advent calenders and lights

I am in the process of digging out all my Christmas stuff.

I love how everything seems like new because you haven't seen it in so long.

I got excited when I found the Advent Calender.

I made it probably 3 years ago and it's starting to show it's age.

Every year I say that I will make a new one for next year, but it sneaks up on me too fast.

If you don't have an Advent Calender for this year, there is still time!

Well, 2 days. So work fast! :)  Making them or getting one is not the time consuming part. It's the filling it up that takes time and thought.  I would highly recommend filling up the whole thing and not go day by day because you will forget. Your kids will excitedly run to it in their cute little pajamas and bed head hair ready to open today's treasure and you will panic because you forgot to fill it. Then you will have to distract them with Cinnamon Toast Crunch or maybe even Scooby-Doo gummies until you can scrummage through the junk drawers or even the bottom of your purse for something, anything.....gum! :) So stock it up front.

That's what I will be working on tonight. And remember you don't have to do toys everyday.

We also do little notes like these:

"going to the library today'

'driving around to see Christmas lights'

'reading a new, special Christmas book'

'bake cookies'

'make gingerbread house'

Then there's candy!

I found this post that has lots of great ideas for Advent Calenders.

We made ours from large size match boxes and scrapbook supplies.

It's supposed to look like a tree.
So get busy on yours or just go buy one preloaded!

Anyway, for some reason this year the Christmas lights have been pain in my neck!

I put them on, I take them off, I put them back on, they blinked,
I don't like blinking, I like twinkling,

take them back off to use on the tree, buy some new,

they didn't work, take them off, the tree was  mess. 

Isn't he cute?? :)

I need new ribbon to make more bows.....ughh! I'm still not done.
It's been like 3 days!

Tanner helped. But eventually we were both poooped.

Isn't he SO Cute?!!

My mom was here so I made her help too.

Maddox made us smile.
We did not feel like smiling. By this point I had laid on
the floor near tears at least once.

How are your lights coming along?

Anywho,

I have some exciting news to share!!

Check back. :)

And one more just for kicks.

I'm dying from cuteness! :)

Have a great day!
These are our stories.

EDITED TO SAY:  As I was working on my Advent Calander I
also remembered that it is a good idea to make a list
of all the goodies for each day and keep it in a safe place.
That way if plans change you can do a quick
switch-a-roo without having to search
through all the drawers.  And one more thing,
I wanted to share Melissa's idea for a Countdown to Christmas.
Her blog, 320 Sycamore, is one of my favs. that I read everyday.