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Advent Calendars

I have completed--in time!!--the Advent Calendars for Kristen and Dane. I started this last year. Well, no. Actually, I had given Kristen an Advent Calendar a couple of years ago--one of those with a chocolate treat behind each door--but their dog, Chopper, ate the whole thing by the second day of December. (Chocolate, foil wrap, paper calendar, the WHOLE thing)

Last year I made two banners with pockets and button hangers and ribbon ties and tucked or fastened twenty-four little gifts for both the kids. I was thinking it would teach counting skills and patience as well as ease some of the "I can't wait" tension. It was pretty successful, I think. I also think that Amy and Marty (my daughter and her husband ) got as much of a kick out of it as the kids did. Anyway, it was fun to do, and they looked forward to going downstairs each morning and finding the date so they could get that day's treat. I refilled them this year. Crayons, pencils, notepads, toy dinosaurs or funky jewelry, spare change for their piggy banks, a candy cane, a chocolate kiss, a snack bag of microwave popcorn--I’ve collected those kinds of things and little boxes to put them in over the past couple of months. Maybe it’s a bit over the top. My son still remembers how excited he was to open a door on the Advent Calendar and find a Christmas related picture. Probably Kristen and Dane would not be content with a picture at this point. The fun of grand parenting (and just a little extra time!).
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