Hannah is at the age where she knows and remembers what is going on. It's now that I've really been trying to be on point with what I teach her and how I shape her holidays. With that being said we don't have an Advent Calendar. I never had one growing up but wanted to start the tradition for my kids.
Do you know how hard it is to find an Advent Calendar that does not cost a trillion dollars and does not look gaudy/tacky? It's hard, I can assure you. Every time I find one I like it is either out of stock or a million dollars. I am determined, so hopefully I can find an acceptable calendar shortly.
I did find this little number, but was saddened by the price:
Any suggestions would be helpful!
I grew up with both the chocolate in the cardboard advent calendar and the felt thing that moves around the different numbered pocket advent calendar but now that we're the parents we've done an Advent Jesse Tree (daily devotions and related paper ornament - I can email it to you if you're interested). We have also done "Countdown to Christmas" with the red and green construction paper rings that get torn off every night. We've added some small presents (we reuse the Christmas themed books and DVD's every year as well as little toys, candy and sometimes even a project to complete, like baking cupcakes). This year I'm thinking of writing little devotions about the promises of Jesus along with some service project type stuff (send a picture to a service man/woman oversees, mail a card to a grandparent...) as well as the little presents... again, let me know if you are interested and I'll send you what I come up with when I'm done. I try to get it all together by december 1st and keep the focus on Christ so that kids have something to look forward to other then commercialism. Hope that's not too overwhelming it's just been what I've been thinking about the past few days (it's crunch time for getting it all together!) and I'd love to help you out if any of that is helpful!
ReplyDeleteYou and me are on the same page Ellen! Definitely email me!
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of Santa and everything I saw was like a count down to Santa :( It was really, really hard to find a nativity or anything Christ-related in an Advent. Total bummer, can't wait to hear from you!
ooh! hope Ellen's suggestions work out! that'd be great! :)
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