Our Advent Tradition

This year, while doing my Thanksgiving shopping, I snatched up one of those tiny-door cardboard advent calendars for Jack. I grew up with one of those (in addition to a lovely cloth one that hung from the door of a closet in the kitchen filled with candy and quarters (and sometimes even dollar bills!)) and I remember looking forward to the days when it was my turn to open it up and discover what little chocolate shape was hidden inside. And, I will admit it, I think the chocolates in those calendars are pretty darn tasty.

I showed the calendar to Jack last weekend when we were pulling out the Christmas decorations and after a brief pause, he quietly asked if we were still going to use his special Christmas box (made by his Popi) for a small gift each day too. At first I said probably not, but then, I started thinking more about it, and I realized how much I love that he loves that tradition. It feels like it was one of the first traditions that we started as our own family unit, so, quite obvisouly we should continue it, right?!

I struggle with the over-consumerism of Christmas. I love gift giving, but too much is just too much. So, the thought of a toy each day in his Christmas box did not appeal to me this year. Rather than toys, I decided to return to an idea that we did in 2014, which is to give Jack (and now Rigby) a Christmas book each day as we count down the days until Christmas Day! Jack has been requesting Christmas books each night for bedtime reading since we pulled out our stack last weekend, so I know that these new books will be a gift that will be loved time and time again. I've done a lot of research of people's favorites and here are some of the books that the boys already have and some that they will be receiving this year to add to our growing Christmas book collection: