Advent Calendar Update- Tucson Zoo

For Dec 8th advent activity we went to the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson AZ. It is a tradition we started our First Anniversary to go there every winter with our family. This was year number 3.

Why we like the Tucson zoo:

It is a smaller zoo. It takes us about 2 hours to do the entire thing.

It is a people friendly zoo, meaning the animals don't have much room to hide.

It's less crowded

Cheaper (although we have a membership this year so it doesn't matter)

It use to have a Polar Bear, but I guess it died so they didn't this year.

The main attraction: you can feed the Giraffes!

I thought Ryder was going to be scared or want to eat the carrot himself, but he knew what to do and loved it! It cost $2 per person for 2 carrot sticks. We think it is well worth it!

Part of our Tradition is going to A&W rootbeer restaurant  However we can terminating that part of the tradition and vowing never to go to A&W unless it is a stand alone building and not in a gas station. That was the most expensive crappy sandwich I've ever had! SO in the future we'll be packing a lunch and having a picnic. So much more fun!

What is your favorite Tradition?

~CJ

You can see the whole list of activities for our Advent here.

Advent Calendar Update- Wooden Nativity Blocks

 Day one of our advent calendar was to play with these Nativity Blocks. I made them that day for our Enrichment activitiy. They were super easy!

 All we did was paint the wood blocks and add stickers they got from Hobby Lobby! Then added mod podge to seal them. My little bug loves them. We first taught him the basic version of the nativity story and set it up. Then we asked him where different things were and he'd find that block. Then we just let him play with them how ever he wanted.

He had a lot of fun and it was the perfect way to start the Christmas Season.

Day two was to watch the Christmas Devotional on BYU TV. It will most likely replay at some point. Or you can watch it online on lds.org.

You can see our full advent calendar list here.

~CJ

Christmas Table

(This post was originally from when I was writing for ourdiydiaries so this may look familiar if you followed them as well.)

In my mom's ward they had a Christmas Relief Society Dinner. They had different people sign up to decorate the tables. So each person had a table. it was fun seeing all of the different ideas. My mom signed up and since she is not crafty I helped her.

We did ornaments on a cake stand for the centerpiece. We stacked it on top of some glass blocks. In the middle of the blocks were battery operated lights that added just the right touch.

We also put red sparkley tulle around the cupcake stand for some color and to hide the blocks a little.

Here is the place setting. We did a red charger with white plates. Then the napkins (alternated red and green). Tied with a candy cane. Then some goblets for the drinks. Sprinkle with kisses and it's done.

I think it turned out nice. What do you think?

~CJ