A Meaningful Christmas
A Meaningful Christmas: Slowing Down with a Simple Family Advent Activity Calendar
Every year, as soon as Thanksgiving leftovers are tucked away, the countdown to Christmas seems to hit full speed. The pressure starts creeping in—tiny chocolates behind 25 doors, trinket-filled calendars, activities to check off, and expectations that somehow grow bigger every December.
But this year, I felt the nudge to simplify.
To slow our pace.
To focus on what actually makes Christmas meaningful.
Advent calendars have always been sweet, but honestly… they can feel like too much. Too many pieces, too many things to keep up with, and not enough heart. So instead of doing 25 individual treats or toys, I created a family Advent activity calendar—something simple, doable, and full of memory-making moments that bring us closer together.
This calendar isn’t about perfection.
It’s not about checking off a list.
It’s about connection.
It’s about making room for Jesus.
And it’s about experiencing the season together as a family—slowly, intentionally, and joyfully.
Why I Made a Whole-Family Advent Calendar
I wanted something that:
• wasn’t expensive
• didn’t add clutter
• encouraged togetherness
• focused on kindness, fun, and faith
• fit a cozy, homesteading, homemade Christmas
And most importantly?
I wanted something our whole family could enjoy—no pressure, no guilt, just simple, meaningful moments each day or whenever we had time.
What’s Inside
The activities I chose are a mix of fun, festive, and heart-centered ideas like:
• Do a random act of kindness
• Bake cookies together
• Read a Christmas book
• Make homemade ornaments
• Go see Christmas lights
• Gather “reindeer food”
• Write a letter to Santa
• Donate toys
• Make Christmas cards
• Christmas PJs all day
These are the little things that make the season magical for kids, but also grounding and joy-filled for us as parents.
The Magic of Keeping It Simple
A meaningful Christmas doesn’t require:
• a Pinterest-perfect home
• matching pajamas (although that’s always a favorite)
• daily gifts
• or a packed calendar
What it does require is presence—yours.
Your time, your warmth, your willingness to slow down and soak in the moments that matter: sticky fingers from gingerbread cookies, cold noses from walking through Christmas lights, giggles during hot chocolate night, and kind hearts learning to give more than they receive.
If you’re longing for a slower, intentional, heart-centered Christmas this year…
this kind of Advent calendar might just be the sweetest place to start.
Want the Printable?
Here’s the family Advent activity sheet I made—simple, cute, and full of easy ideas your whole household can enjoy. Just print it out, hang it on the fridge, and let your family pick an activity whenever you’re ready for a little Christmas magic.
May your December be full of cozy moments, meaningful memories, and the kind of joy that comes from a peaceful, Christ-centered season. ❤️
Themed Movie Night- Because of Winn Dixie
What makes it so memorable isn’t the movie at all- it’s the intention of time spent together.
Our themed family movie nights are hands down one of the kids’ favorite traditions—and mine too!
Why? Because it’s simple to set up but so meaningful to our babies. Truly y’all the little things in life go a long way, especially with littles.
Family movie nights aren’t really about the movie at all. They’re about slowing down, gathering close, and making memories that stick. When the lights dim and everyone piles onto the couch with popcorn and blankets, it builds connection and tradition. These nights remind our kids that home is safe, fun, and full of love.
The beauty is in the little things—the giggles during a funny scene, the tears shared during a tender one, the warmth of knowing this is what our family does together. Movie nights create a rhythm of rest, conversation, and belonging. Years from now, your kids may not remember the movie titles, but they’ll remember the feeling of being together.
Last night Caleb exclaimed in excitement, “this is the best night EVER!” Brynlee told me before bed “Thanks mom for your hard work.”
A little effort goes a long way.
Last night we chose Because of Winn Dixie for our family movie night. (Printables linked at the end of this blog).
Winn-Dixie reminds us that love, kindness, and friendship can change everything.
Life Lessons and excellent talking points from Because of Winn-Dixie 🐾
Friends can come from anywhere.
Winn-Dixie helped Opal meet new people and make new friends.
Everyone has a story.
Even people who seem grumpy or different are often carrying sadness inside.
Don’t judge by looks or rumors.
Gloria Dump looked scary at first, but she turned out to be kind and loving.
Forgiveness is important.
Holding onto anger or hurt makes us heavy. Forgiving makes our hearts lighter.
Community makes life sweeter.
When people come together—like at Gloria’s party—everyone feels happier.
It’s okay to share your feelings.
Talking about sadness or hope helps us feel better and closer to others.
Enjoy the little things.
A dog’s smile, music, or sharing a meal can bring so much joy.
Themed movie nights don’t have to be complicated. Keep it as simple as you like! For me, one of the ways I show love to my family is by making things for them and serving them. If you’ve been here for any length of time, you know I’m passionate about health and wellness—but I also follow the 80/20 rule, so we don’t stress over every little thing.
Again remember: keep movie night simple for you. If mama is stressed, no one is happy!
For our Because of Winn-Dixie night, we chose a theme I found online. I created all of my own printables (linked below) and cooked the food from scratch. Here’s what we had:
Opal’s Egg Salad Sandwiches – served on homemade sourdough bread.
Otis’s Pickles – made from garden cucumbers (the kids helped with this one!).
Gertrude’s Sourdough Animal Crackers – made with fresh-milled flour (recipe coming soon!).
Litmus Lozenges – I made mine with honey and lemon juice, but any hard candy would work.
Gloria Dump’s Punch – a fun little splurge for the kiddos, made with 2 cups Sprite, 2 cups orange juice, and 1 cup grapefruit juice.
What made it memorable wasn’t the food or the theme but being intentional about time spent together
Grab free printables here to recreate your own movie night-
(Print as is. Cut under each design. Fold like a teepee so the cards will stand up)
Slow Mornings
Isn’t this the point?
This is the point. To be unrushed. Unhurried. To be fully present.
Let me spend my mornings soaking up baby snuggles. Let me linger over that warm cup of coffee while listening to the birds sing. I want to start the day slowly being fully present with my family. Believe it or not I have not always been a morning person. I didn’t even like coffee until my second kiddo. I think I learned to like it out of sheer survival haha. Either way I have learned that these mornings are a breath of fresh air in a fast paced world. These mornings aren’t the “norm” but they could be!
Do you crave more than go, go, go? Then you are in the right place. I have a desire to truly help people find the simple joy in the slow moments of life. To find the beauty in the ordinary. To find the peace in the mundane.
If you crave peaceful mornings like this (it is totally doable for YOU too)… then keep reading for my top tips to find peace and calm in chaotic mornings.
Start your day with prayer. Seeking God first thing allows me peace and direction for the day.
Wake up before the kids. I know it’s hard, but it’s essential. You will have a little bit of “me time” before the craziness of the day starts.
Prioritize breakfast together. Actually sit together. You will feel so much more connected. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Honestly it’s best and easiest to keep it simple in the mornings… toast and jam is our go to lately.
Plan and prep the night before. The times I fail to do this I always regret it and feel so frazzled the next day. Lay out the clothes and pack the snacks.
This last one is hard but go to bed on time! Nothing makes a morning worse than waking up already exhausted and grumpy. Prioritize your rest so you can be your best self the next morning. Not only will your body thank you, but your kids might too haha!
I hope these tips that have worked so well for me will help you too!