Activities Advent Calendar

Rather than having an advent calendar that counts down the days to Christmas with candy or presents - have one that names a simple activity that you can do as a family.  Here's an example of one family's advent activity calendar on their blog 

Here is an example of how you can make your own advent calendar around Thanksgiving (with hand turkeys)

Here's another one made out of muffin tins.  Instructions are here.

Write on little cards 25 little activities you can do together, Here are some suggestions for the Lakes area:

Decorate the Christmas tree
Take a bag of cat or dog food to the Humane Society (pet cats if you can go home without one!)
make a candy cane reindeer instructions are here
Sledding at Horseshoe bend
Make cookies
deliver a plate of cookies to a shut in from the Special People list at church
Go to the amusement park to look at the ice
"Spray paint" snow with water bottles filled with water and a couple of drops of food coloring
Visit the Nature Center
go for a walk at Gull Point park

Suggest other ideas in comments!