DIY: Advent Calendar (The First of December)

IC's advent's calendar

And now, the day that the kids have been waiting for -- the first day of December.

Now they could check what's the surprise in their Advent's Calendar.

IC's been wanting to check them out ever since I finished working on their calendars last week. But they contented themselves with simply counting, checking the numbers and feeling what's inside.

And I have to stop myself from worrying if those cones and socks would hold until the 24th of December! I am crossing my fingers :D

I really dont have enough time to work on the advents calendar this time so I made it a little easier by buying those store bought ones and creating a new 'home' for them.

Here's how I created the 'new' advent's calendars:
1. Bought two table cloths with Christmas themes and one advent's calendar with those socks (on photo).
2. Separated the socks (12 each for each advent calendar) and created 24 cones using gift wrappers.
3. Sewed those socks and cones on the table cloths.
4. Unwrapped those store bought advent#s calendars ( I have two packs) and proceeded to enfold them in different scraps of cloths.
5. Tied them all up with ribbons.
6. Clipped on the numbers.

IC decided she wanted some fir twigs on her cones and socks while MC wanted no frills on her.

MC's calendar, partly finished

The First Sunday of Advent

It has been a tradition that we light the first candle in our Advent's wreath during breakfast on the first Sunday of Advent.

This is to remember that Christmas is not only about giving gifts and having a party but also because Christ is born. And more importantly when the kids see this candle being lighted, they are always reminded that Christmas is not just waiting for their Advents calendar to be opened and their gifts to be presented but also, Christmas is for sharing.

That was why after breakfast, we headed off to opa's (grandpa) house to be mesmerized by his effort to create a festive atmosphere despite having to do it alone. He said, he tried to preserve oma's (grandma) memories by decorating according to her taste. We had to share this Sunday with him, too.

And I made that Advent wreath myself. I used the decors from the old wreaths to create a 'new' Advent wreath. I simply added fresh fir needles and new candles.
Not to forget, we've also found the fresh mistle twigs :D

Wikipedia states that Advent is:

Advent (from the Latin word advenio, meaning "to come", "the coming of Christ our saviour") is a holy season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, also known outside the Church as the season of Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western Christian year and commences on Advent Sunday.

No to Nintendo this Christmas

MC wants a nintendo this Christmas.

And my answer is, as always, a big no.

She's been asking for one since the start of this year.

But I refuse to even consider buying one. And I wont change my mind in the near future, sorry.

Why would she need one? She said because almost everybody she knows have one. I know that nintendo is the 'in' thing for kids.

And I told her that she's special. Because she dont have one. And wont have use of one in the near future. I told her she would have more fun playing with her toys and playing with her sister and her friends than being alone in a cold corner busy tapping a small stick into a small mini tv-like game.

Why wont I not give her one? Because of stories I heard. And things I observed.

Of kids getting so much fixated in one that they would ignore even their bestfriends when they come over to play. Of kids being asked to take care of things at home and yet wont get anything done because of nintendo. Of kids forgetting their own things in some places just because they were busy with nintendo in their hands. Of kids' grades suffering because of nintendo. Of kids alone and yet seemingly happy with their nintendos as company.

I dont think having a nintendo is healthy; but that is my opinion. I know there are ways to break down the fixation with nintendo. But my way of doing it is avoidance.

Thus, I refuse to buy a nintendo for MC.

I said, maybe, I would consider buying one when she could already read, write and do her math. But that's still a maybe. And maybe is still a no.

P.S. As I was finishing this post, MC approached me with a brochure of game consoles. And she told me, 'mama, I am going to wait until I am in high school for my nintendo.'