Watch MOTAB’s “Hallelujah Chorus” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skgrFTu6KTI

Activity: Watch the Christmas Devotional

Day Eight, Monday 12.8.14

Song:  “With Wondering Awe” (Hymn #210)

Scripture: Luke 1:39-56

Reading/Video:  Read  “Jesus Loves You“ https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2013/12/jesus-loves-you_1178995_prt.pdf?lang=eng

Activity: United Angels Christmas Party Provo Rec Center

Day Nine, Tuesday 12.9.14

Song:  “Who Is the Child?” (Children’s #46)

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Reading/Video:  Watch “Shepherds learn of the birth of Christ” https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/shepherds-learn-of-the-birth-of-christ?lang=eng

Activity: Do a Christmas Craft

Day Ten, Wednesday 12.10.14

Song:  “Christmas Bells” (Children’s #54)

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Reading/Video: Watch MOTAB’s “Oh Come Emmanuel” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHKo4NmmvRI

Activity: Visit Temple Square to see the lights

Day Eleven, Thursday  12.11.14

Song:  “The Shepherd’s Carol” (Children’s #40)

Scripture: Luke 2:15-20

Reading/Video: Watch “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/videos/god-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen-the-kings-singers?lang=eng

Activity: Take kids shopping for each other’s gifts

Day Twelve, Friday  12.12.14

Song: “The First Noel” (Hymn # 213)

Scripture: Exodus 13:2

Reading/Video:  Watch “The Birth of Jesus Christ” https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/glad-tidings-of-great-joy-the-birth-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

Activity: Christmas songs sing-a-long

Day Thirteen, Saturday 12.13.14

Song:  “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (Hymn #209)

Scripture: Luke 2:21-24

Reading/Video:  Read “The Christmas Basket” http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/friend-december-2009/2009-12-06-the-christmas-basket-eng.pdf

Activity: Go ice skating at Station Park/BYU Game

Day Fourteen, Sunday 12.14.14

Song:  “Oh, Hush Thee, My Baby” (Children’s #48)

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-5

Reading/Video:  Christmas Around the World http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/friend-december-2009/2009-12-14-christmas-around-the-world-eng.pdf

Activity:  Deliver Secret Santa gifts

Day Fifteen, Monday 12.15.14

Song: “Away in a Manger” (Hymn #206)

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Reading/Video:  Read “The Lights of Christmas” http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/lds-magazines/friend-december-2011/2011-12-21-the-lights-of-christmas-eng.pdf

Activity: Make snowflakes and hang around the house

Day Sixteen, Tuesday 12.16.14

Song:  “It came Upon the Midnight Clear” (Hymn #207)

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38

Reading/Video: Watch MOTAB’s “Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella” http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/videos/organ-solo-bring-a-torch-jeanette-isabella?lang=eng

Activity: Read Christmas books

Day Seventeen, Wednesday  12.17.14

Song:  “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (Hymn #208)

Scripture: Hosea 11:1

Reading/Video: Watch MOTAB’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/videos/have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas?lang=eng

Activity: Mom and Dad to Forgotten Carols, kids to watch a Christmas Movie

Day Eighteen, Thursday 12.18.14

Song:  “Silent Night” (Hymn #204)

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15

Reading/Video:  Watch “The Nativity” https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-nativity?lang=eng

Activity: Meet Santa Claus

Day Nineteen, Friday 12.19.14

Song:  “Picture a Christmas” (Children’s #50)

Scripture: Matthew 25:40

Reading/Video:  Watch “Mary and Joseph Travel to Bethlehem” http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/christmas-videos?lang=eng#mary-and-joseph-travel-to-bethlehem

Activity: Bake and decorate sugar cookies

Day Twenty, Saturday 12.20.14

Song:  “Once in Royal David’s City” (Hymn #205)

Scripture: Matthew 2:16-18

Reading/Video: Read “My Gift to Jesus” http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/liahona-december-2012/2012-12-26-my-gift-to-jesus-eng.pdf

Activity: Build a snowman

Day Twenty One, Sunday 12.21.14

Song:  “Joy to the World” (Hymn #201)

Scripture: Micah 5:2

Reading/Video:  Watch MOTAB’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/videos/hark-the-herald-angels-sing-natalie-cole?lang=eng

Activity: Decorate Gingerbread Houses

Day Twenty Two, Monday 12.22.14

Song:  “Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus”

Scripture: Matthew 2:19-23

Reading/Video: Read “The Christmas Oranges”

Activity:  Watch Santa’s Reindeer online

Day Twenty Three, Tuesday 12.23.14

Song:  “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful” (Hymn #202)

Scripture: Luke 2:39-40

Reading/Video: Watch “The Reason Behind Christmas” http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?im=true&v=2874125972001

Activity: Drive around to see Christmas lights

Day Twenty Four, Wednesday 12.24.14

Song: “Angels we Have Heard on High” (Hymn #203)

Reading/Video: Watch the “Hallelujah Chorus” http://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/christmas-videos?lang=eng#motab-hallelujah-christmas-2010

Scripture/Activity: Act out the Nativity