Advent Ideas

In the last seven years, I've learned that Germans take advent to a whole new level. It's not just about chocolate (although there is that), parents find different ways to treat their children daily in December.

Last year we found a 24-piece jigsaw, which was fun but difficult for her to understand, and four little toys for the weekly one.

This year we've got Playmobil mad for Christmas and I'm planning to break up one of her sets into 24 pieces. I can't wait to see her face.

I'll be putting toys for both kids in the weekly one too. I'm looking forward to cracking on with that next week although my head is spinning at how fast the days are going right now!

Advent!

 For obvious reasons we were a little late setting up for Advent this year but yesterday, I finally got around to it. Like last year Isabella has a daily and weekly calendars.

She also has a chocolate one from family.

Here in Germany it's tradition to put something other than chocolate in there which I love. (Although she will be disappointed by the time January gets here...) Since she's old enough to get it, I found her a 24-piece jigsaw. Some pieces barely fit but she's so excited already.

For the weekly one I got her a couple of little figures, a car and a mini-torch. Can't wait to see her face when she opens them.

Advent Preparation

Getting ready for baby number two has brought some of my festive season preparations forward and I'm all ready for Advent this year.

Advent is a much bigger deal here and it starts next week! Isabella has two calendars - this daily one that I made last year, and a weekly one.

She was a bit young for the whole experience last year but she's already picking up on prearations this time. As always, we're trying to combine traditions and part of that is moving the focus off chocolate. In her daily calendar, Isabella will be getting one chocolate and one piece from a 24-piece BieneMaya jigsaw.

For her weekly one, I've rounded up four small gifts - a torch, figures, a car. I'm so looking forward to her opening them!

Just Christmas to finish sorting now!

Christmas Here...

So on Saturday we put the tree up and I can't believe how great it looks.  It changes the whole room and with the candles we've had going makes the place so cozy!  

In the corner of the picture, you can see the amazing advent calendar that Nico bought me.  Instead of chocolate this year, there's a little bauble shaped card for each day and on one side there is part of the story and on the other side there is a picture of something from the story.  It continues every day - I look forward to it every day.