As a child, my mom would buy me and my brothers chocolate Advent calendars in anticipation of Christmas. Unfortunately, the tradition quickly died after one too many years of us eating all the chocolates far in advance of Christmas day. Stupid temptation.
But I’ve never forgotten that feeling of anticipation every time I opened the next window on the calendar, albeit empty. With Mikey now 4 years old, I decided this year would be a great time to start an Advent calendar tradition.
Here is my new Advent Calendar from Target. Although I wanted something more handmade, I’ve come to appreciate how sturdy it is. I realize now with how eager Mikey is to check the calendar that something made of paper would have never lasted.
I don’t want the Advent Calendar to turn into 24 more days of presents, so I really tried to put some thought into gifts with some sort of meaning. My sister in law, Stephanie, is very good at creating tradition in the home–especially around holidays. I decided to take a few of her traditions and incorporate them into the calendar. So, on the first day, December 1st, the boys received matching winter pajamas, something they would have received anyway. Obviously I couldn’t fit the pajamas in the calendar, so I just wrote a little note inside that read,
Dear Mikey and Nico,
You both warm our hearts so much. We hope these new pjs warm your nights just as much.
Love,
Mama & Daddy
The pjs were a hit with Mikey. The note? He wasn’t even paying attention to me while I read it to him and Nico. Sigh.
The next day we decided having them help us put up the tree would be a fun way to celebrate Advent.
Since I couldn’t stuff a fake tree in there, I put it some peanut butter cups and a little note detailing the night’s activities. We still aren’t done decorating, but it was the best time I’ve had putting up a tree.
The boys had a great time, too, but I think they liked the chocolate-as-breakfast concept even better.
The next day we did Christmas books I found in the dollar section at Target, and today we did chocolate again.
We lit the Advent Wreath last night. Advent actually started on Sunday (my birthday!), but since it was still November and Mikey was having trouble understanding why anything Christmas related would occur outside December, I decided to stick with a contemporary schedule. The lighting of the wreath and the scriptures to read are all very simple thanks to me stumbling onto the book, Celebrating Christmas: And the Beautiful Traditions of Advent. I like the book so much I actually added it to my bookstore under the holiday category.
The book supports a nonlitigurical schedule for Advent, but you can always take the schedule and apply it to the four Sundays before Christmas. Each day has some history on Christmas and Advent, a very brief prayer, and a Christmas themed story by Tolstoy, Hans Christian Anderson, and Pearl S. Buck, to name a few. I read the history lesson and prayer (each about a half page) while Mikey figeted in anticipation of lighting the wreath, Nico gorged himeself on rice, and the Mister, um, sat there. Next week I’m going to read aloud from a book on martyrs.
Those photo’s are hysterical, love the one of Nico licking his digits, that’s how I eat mt peanut butter cups! Not being able to stuff pajamas and a tree into your sturdy cal was also quite witty but the last quip was by far my favorite:)
What a great idea, I may just have to steal it for next year! I too have fond memories of advent calendars as a child, the paper notes/activities are a nice addition. We currently have one where you move the heart from day to day on the snowman but the notes are nicer. My son is learning about the advent wreath and made a wreath in pre-k with a “lit” candle (red construction paper) and instructions to “light” a candle each week. What a great Christmas you will have this year, with your children at such fun ages – all that excitement and how magical this time of the year is for the little ones. Your children are adorable!
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I think you made the right choice with the sturdy wooden one. This, though, is a neat and crafty idea-
http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/slinks/green-holiday-project-recycle-bin-advent-calendar-071019
Very cool, Becky!
What a sweet tradition! I love the imagination you are putting into the gifts.
Don’t you love how excited little ones get wondering what’s behind those little doors? Truly magical (and cute pj’s too!).
I love the picture where it looks like Nico is poking the last little bit of the chocolate into his little mouth! So cute! You know, I never even knew there was any kind of advent calendar until you started blogging about it-and some of the links in your blog. I am definitely going to do one next year! :) I can’t wait! I’m going to do one with different things to do rather than gifts (I think that was kelly and kelly’s idea…)
Cara, on Saturday they’re going to get “make popcorn and watch The Polar Express with mom and dad,” but we’re going to do activities, too. The Christmas pjs, books, and movie I put at the top so that they can enjoy them all Season long. After this week, they’ll be getting things like indoor picnics, trips to the museum, reading bible stories, making cookies with the grandparents, etc. Tonight the mister and I are going to a party, so their Advent treat is eating pizza with Grandma.
Jules, your kids are so cute, *LOVE* those pictures (and I want to squeezes Nico’s cheeks). I really like all the idea to create a tradition with the kiddos. Christmas can be a little bit weird here to me because I have “zero” family around, and in my mind “Holidays= family + kids.”
BTW, Happy belated birthday… I have been trying to catch up with the blogs.
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Valentina–I grew up with just my immediate family. Every one was, and still is, in Argentina. I think that is one of the reasons why tradition is so important to me.
Mikey is so cute. I want to put him in my pocket.
Jules, those pictures are too much! I just love little ones in jammies. You should keep those little notes and pictures to put in memory boxes for them when they get older. Good for you for teaching them the real meaning of Christmas. I wish more people did that.
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thank you for starting an advent tradition at your house….. I think God may be speaking to you. Listen well…………..
What a good tradition. And those pajamas! Ooh they look so cozy and your boys look like little snuggle bugs in them. Aww, I love this season.
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Oh I just love it!. We just started our own advent tradition and the similarities are hysterical… down to growing up with brothers and grabbing all the chocolates!
I love the photos. Thanks for sharing that beautiful book too– I need to see if I can get my hands on it.
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I love your advent wreath and calendar! I have one too – I’m going to take it’s picture tomorrow. Both your boys are beyond beautiful!
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