We're On The Christmas Countdown

Everyone seems to be on some sort of "countdown for Christmas".  If you are  Christians, as we are, you are celebrating the Advent season and counting the days until the birthday of Jesus.  ~ or ~  You may be counting down the days until Santa Claus arrives with a bag full of goodies for you. ~ or ~  You could be counting down the days until you get to see family for the holiday.  ~ or ~ ....if you are doing the bah-humbug thing, you're probably counting the days until all this insanity is over with for another year!!

Mackenzie and Zoey, otherwise known as the "Grands,"  are counting down the days to Christmas with the Christmas Box I gave each of them.

(click on photos for a larger view)

I bought the first box for Mackenzie when she was but an infant.  I got it through the L.L. Bean catalog.  I didn't make use of it until her second Christmas, when she was almost 16 months old.  Then when Zoey arrived in 2005, I was able to buy a second box through L.L. Bean so she could have a matching one like her big sister.  The box drawers, inside the large doors, are small and finding something to fit inside is a bit of a challenge.  I manage to find small trinkets and candy for the majority of the numbered boxes.  I wrap each item in tissue and then insert them in the small, numbered drawers.

Sometimes, I find something too large to fit inside the drawers.  In those cases I wrap the item in Christmas paper and hide the gift in their house.  Then I put a slip of paper inside the drawer with a hint as to where to find the gift.  Towards the end of their "Christmas Countdown" I like to get books, or T-shirts, or ornaments for them.  These have to be wrapped and hidden someplace else.

Each evening after the Grands have their dinner, Stephanie allows them to open the box for that date.  I'm sure all sorts of merriment ensues....we're just not there to see (or hear) it.  It's better that way.

Until next time.....so long for now!