Advent Goodies

I know I'm in danger of boring you with more weather stories, but I will confirm that we had two feet of snow in 24 hours, more on the way apparently. We have a couple of huge drifts in the front garden in which I almost lost the children earlier today (around 4ft)!

Anyway, back to the advent calendar....

I was a little concerned after I signed up for the holiday traditions swap that apart from the obvious ones, we didn't have any particular Christmas traditions in our family. Unless you count the fact that as children we had a stocking of smallish gifts in the morning but didn't open most of our presents until after the Queen's Speech (usually 3pm). Can you believe that?!! So the homemade advent calendar will be the start of a new Christmas tradition for our family and I will be sending all these details to Jen, my swap partner when we dig ourselves out of the snow!!

I wanted to avoid too many sweet things, so this year I've opted for the following little goodies in the pockets. (I realise there's less than 25, but we have a few holiday parties also so they will be considered the "gift" for that day). In no particular order they are:

CRAFTS - supplies to make:
Pomanders, paperchain garlands and snowflakes.

GIFTS
bath fizzes
Christmas book
felt mice
stickers
a letter from Santa
marbles

SWEET TREATS - things we can make together:
chocolate fondue
holiday rice crispie shapes
christmas cookies

ACTIVITIES - little tickets inside the pocket for:
a trip to our local indoor play area
iceskating
family swim
an experiment
buying and decorating the tree
staying up half an hour later than usual (or a lie in for a grown up!)
watching a christmas movie
toboganning
a visit to our favourite restaurant
a visit to the local Christmas concert

Grace, Blair and Bella Dia have also posted some great ideas.

I'd love to know about all your traditions too.

Comments

[driftwood]

you were right about the snow then!
love your traditions advent ideas, if I start NOW will I be organized for next advent?

[Leigh]

I LOVE THE PICTURE!! That is said with envy, fear and awe - snow does that to me!!!

Our big tradition was opening gifts early and then visiting as many relatives as possible. Of course, all of this was being done with a car full of toys, I could not bear to leave them at home. We ended up at my Granny's house to rest and eat and eat!

[Ali]

So jealous of your beautiful snow. And I bet you have a heap of traditions - it's just that they are so second-nature to you, that you don't realize how special they are.

[Eren]

Your advent calendar is spectacular....simple and gorgeous. Ours is still in progress as I am still on week three of making little envelopes. Ugh!

[Anne]

Last night 6 inches fell here - the kids are so excited. I wanted to write about traditions next week because I am still trying to find ours. We do celebrate St. Nicholas day by placing a little present, candy, nuts, and a tangerine (or orange) in our children's shoes tonight. We do use an Advent calendar that I've been putting candy, little toys or notes in.

[kirstencan]

Hi, Lina!
Came over for more advent ideas - you can never have too many - and got a chuckle from your photo - look at this one of mine:
http://kirstencan.typepad.com/kirstencan/2008/12/post-christmas.html

quite similar - but the less private one (kids faces) is better and more like yours - odd!
Hope you have a great holiday!

[lina]

Oh yes, that's funny! Any snow where you are yet? We had a tiny sprinkling on Monday but all gone now. Today we have origami paper in our advent calendar (well, we will have when the children get home from school).

Happy holidays to you too!

Lina x