Can you believe Christmas Eve is only TWO months from tomorrow?!? I’m not quite ready to pull out the decorations and start blaring Christmas carols just yet (I’m an after-Thanksgiving kind-of girl), I am thinking about how we will celebrate and continue to make traditions as a family this year…
Since I think Sam is really old enough to participate and “get” Advent now, I want to invest in a nice Advent calendar – something fun and interactive that we can also hang on our mantel all season to countdown to Christmas and keep us focused on Christ. So far, I’m loving these two:
Naptime Diaries Advent Calendar ($35.00)
The prints in this one are beautiful (thanks to Lindsay Letters), and it is super popular among most of the bloggers I read. It seems to be really nice quality and would look beautiful on my mantel. Plus, I like the simplicity of just reading a verse and hanging it each day instead of feeling like I have to be busy DOING all season.
BUT, I also love the Advent Activity Pack from Mom Diggity ($25.00).
Not only is this one less expensive than the other, but you also get a lot more… It comes with 40 activities in envelopes so you can open one each day, twine and clothes pins to hang completed cards, an 8×10 print, and a Bible reading plan using scripture and/or the Jesus Storybook Bible. I like that this is created specifically for children (age 2 – 10) and lists an actual activity for each day with ideas for how to serve others, be intentional about time with family, and just have fun throughout Advent. I think Sam would really enjoy this one, but it does seem like a lot of work – which I try to be so careful about this time of year. It also isn’t quite as cute as the ND ones.
What do you think? Which one would you choose? (I seriously need your help making the decision… Please comment with your choice!)
Do you have a favorite Advent calendar or tradition you and your family enjoy?
E
P.S. I know many of you are super crafty and creative and will make your own calendar, activity pack, etc. etc. That is NOT ME. #knowyourstrengths
I love the IDEA of that second one, but I’m not sure how realistic it is to have an activity for every day before Christmas. Whew. I can’t even get my laundry done. Though, maybe teaching how to be intentional to my kids is a beneficial thing? I don’t know. Right now the idea makes me tired 😉
I have the Naptime Dairies Advent calender and I LOVE it! It’s so so beautiful in person and I love that you can use the cards in so many different ways. I also have the devotion book that goes with it and I’m really excited to go through that this advent. It’s also nice that it has additional online materials so you can really do as much or as little as you want with it.
I love the idea of advent and being intentional about thinking about Jesus’ sacrifice before xmas. I also think that what you talk about every day with your child will stick with them the longest. I think having bible/devotional time nightly and memorizing bible verses is more important. I think you are showing Sam Jesus’s love daily by you example. Jennifer
I have a lot to say.
1) they are both BEAUTIFUL
2) I like the 2nd one more.. if you want Sam to be interested and engaged, then sometimes having an activity for him to do along with it will keep him interested and excited for the upcoming days.
3) I KNOW you.. and im feeling like you would feel overwhelmed with the ‘activity” a day- so does it explain what kinda things you would be doing? Are you singing a Christmas song, or making a Christmas wreath? I mean.. one is very attainable, one, not so much.
both match your house colors… so, there’s that.
Whooooaaaa that Naptime Diaries one is GORGEOUS!! I really want it now. My only question is- it says it’s the 2014 Advent Calendar…does that mean that the cards are dated and therefore next year (and every subsequent year) they would be outdated/inaccurate?? Or is it just 2014 in the sense that they release a new one every year, but there aren’t specific dates on them, so you could use the same one every year? And why am I asking you and not the people that make it?? 😉
I really like the 2nd one! I agree that with a toddler, keeping them engaged is huge, and with all the options that come with #2, you can pick and choose which y’all want to do each night. We LOVE our Jesus StoryTime Bible, so corresponding readings to go along with it is kind of what sold me! Also, you can always choose not to do the activity if you are feeling overwhelmed. Or only do them Thursday – Sunday, etc. You don’t have to feel guilty if you don’t do every activity!
I meant Storybook Bible. Oops!
We did the advent calendar with our 2 year old last year but he was a bit young. I think this year is a perfect age! We actually just hung 3 rows of twine, bought small rustic looking Christmas bags & hung with clothes pins. (seriously, so easy). We’ll use the same materials this year. We put in some serious ones, others were fun trinkets and some were experiences like watching a Christmas movie before bed or driving around to look at the lights.