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Celebrating Advent

We have a couple of different Advent traditions in our home. One is from my childhood. I'm not sure exactly how young I was (5 or 6 maybe) when my mom made me this adorable advent calendar.

It's made with felt and rick-rack (I love rick-rack!). We take a tiny ornament from the pocket for each day and hang it on the tree. The ornaments from my childhood didn't last (they were just inexpensive little balls, as I remember) and so I replaced them with a new little wooden set from Hobby Lobby. The kiddos really enjoy this--they always remember it each morning before I do.

Our other tradition is a more recent one. A couple of years ago my husband's grandparents gave the kiddos a wonderful book entitled, appropriately, The Advent Book by Jack and Kathy Stockman.
There are 25 pages and each page has a door that you open--every door is different and unique! Inside each is a beautiful picture with a portion of the story of the birth of Christ, so that each day you get a little more of the story (we review each door up to the current day's door every night at bedtime). By the end of the month the kiddos can pretty much quote the story along with me as I read. I love that! They just adore this book! It's been one of the best gifts we've ever been given. Do you have any special Advent traditions in your family? I'd love to hear about them~leave me a comment!

Comments

Wow..that is so pretty and so detailed..love it!!!
-sandy toes
Betsy Brock said…
Gorgeous illustrations in that book! I can see why you love it! It is really fun when the little ones can say a story along with you...I remember that with our Taylor. Traditions are the neatest things...the kids will remember them always!
Carla said…
I love your little tree! And the book is beautiful.
SmilingSally said…
Oh, I think your family is so fortunate to have a mom like you teaching them to celebrate the Reason for the season! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for this post. I have been looking for an appropriate Advent book to use with my boys. I have a children's plastic nativity I'd like to use in conjunction with The Story. I'll be looking for that book!
jill said…
Advent was always a special time as our children were growing up. We would light the advent wreath weekly and take a link off the paper chain they had made each day. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!
Anonymous said…
We are usually a little more on the traditional side, but this year my son (Lego Nut) got a Lego countdown to Christmas thing. Well, he thinks it's the most amazing thing ever!
-Kim

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