Advent Calendars

So, thanks for being patient with a sell-out, guys. I totally got $60+ worth of holiday cards for the price of only $8 shipping. Sweet!

As thanks, and because I'm a little bit sorry for inspired by Scarlet and her Advent-y ignorance interest (it's such a good thing she has such a sense of humor), I thought I'd do an Advent post. Because, seriously, I apparently have to tell you guys EVERYthing (it's such a good thing BOTH of you have such a sense of humor).

These are ALL OVER the blogosphere right now. Homemade Advent calendars, a shift away from edible Advent calendars to calendars with activities (ideally, cheap or even free activities, probably even things your family planned to do anyway...shhhh! The little ones don't know THAT!). Growing up, I always had, and loved, the paperboard ones with the little shaped chocolates inside? Like this:

The last few years, I've done one with miniature ornaments for a little tabletop tree, but that really wasn't ALL that satisfying, given that I'm the adult with the BIG tree anyway. I didn't need an extra thing to decorate, and the Liliputian was too young to understand, care, or not swallow small objects.

THIS year, people, THIS year we are ALL ABOUT the Advent-y activities! (As a side note, I started this post first thing this morning after a conversation with Scarlet in which she asked me to share my Advent list with her/you. That was BEFORE the Nyquil that The Husband made me take this morning kicked in. I then passed out for...oh, a good eight hours, save a few 10-minute emergences for food and water. I'm so screwed tonight. But since waking up again at 4:00, I've discovered that Toddler Tamer and Ouiser have also made similar posts, so totally disregard all the smart-assery at the beginning of this post about being the only one who was apparently up on the Advent trends. Apparently, it's just Scarlet. I'm gonna get coal in my stocking. So, I'm not going to bother linking to lots of strangers lists or calendars.)

Here's our list! You'll notice some days are double-booked. That's kind of a back-up system since many of these activities are being tried with her for the first time and I sometimes felt I needed a spare idea in case of disaster. I mean, she's barely three with the attention span of a gnat. It's not like she remembers anything I tell her anyway. If all else fails, we'll bake cookies every single day for the neighbors.

1. bring out Christmas books/DVDs
2. holiday coloring pages
3. make popcorn wreath AND Christmas in Downtown Dickson
4. hang stockings AND Christmas books from library
5. make gingerbread man wreath
6. make jingle bell ponytail holders
7. make wrapping paper and wrap gifts
8. purchase present for charity/ship/donate
9. make dot garlands
10. get picture taken with Santa AND make candy cane reindeer
11. buy Christmas tree AND make twig & button snowflakes
12. decorate Christmas tree AND paint toenails Christmas colors
13. finish decorating house
14. write/send holiday cards
15. write letter to Santa/phone call?/video?
16. snowflake quesadillas
17. make pipe cleaner reindeer, Santas, and snowmen
18. make gingerbread house
19. make egg carton doorbells
20. make cookie puzzle
21. call relatives to sing
22. look at Christmas lights
23. holiday DVD with popcorn and cousins
    
24. bake cookies for Santa
25. CELEBRATE!

I'd love to see more of these from people I actually know! Anyone else have an Advent list to share?