My teenaged daughter is very into Christmas this year. She wants to do EVERYTHING Christmas! We brainstormed a list of all the things she wants to do so that we wouldn't forget anything and then looked up dates for some of the scheduled things so we wouldn't miss it. Here's what our list looks like.

1. Pick a tree - Since we live in Florida, there's no going to the tree farm and cutting down our own tree. We have to rely on Christmas tree lots. We always go to Lowe's. The prices are good. The trees are fresh. We try to go right after Thanksgiving when my college boy is home but this year he headed back before we were finished with Black Friday shopping. Do you do a live tree or artificial one?

2. Look at lights - There are several neighborhoods in our town that go ALL OUT and have an astonishing display of hanging lights. (Our favorite is off Girvin Rd). We will bundle up (if the weather is cold enough), play Christmas music, sip hot cocoa and drive around looking at the lights.

3. See the Nutcracker - I'm not sure if we'll get to see it live this year. We might invite friends over for a hot chocolate bar and watch a DVD version.

4. Build a gingerbread house - This was not a tradition we did when the kids were little so I think my daughter really wanted to do this because it's traditional but new to her. I bought her a kit at Aldi's and she had fun making it but was surprised how difficult it is! I think she did a great job! Do you build a gingerbread house? If you do, do you use a kit or do you make your own?



5. Gingerbread house exhibit - There's a really neat gingerbread house exhibit where we live. It used to be at the mall but now it's held downtown in the Jacksonville Historical Society headquarters. The creations are absolutely stunning. My favorite was the leaning tower of Pisa.

6. Watch Christmas movies - Annie specifically wants to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. I don't think we've ever watched It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street as a family so I've added those two to the list. They're classics! What's your favorite Christmas movie?

7. Make ornaments - This was really on my bucket list but Annie is up for doing crafts with me. Two I want to make this year are chalkboard painted balls (inspired by Ballard Designs) and nautical chart Mod Podged balls. (Check my blog in the upcoming weeks to see how they turn out.)

8. Make Christmas cookies - Annie loves to bake. Two she wants to make are gingerbread men and sugar cookies. I think we'll have to wait for school to be out to make them.

9. Read Ishtar's Odyssey - We like to read an Advent book together. In the past we have read the Jotham trilogy. This year Arnold Ytreeide has added a new book to the series. Although my kids are older, they are humoring me and we are reading it together.

10. Night of Lights - St. Augustine (the country's oldest city) puts on a spectacular light display called the Night of Lights. Our family likes to go each year to enjoy the Christmas sparkle. We have ridden the Holly Jolly Trolley before (especially when the kids were little) or last year we just walked around. It's a fun tradition!

What are some Must-Do things on your Christmas bucket list?

Sheila is a regular contributor for The Blended Blog.  She is a mother, homeschool teacher and lives an inspired life.  She blogs at Making the Most of Every Day