Mixing German and American traditions for Christmas, I got inspired by a friend telling me to do activities instead of gifts or candy for our Adventskalendar. I really liked that idea and while I was setting up my kids calendars, I thought, one for the family would be enough. So, here is my 'Activity'-Adventskalendar for 2014:

Dec 1: Making gifts
Dec 2: Piano Lessons
Day 3: Watch “Saving My Tomorrow” @ SIFF
Dec 4: Bake & eat GF Cookies
Dec 5: Celebrate 10 years in style & Cookies & Milk fuer St. Nikolaus
Dec 6: Movie Night with Dalida
Dec 7: 2. Advent - Christmas Carols, Cards, Story time, Gingerbread 
Dec 8: Writing cards to family & friends 
Dec 9: Piano Lessons & Extra Screentime
Dec 10: Christmas Carols: Making music with Dad 
Dec 11: Choir Concerts & Eating out
Dec 12: Pickup Mama, Family Roller Skating 6-8 pm
Dec 13: Pick gift ($25 value) from World Vision Gift Catalog
Dec 14: 3. Advent – Christmas songs & gingerbread
Dec 15: Nightwalk with lanterns
Dec 16: Piano Lessons & Cookies for Girl Scouts
Dec 17: Board game night (kids get to pick games)
Dec 18: Bubble Bath
Dec 19: Trip to Seattle Center
Dec 20: Gift shopping & Holiday Party
Dec 21: 4. Advent - Music, Gingerbread, Candles
Dec 22: Movie Night
Dec 23: Christmas Lights Tour & deliver gifts to friends
Dec 24: Read Christmas Story & surprise outing

Lesson learnt from this: Be brave enough to fail! And also to admit it - to yourself, friends and most important, my kids!

As slowly recovering control freak and overachiever I really like sticking to goals, but with a demanding life and kids to take care of my expectations to myself are just not nearly as realistic as they could. I guess I am still used to my work pace before kids and energy level as a twenty something. News flash. I am not! :-)

But at least my house is kind of in order and who really cares about the garage (unless I step in there to find something).
It would be nice to get this done, and 'slow and steady' is probably the only way this will ever happen, but the timing has to be right, and with more important, obvious and demanding things to do right now, this has to go on the back burner for now.