Advent Calendar Time

Several years back, when Jacob and Faith were still little, my mother passed my childhood advent calendar down to me. I love this advent calendar--I have great childhood memories of it. My mom is not crafty in a sewing or knitting kind of way (she's more into flower arranging and table decorating), but she did make this calendar from a kit. My understanding is that it came with the appliques already done and she added the embroidery and sewed on the little rings and the backing. Then every year she would tie on little gifts or candies for me and my brothers. Sometimes it was very simple--just miniature candy canes or individual white Lifesavers, and sometimes it was more elaborate with little gifts. I remember just loving it.
This year I'm in a state of transition with how I want to do the advent calendar. I actually started collecting little gifts almost a year ago, when I was still on maternity leave with Rainer. When I checked my box to see what I had, I found that I already had almost everything I needed. Next year I want to transition more to some of the ideas given here, like "tickets" to go see the Christmas lights, drink hot cocoa by the fire, that sort of thing. So they won't expect a gift every day. Also next year, I'm phasing out the teenagers. Seems like a good time, since Jacob is graduating this year.
This year I'm using what I have, but I also collected a few things that are a bit different and cheaper. Faith is getting a perfume sample from a magazine, a lotion sample, and an Ann Patchett essay on self-reliance, also from a magazine. I really wanted to make her a Heidi headband too, from Bend the Rules Sewing, but crafting time around here is still so elusive. More hand crafted stuff is also a good idea for future in the quest to get away from plastic trinkets.

Another great resouce for Advent ideas is the Kiddley site. Tons of ideas for little gifts and for Advent calendar crafts. Check it out.

It's Friday. I'm a little bit tired, so I'm glad. When I shifted to getting up early to do my blog posts (4;30 or so) I was trying to get to bed pretty early too. But lately that part has been slipping. Not that I expect to catch up on sleep over the weekend, not with the little boys around, but at least I can "sleep in" til 6:30! Happy weekend!