Counting down to the countdown

I don’t know about you, but as much as I try to resist getting excited about Christmas too early, there are certain temptations I can’t resist like flipping through the pages of my cooking magazines and catalogues for holiday ideas and checking out the Christmas section of Pinterest. There are also some necessary evils of Christmas that I have to start in November or they just won’t get done in time, such as ordering my Christmas cards and planning my Advent Calendar activities. The advent calendar is of particular importance because it starts December 1st.

I bought an Advent Calendar from LL Bean the year my son was born. It is a train with little drawers in it. In each drawer I put a note with an activity on it. The activities might include driving around to look at Christmas lights, watching a Christmas movie, or reading a holiday themed story book at bed time.

Speaking of holiday books, I have acquired quite a collection over the past 4 years and I keep them tucked away until December 1stand then put them back into storage after the holidays, this keeps them fresh for my son and also helps us avoid reading Christmas stories in July. At his age the stories seem like new ones every year and as he gets older I think he will come to treasure the memories of each one. I expect we’ll have to edit the collection and add some new ones as he matures as well. This year I have decided to wrap them and incorporate them into the advent calendar activities. I think unwrapping them adds to the fun, even if they are the same books from last year.

If you are looking for advent Calendar ideas the Petit Cadeau has some great ones.

 

Do you do an advent calendar or are you into the Elf on a Shelf phenomenon? I’d love to hear your ideas.