And so it starts...,

The first day of the getting for M is here.

I made her advent calendar a few years back and have tried to make it a little different as she gets older.
The first time, she got a sticker every day to stick on a blank painted Christmas tree. Plus a healthy snack in each red bag.
The next step was to make a cloth tree wall hanging with coloured buttons as baubles, and she got a "tree decoration" in each bag to decorate the tree with. I try to put a couple of new decorations in each year (exchanging for less popular ones) to reflect her favourite things of this year - this year it will no doubt have to be something Camp Rock related- and each year you get a nostalgic walk down memory lane. The healthy snacks were replaced by Christmas themed chocolates when she was old enough(or I got soft).
The tree decoration basic principle is ongoing, but from last year, I started putting a "challenge" in each bag, which has to be done before the treat may be consumed. Nothing too teachery!! Haha. I noticed the crappy tasting yet expensive Christmas treats were being left towards the second half f December, so now I mix it up with her favourite sweets and snacks from the regular shops.
I was worried that it might be getting a bit old for her as she is almost 8, but excitement was still at fever pitch this morning, I'm relieved to say.
I'm glad she loves Christmas as much as me!
Thankfully, the start of the getting coincided with the start of the giving.
The red tree is the label we took of M's school's "Tree of Hope". You get the tag, then go out and buy a present suitable for the child described, wrap it, then lay it under the tree at school, to be given to one of the children who is unfortunate enough to be in hospital over Christmas.
I love this idea.
I hope you all have a wonderful festive season, whatever your traditions!