If you remember, last Christmas I was in not quite chaos, but definitely out of sorts in my Christmas prep after a flooring and furniture delivery snafu. I took out my decorations late, put up only enough to get in the spirit, and let my advent calendar house stay put. This year, I want to use it in a couple ways. First I have to disclose that even my adult children love a good advent calendar. Who could resist opening the little windows and having a bit of molded chocolate to pop in your mouth? I usually buy a few when my sisters take our girls weekend road trip along the St Croix river valley. I like the reusable option more (but still will buy a chocolate one). Even though DD2 is 16, I think it will be fun to fill each drawer with something, letting her prolong her childhood just a bit longer.
The drawers have chalkboard materials, so I can write the number 1-24 for her, but then, repurpose for Christmas Eve at my sisters. My plan is to write each of the small children's names on a drawer, let them each find theirs, starting a new simple tradition. We never know for sure which nieces and nephews and their children will come, and doubtful with their extended family it will ever exceed 24, so being able to fill in the drawers once we know which children will be there is handy. If we do get more than 24, we can do a second round, having the oldest kids wait for round two. The drawer is about 1 1/2 inch wide, and three inches deep so items like match box cars, hair ribbons and barrettes, super balls, and other kitschy items would certainly fit, along with perhaps a small treat.
My challenge now will be to find items to put in 24 drawers for DD2, and items that are appropriate for a multi range of kiddos infant to young teen and start early enough so I can get things reasonably inexpensive. If I get stuck coming up with items for Christmas Eve, I'll just put treats in them, with hopefully the "fun" being finding their particular drawer to open. To you, do you think this will be a hit for my extended family? We do not do massive gift giving, but more just socialize and have novelty items for the kids. What would you put in the drawers for DD2 or my great nieces and nephews? Does anyone else have a reusable and fill able calendar of some sort?
I usually let the kids help pick out a few dollars worth of candy, and then we put very small things in each door. (We have a big wooden house with our last name painted on it. LOVE it.) You can open the door & find a Starburst, or a Hershey's kiss. There are also days where the boys like to jam in 10 or so pieces of candy, as a special surprise for themselves. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see it. I wish I had found this 30 years earlier.
DeleteIt's tucked in the attic, but let me see if I can find a picture from somewhere!
DeleteHa! I have been accused of being a Scrooge at Christmas...I try to separate the idea of Advent" from "Christmas" in this house. To that end, I detest the commercialism, hate shopping, and will not allow my ears to be soiled with that horrible Christmas music. (I only allow actual carols in the house, and during Advent, those are Advent Catols.) Kids don't get to ask for gifts! The very idea. (Besides, Santa knows what you want.) My daughter had to write a letter to Santa in school, and she asked how he and the reindeer were. That said, we LOVE Advent Each of my kids has a handmade, reusable Advent calendar. I made several, (elves, polar bears, pretty little Christmas wrapped cylinders) out of toilet paper tubes. They are gorgeous. I have made reindeer out of lunch bags, and decorated mini felt stockings. I fill these each morning with things like hair clips, gum, pencils, socks, and, of course, chocolate. I also buy each one a chocolate Advent calendar. And, the younger one ges to a Lego Advent Calendar. (It used to be an exercise in sharing among them all, but now they all tell him he can "open their days."
ReplyDeleteThe final night of Advent, the older ones help the younger ones fix Santa's snack. Screw cookies. By the time he gets to our island, he is starting, so he vets corned beef on dark rye, and a good dark beer.
Awesome article.
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