Countdown

 

Today was a big day in the holiday season, as you well know.  The first of December means the beginning of the countdown - and the start of advent calendars.  Along with the essential chocolate calendar from the store, we always use a homemade felt tree, with special handmade ornaments. 

I made this one, with my mom, while we were waiting (impatiently) for Katie's arrival in November 1997.  It is inspired by the one we used when I was a child.  My sister & I would take turns putting the ornaments on the tree, and she would always do the odd numbers, because her birthday is on the 23rd.  I was infuriated, every year, by the unfairness of it all - obviously, whoever did the odds got one extra day!  Silly to remember, and to watch my children go through the same tradition.

Now, the poor kids really have to share the numbers around - Gwenyth did the honours tonight, and Brian has dibs on tomorrow.  Katie will have to take her turn on the third, and they're all glad Liam's too young to take his share of the numbers. 

It's a lot of fun to watch the tree fill up with ornaments as the days go by, and feel the anticipation mount as we go along - it's almost Christmas!  (Oh, my goodness, I have so much to do!!)

Comments

[Sheri]

My kids grabbed their chocolate advent calendars as soon as they got up this morning. That's all I've heard for almost two weeks now! "When do we start our calendars?"

[marianne]

That's absolutely wonderful, Charity! Liam will be ready next year to join in on the good times with the calendar. Sorry if this goes twice...

[colleen]

I just found out they have LEGO Advent calendars! so much fun

[Patty]

My goodness, I've been away from you for a week! I can't wait to see the tree fill up! Such fun with all the kids - we only child families do miss out on that playing off each other stuff! (We do have fun though!)

[Julie]

What a cool calendar - I love the idea of an ornament a day! I'll have to pass this idea along to Samm and maybe she'll like to do it with Clover next year.

[Punkin]

Thanks for the encouraging comment on my sweater. I hope you find some time to rest and relax during the holidays. I like your Advent calendar. It reminds me of what the anticipation feels like as a child and how exciting it is to mark the days.

[stefaneener]

What a nice idea. Some day I'm going to knit up 100 tiny ornaments (hahahahahaha) so each child can get one out of an advent calendar and decorate a little tree. We're going with chocolate ones from Trader Joe's but it's not really the same. Maybe I could knit one ornament for all four children and put four pieces of candy in instead. . .

Or maybe I'll get them to make felt ornaments with me over next summer or something. In our free time.
It's still a really inspiring idea. Thanks.

[Hasbu]

That's a great idea! I should do that next year!

[claudia]

Charity, you won my giveaway! Please send me an email with your snail adress so I can send you the gift. Cheers.

[Carrie K]

What a great tradition to carry on with your children. (The filling of the Advent calendar, not the unfairness of the odd #. :)

[angie Cox]

That is beautiful. My Mum had an advent apron with a pocket for each day with a sweet in. I really should make one in her honour and I know Jeff and Holly would love it .

[angie Cox]

That is beautiful. My Mum had an advent apron with a pocket for each day with a sweet in. I really should make one in her honour and I know Jeff and Holly would love it .

[KnitPastis]

That's a really cool calender you made. One that the kiddos are having fun with no doubt!

[Tara]

These are wonderful, and will last for ages.

Mom made one in the mid-eighties. She still uses it every year, and the second generation is enjoying it now. You can't tell the age to look at, either.

Enjoy many years with this!