Christmas countdowns

I am a huge fan of Christmas with a toddler. It has been so fun to watch Everett get excited about every new thing he is experiencing. The night we hung our stockings, he couldn't stop looking at them. Then, when we were getting him ready for bed, he ran back out to the front room. Dallin followed and as soon as he got there, Everett just pointed to the stockings and said, "Wooooow." He did a similar thing with the lights and asks for us to turn on the lights every day.

My favorite part of Christmas is our countdowns. Growing up, we always had two. The first one in the picture is a copy of one of the ones we used, made by my mom! Thanks, Mom! Mary and Joseph make their way to the Bethlehem, which is at the top. When they get there on Christmas day, you get to add baby Jesus. It's a cute way to remember the Christmas story every day.

Next to that countdown is my makeshift one. There are 24 squares, each of which has an activity for that day. It has included hanging up stockings, putting up lights, putting up our tree, drinking hot chocolate, eating cookies, and having a dance party to Christmas carols. I love doing a small Christmas activity every day. It makes the whole month that much more exciting! I'm glad Everett is so young, because some days we make up the countdown on the spot, often for things we have already done today. "Today is a pizza party! Because we ate pizza for dinner already!" I'm not super prepared, but hopefully as we continue this tradition it'll get easier. But, Christmas Eve is the exact same thing it always was for us growing up! Let's just hope I have his pajamas sewn in time.