Christmas Countdown

Apparently, I have a Christmas countdown obsession. I was going around the house the other day and didn't realize how many items I have to countdown the days before Christmas. Starting December 1st, we set up all our countdowns and (try to) do them every day. It is fun to see the days getting closer as the numbers get less and less (or in some cases, more,- just to make it confusing for the kids, ya know). Anyway, here's our countdowns:

I got this one from Hallmark several years ago. It's really cute. You put a magnetic ornament on the tree each day and the others are stored in the pocket at the bottom of the tree. The star also plays music when you squeeze it (Luke loves this). Katelyn uses it for recognizing and sorting numbers to find the ornament of the day. Some ornaments have a message to read on them too which Zach likes to do.
This next one is my favorite countdown because we got it on our honeymoon (Hawaii!) and it is the one I used to countdown to our first Christmas together. (Aww...). You switch out the little wooden ornaments to make the correct number of days left.
Okay, the next one I got as a gift last year and it is cute too. It's another one the kids like to do because it is soft and squishy with no breakable parts. I guess it is sorta more like a count"up" since the numbers get bigger or maybe it's not even really a countdown and in my madness, I just think of it as such. Hmmmm.
So then we also do a paper chain countdown (hanging on Zach's bedroom window blind) and in years past we've done an Advent calendar (the ones with chocolate in the doors) but we didn't get one this year because I'm not sure, but I think the kids just wanted the chocolate. (;

Speaking of Advent, I have been thinking of some new activities to do as a family during this time. I really want to get this book by Lisa Whelchel. I've heard alot about it. I like the idea of learning the true meaning of the Christmas symbols and how they relate to Jesus. I also have some of those books like The Legend of the Candy Cane and The Legend of the Christmas Tree that I think will be neat for the kids.

So anyway, just thought I'd post some random thoughts about our activities leading up to Christmas. I have a few ideas for crafts and goodies so I'll post about those when we do them!