• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header left navigation
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Shop
  • Get The Email
  • Work With Me
  • About
  • Search

  • DIY
    • DIY Home Decor
    • With Power Tools
    • Renovation
    • For Kids
    • For Parties
    • Wearable
    • Organization
    • Cricut Crafts
  • Home Decor
    • Room Reveals
    • Kid Friendly
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Renovation
  • Lettering
    • Hand Lettered Printables
    • Free Practice Sheets
    • Handlettered DIY
    • Free Brush Lettering Quickstart Guide
Lemon Thistle

Lemon Thistle

Rad DIY, Lettering and Design for Real People

  • Printables
    • For Cricut
    • Party Printables
    • Home Decor Printables
    • Bachelor Bingo
    • Handlettering Practice Sheets
    • All Free Printables
  • Entertain
    • Party Printables
    • Party DIY
    • Tablescapes
    • Kids Parties
  • Blog

Backyard S’mores + 50 Advent Activity Ideas

Dec 08

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

One of my favourite traditions we started with our kiddos is doing an activity advent calendar each year. Every year it looks a little different but the idea is that on each card, envelope, or with a note inside a box every day an activity is written. It’s completely customizable and you can leave the activity note until the night before to make sure you have the time/energy/stuff to make it happen. For example… last year Aubrey broke her collarbone. So we had virtually NO outdoor activities. This year, we had a baby- so the first week of December is pretty low-key (Christmas story, anyone?!). And if there’s no snow, then don’t write down ‘build a snowman’ and save it for the day you get a big dump. Kind of awesome to have that flexibility, right?

BUT coming up with ideas in the moment… at 10pm because you forgot… can be a challenge. So I created a printable list of 50+ simple activity ideas so that you never stand there staring at your kids’ advent calendar questioning why you started one in the first place. Even though it really is your favourite tradition. Not that I’ve been there ;)

Grab it at the bottom of this post!

50+ Advent activity ideas! I am always stuck for ideas so this free printable is perfect to have on hand for the countdown to Christmas

I also want to show you this super fun backyard s’mores activity my sister-in-law helped me pull together one afternoon for my kiddos! It was totally not planned (as some of the best things aren’t) and used only things we have in the house. It started with hot chocolate and marshmallows then turned into s’mores with Oreos (the only cookies we had in our house) and the kids even chipped in their candy canes they got at the Santa Claus parade.

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

Not only did those kiddos look super cute drinking their hot chocolate with rosy red cheeks and noses, they had a ton of fun- so I put this as number one on my list of activity ideas… because you really should try it!

Okay… can I get the elephant out of the room, though? The elephant being the most giant marshmallows you’ve ever seen? Haha! They’re all we had and they’re totally not the best ones to roast over a tiny flame. When we’ve done this in the past (usually indoors, but yes we’re crazy and HAVE roasted marshmallows at home before), we would either use the mini marshmallows over tealights like this (can even use toothpicks for these tiny ones) OR we would use cans of gel fuel (they’re the tins catering companies use to warm chaffing dishes) for the regular sized marshmallows. You can see what that looks like in this post here.

LOVE these christmas mugs!

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

We also pulled out our new holiday mugs (they’re from my handlettered collection!) and gave the kids some hot chocolate with whip cream and sprinkles. That pillow’s from my holiday collection as well!

I love how easy it was to pull this together in a hurry (an extra set of hands made it go way quicker!) and it makes me happy to think that these will be some of the memories our kids will have of the holidays as they grow.

What are some of your favourite memories of the holidays growing up? Why not carry that on with your kids as an advent activity?

Want the printable list? GRAB IT HERE!

Backyard s'mores activity- perfect for an advent calendar activity- love the idea of doing them over candles too

Category: Entertain, PrintablesTag: Activity, Christmas, Holiday, Holiday Printables, Holidays, Kids, Party Food, Winter
Facebook0Tweet0Pin0LinkedIn0
Previous Post: « 13 RAD DIYS FOR HOLIDAYS- I love these picks! Beautiful DIY Christmas decorations 13 Rad Holiday DIYs
Next Post: DIY Hand Lettered Holiday Wrapping Paper This handlettered Kraft wrapping paper is amazing! Now I want that brush so I can make some to wrap my christmas gifts »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

WOOHOO!

Check your email to confirm!

(+ get your freebies + discounts)


Thanks for dropping by!
I’m Colleen: wife; mom to 4 wild ones; and DIY blogger behind Lemon Thistle. You can expect to see rad DIY, modern home decor, renovations, hand lettering and the occasional party on Lemon Thistle. Read More…

email facebook youtube instagram pinterest

Unless otherwise noted, all content and images are mine. Full posts may not be shared without express written consent. But I love when you share! Feel free to share, without altering, one image with proper credit and a link to the original post. All free printables are for personal use only.

Everyone loves proper credit- if you ever notice something improperly credited, please please shoot me an email and I’ll fix it lightning fast.

Find all my policies right here.
This includes my privacy policy, info on the GDRP compliance and information on affiliate links (Including Amazon Affiliates).

Visit Colleen Pastoor’s profile on Pinterest.

colleenpastoor

My house is never this clean
-
DIY + Home Decor Blogger
Mama of 4 👶🏼🧒🏼👦🏼👧🏼
Renovating our 🏠 the DIY way
🖤 Lettering & ☕️
-
✉️[email protected]

colleen pastoor/lemon thistle
What’s next on your project list? Spring is teas What’s next on your project list? Spring is teasing us so we’re starting on outdoor projects around here!
$100 play room makeover is DONE! This room has se $100 play room makeover is DONE! 
This room has seen so much change over the past year (swipe over to see it 2 weeks ago, 10 months ago and 1 year ago!). I took this last week to make over this space with mostly pieces we already had and I’m so so happy with the results! It’s a good reminder that some hard work, creativity and of course paint can work magic.
I’m sharing all the details (and that under stairs space!) on YouTube today (link in my stories!) and so is my friend @thediymommy (she made over her daughters bedroom for $100!).
Do you think dried grasses are only for fall decor Do you think dried grasses are only for fall decor? I used to think so, but these bunny tail grasses are too cute to put in a bin until next year. Plus the name sounds like spring decor to me ;) What do you think?

Ps. Today’s going to be a full day of playroom progress! I’ll share as much as I can in stories as I go :)
Paint is honestly magic.✨ I am so excited to sha Paint is honestly magic.✨
I am so excited to share this kitchen makeover with you guys! These are the same cabinets, just painted (countertops too!) And some updated finishes. I blogged the full before and after if you’d like to check it out!
Big thank you to @schaubhardware and @wagnerspraytech for partnering to make this space possible!
Ps. Most of the work done here was by the homeowners so if you’re thinking about taking on a makeover in your own home, maybe this is the encouragement you need 😘
As I’m sitting here staring at the dishes on the As I’m sitting here staring at the dishes on the counter while I try to focus on editing a video, I thought it’s as good of time as any to share this reminder 😘
I feel like I’ve lucked into the best job out th I feel like I’ve lucked into the best job out there, but then I’m also so aware of the amount of work it took to get here. Today I chatted with two of my blog friends in an Instagram live about DIY blogging as a job and answered some questions we get asked all the time about our work and the balance of it all! I saved it as an IGTV so you can watch it if you missed 🥰

Big thanks to @love_create_celebrate and @thediymommy for chatting with me today! One of the biggest perks of this job is all the talented ladies I’ve had the privilege of meeting and calling friends- these two are top of that list!
I’m having some fun in stories with a little giv I’m having some fun in stories with a little giveaway guessing game. I’d love if you played along!

I put up a question box and you can guess my next room makeover and the guesses are all over the place. Some are projects on my dream list, some are rooms I wish to even have in my house and some are spaces we’ve already tackled! Like our main bathroom ✨ these photos are from my spring home tour I shared over on the blog earlier this week. Hung up a pennant and called it decked for spring 🐣
Who is ready for spring?! I know we totally are- w Who is ready for spring?!
I know we totally are- we’ve been soaking up outside time this week with the kids home on spring break but over on the blog... it’s spring home tour time! I am sharing my home all ready for spring along with some amazing bloggers as part of the #seasonalsimplicity spring series!
You know I love a touch of DIY decor in every spac You know I love a touch of DIY decor in every space in my home, so I’m so excited to be partnering with @HGTVCanada to celebrate #$aveMyReno being back TONIGHT! #partner
 
My favourite thing about $ave My Reno is that they encourage home owners to get involved and DIY to maximize budget. They even help kids get involved- it’s everything Shane and I work towards in our own projects. You can catch it every Tuesday at 9/9:30PM EP on @HGTVCanada or catch up on episodes on STACKTV through @primevideoca!
 
PS. I made those tie dye pillows, similar to the ones featured in tonight’s episode! You can catch my stories to see the super speedy how-to :)
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Lemon Thistle · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme