So, I decided to look for a less expensive option and found a ton of choices online at Target with free shipping. I chose four very different calendars and wrapped them up putting no names on the gifts. We had to open them early, however, since we would be in Washington, DC on the 30th.
First of all, the kids couldn't believe there were four packages instead of one. Then, I let them choose which one they wanted to open.
I told them that the reason we decided to give them these calendars was so that when they left home, they would each have their own Advent calendars to take with them and start their own family traditions. Of course, we have one person pouting over the calendar he ended up with!
On the fly, Greg decided that we should rewrap these every year and open them in the same way on the 1st Sunday in Advent. So each child could potentially have a different Advent calendar each year. Then, the first person to leave home (not going to college on our dime - but for good) will get to choose which Advent calendar to take with him/her. That sounds like a neat idea to me!
7 comments:
LOVE the idea, Linda! We went ahead with the LEGO advent calendar again this year, but I'll have to think about your idea for next year! What a great keepsake!
What do you put in all of the squares?
Linda - this is SO funny. I got the idea of advent Sunday gifts last year from you. This year, I found the cutest little advent calendar at Target....I blogged about it here http://not2many.blogspot.com/2008/11/shhh.html I haven't figured out what I'm going to do about the little boxes...but something will inspire me by the 1st. LOL I didn't think to get one for each child...but that would have been out of my budget this year anyway.....good idea.
Cynthia, what to put in the boxes is the tough thing as the boxes are pretty small! This year all the boxes except for 2 have candy, Hershey's kisses, Reese's Jingle Bells, mini candy canes,and Hershey's mini mint things. I had to break some of these in half even! I filled the box of the 16th (which is my birthday) with a slip of paper saying it was worth one song on iTunes. And I put a $1 in the 25th box. Greg suggested a McDonald's $1 gift certificate, but I don't think they make those anymore. I think they only have the cards. Anything you could put on a slip of paper and fold up would work, but I was in a rush because of our trip and choose the easy way out - candy!
Great idea, I wish I'd thought of this before Nov. 29, lol. I can't wait to see what you'll be doing in DC! We went for our first time over 4th of July, and we can't wait to go back again SOON!
Great - great(!!!) idea & one I will have to remember for next year. I took the idea of a Sunday gift as well & will add that to this year's celebration. BTW - our McD's has a sign saying you can still buy paper $1 gift certs - you might just ask if you wanted to add something. LOVE the idea of adding some money to them - my boys would love that... :-)
Thanks for that info, Lisa. I will check into it when we get home.
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