advent calendar

[fan of the TTA]

who has them during the countdown to christmas, and if you do what sort?

i have galaxy this year

 

[shortbun]

I've made them, bought complicated cool ones and this year we have a very simple chocolate one from Trader Joes.

 

[beattyfamily]

I've been doing a Chocolate Advent calendar for each of my kids for years.

It's a tradition.

 

[Savsmommy]

I was brought up doing them every year and now I do them with my kids. This year we have a 3D little church. You open each window and there is a picture of an animal holding something Christmasy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We do the chocolate advent calendar, but I have been sick and haven't gotten one this year.

 

[merrily]

We have ones that I made out of felt (got the idea years ago from Family Fun). Each day has a pocket and each pocket holds a treat. Usually it is a small piece of candy (until recently raided out of their trick or treat loot) or a little toy or gadget. When they were little it would be things like matchbox cars or little toys with Christmas themes. Now they get mostly candy, a few $1 bills, an occasional movie ticket, key chain. On the 24th they always get Christmas pjs (well now just the lounging pants). We've been doing this since my oldest (now almost 17) was about 3. They would be very disappointed if I stopped doing it.

When I was a kid we all had a Christmas countdown, also made of felt. There were 24 mini candycanes tied to it with green yarn. There was a bell at the bottom and a poem that said it would be Christmas by the time you reached the bell. I loved that thing and we were always counting how many candycanes were left because we couldn't wait for Christmas!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I've had a fabric Noah's ark themed one for about 10 years. I hang it on the wall in the kitchen. Each pocket holds an animal, then at the end a cloud, rainbow, and 2 stars. Each day one kid puts an animal up on the main part (velcro squares) by the embroidered ark. They fight over who gets to be last because they want to put up the star on Christmas eve--and this is a 16, 13 and 10 year old at this point. Luckily 24 is divided by 3!
Robin M.

 

[Disnydad]

We have a Disney one we bought from the online Disney store about 10 years ago.

 

[Kitty 34]

I've always hung a cloth one that has little pockets that I fill with chocolates. There's a little mouse (cloth of course) that you put in the pocket once you take the goodies out. My boys always loved this calendar!

 

[Phedre]

I buy a new one every year ... it's always in the Hallmark aisle of stores. It's just got little flaps you open for every day. I like to find the kind that has a rhyme in it. If the advent calender doesn't rhyme, it's a failed calendar for me. I need my silly rhymes!

 

[All American]

We have a felt snowman one. Each day you move a wooden snowflake to the appropriate mitten. It's my 4-year-old's job to move the snowflake, and she takes it VERY seriously. As for me, each day the snowflake moves closer to "24" and I panic. "What?! How many days left?!"

 

[slk537]

We have a tree with ornaments that my dad made when I was little that DS uses now. And this year I bought a Mickey and Minnie magnetic one from SuperTarget...DS moves a big Mickey head with a circle in it over the numbers every day. We keep it on the fridge and it adds a nice Christmas touch to the kitchen

 

[Stitchfans]

Don't remember when I started the chocolate one with DDs but the tradition still lives on. DD14 asked for one this year so she has it.

 

[puffkin]

We just bought one of the cheap chocolate ones at Walmart. DS is only 2 1/2 and we weren't sure if he would "get" it yet this year. He really enjoys opening it every mornign and getting his little chocolate. I saw some really cute wooden ones at Target last night that have little doors that you open. I am going to keep an eye on them and see if they go on sale and pick one up for next christmas. I can then fill it with better candies for him.