Otherwise Known as Mum: Xmas is coming...

Which means it's time to start organising and putting together Christmas Calendars for my two little lads. As I said last year, we always had calendars when we were little, and they are for me one of the most memorable things about Christmas when I was young.

Finding 24 little presents is probably a whole lot easier these days, compared to back when Mum was making them, with $2 shops popping up in every group of shops. However, it is still a challenge finding age-appropriate gifts, things that aren't wasteful - toxic plastic toys that break within half an hour - and toys that will be enjoyed and played with more than once. I also look for packs that can be separated, as even at the $2 shop it's pretty easy to rack up a big bill when buying 40 or so little presents!

This year I decided to supplement the little toys with activities - for each I made a card or a ticket to represent what it is we are going to do. Because of this I had to think a little more carefully about what goes on what date, making sure that activities fall on weekends or non-kindy days.

Since I had a number of people ask last year what was in all the packages, I have taken photos and written a list - but don't tell the kids!

Top row is for Max, bottom for Finn. There are only a few days when they get different presents.

From left to right, the 1st - 24th Dec:

1. Picture of Father Christmas from here, along with cotton balls to stick on his beard each day.

2. Activity: Visit Father Christmas in the Enchanted Forest (for a Santa photo)
3. Chocolate coin
4. Farm animals
5. Bubble mixture
6. M: Homemade learn-to-make-pompoms kit/F: Money box (Finn McMissile)
7. Sheriff badges
8. 5x 10c coins to put in money boxes

9. Activity: Go out for ice cream ($2 taped to pic of ice cream)

10. Chocolate coin
11. Balloons
12. Farm animals
13. Candy cane
14. Stickers
15. Farm animals
16. Activity: Pic of goose - off to feed the ducks/geese/swans.
17: M: Paint a Santa ornament/F: bubble mixture