So what have you got ready for December 1st (for your dc) ?

[FESTIVEFRANNY]

I have bought new Christmas bedding to surprise the dc with on the 1st.

I don't do a Christmas hamper on the 1st like many do but I do bring down the box filled with Christmas books and Christmas DVDS.

I have just placed an order for all the Christmas crafts we do on the December weekends, so should be all set to go on the 1st!

What do you do?

Forget to mention earlier - this year I have also introduced my DC to "Pre-Advent" which some of you, who did not get the memo, are still calling November shakes head in disbelief.

Pre-Advent allows for more spending on Christmas themed tat treasures and gets the DC even more overly excited for Christmas Day - now that's what I call a win win situation.

You were warned

That snow spray suits my Pre-Advent look perfectly

forgot to add - sorry for being smaltzy - I have an advent gratitude challenge ready for the family.
30 random acts of kindness to do during december.

these are ours and yes some of them have been copied from an American site so the spelling is a bit ropey!

1. Find someone that is homeless and deliver them a warm blanket.
2. Mums rule. Find one and lighten her load.
3. Take a moment to serve those who serve for a living. Drop off gift cards or coffee for the leaders of your favourite local ministries.
4. Call someone you love just to listen and catch up.
5. Mail an actual handwritten letter. Or two.
6. Host a baking party for moms and kids and encourage everyone to use their goodies to “light up” the season for others once they depart.
7. Give the gift of rest. Watch the kids for your most sleep-deprived friend.
8. Pick a favorite retailer or restaurant. Have your kids write “why I love [blank]” and deliver the note up to the manager.
9. Have the kids spend time writing ten reasons why they love EACH grandparent.
10. Send a text message to 20 people with silly face and a funny message to make them smile.
11. Sneak attack Daddy’s office and/or car, armed with special notes or a sweet treat. Make sure the people he works with know that he’s the best dad in the world.
12. Tell one tired mom that she is enough just as she is. That she’s great at what she does.
13. Host a Christmas Party
14. Visit with elderly neighbours in November and ask how you can help make their Christmas special.
15. Host a birthday party for Jesus as a playdate for the neighbourhood.
16. If you are able, be an angel to one struggling family. Sneak a HUGE gift card into their mailbox to answer prayers for Christmas needs. Give what you can.
17. Hide sweet notes in Daddy’s brief case or his car.
18. Babysit for a friend so she can run errands or finish her holiday shopping.
19. Tape a big sign to the top of your trash can with a little treat for your garbage collector.
20. Think of unique ways to send love to teachers of every age.
21. When you make dinner for your family one night, make double. Then share that extra meal with another family that could use the help.
22. Pass out treats to your neighbours.
23. When checking out at the grocery store, ask your cashier what his or her favorite candy is. Buy one for them!
24. Clean out your closets and take a bag full of toys and clothes to donate.
25. If you live in a colder climate, take gently worn and outgrown coats to a homeless shelter.
26. Leave a note and treat for your mail carrier.
27. Swing by your dentist or doctor’s offices with treats for the whole team.
28. Take a few minutes to hold the door for everyone that walks into a restaurant or office. Teach your kiddos what to say. You’ll get a reaction!
29. Take a basket of treats for those that clean your church or your children’s school.
30. Think of someone overworked at the holidays and make their day brighter

Oh Never how sweet!

Thanks Franny, will check those out.

Doit I think sometimes just doing less is more.....I am sure your xmas will be wonderful, but you dont have to do all that for it to be special,
Us mums get put on enough as it is, without having to add so much extra to our load. Your lot I am sure will have just as nice a time with a relaxed and happy, Mom. x

Ummm.... I've got ds an advent calendar... Surely that's enough...

For your info doitnicely I used to have a shit time at Christmas so I like to spread the festive love for my children.

Dec 1st.advent calendar.
Job done
Wasn't aware that dec 1st required anything else really.

They don't need anything demented - not even the calenders

Absolutely agree - don't "need" anything
Each family creates their own traditions and bollocks to what anyone else does

Go away with your Pre Advent, Doitnicely

Just advent calendar here, Lego and Playmobil. No elf (I'm not a fan either).

Nothing!

They'll get an advent calendar (possibly snowman ones from thorntons) on the first though.

We will be reading a nativity story book and putting special nativity tree decorations on - these will appear when we decorate the tree (and we are considering the idea of giving the DCs their own little tree in their room) but that won't be as early as the first! More likely around the time they break up from school

And our advent calendar is one where you just open the windows and - shock,horror - don't get any chocolate or rewards.
Are my children deprived?

Oh dear, Thread Dementor alert.

I think there was a thread a while ago where lots of people who put lots of effort in at xmas did have a pretty shit time themselves when they were little .

You do usually get out what you put in.

I think its wonderful that people have started to mark the 1st of the month. Its an odd time with the build up, not really knowing what to do.

I think its great to start it off with some xmassy duvets, a calendar, some crafts, books, films, to set the tone......and begin the descent....

Its been to odd and jumbled in our house before. I am not sure this year if we will do a hamper on the 1st but its a great idea.

I've also had those ones demented.

But last year the lady who runs the local shop gave dd's chocolate ones and ruined them forever . They have never been so exicited for a cheap piece of chocolate.

This year I have caved and got them chocolate ones, they still have a Christmassy scene though. I ignored the requests for a Hello Kitty one

No dementedma, your children aren't deprived.
You are doing what you would like with your family.
I'm not judging you and it's not a competition.
Those of us who get excited about Christmas like to discuss it that's all

Neverknowingly I love your idea :)
Thank you!

FestiveFranny
The slippery slope - before you know it they willbebon one direction calendars!

I feel awful now, they get chocolate advent calendar (cause I never did )

and thats it

I have rooted through the cupboard, and found the Christmas books, which were inherited from various relatives, and most importantly, the Christmas music. I loooove my Christmas music. I am planning to take the DC to choose advent calendars this weekend.

I am going to try and get them to write letters to Father Christmas on the 1st - the dds are playing their cards very close to their chests this year, and Santa needs to know the score by the 5th, when her boss says she can take a day's flexi leave.

Our christmas fairy comes out on the first better then a creepy elf, and the wooden advent calendar and chocolate ones.

the decorations may come out on the first to, at least the tree.

GiantSnailFeelers
Please don't feel awful - you make your own Christmas experience with your child (ren)
Do whatever you would like to do that makes you happy too!
Mine don't get chocolate in their advent calendars (big meany alert too!
I like planning in November and our Christmas activities start on 1st December.

Gobbolino I'm one of those who had shit Christmases. Not as shit as some (including DH) mind you. But I do make a big effort - not in a pressuring-myself-to-be-perfect way, but I love the planning and making lists and this year I've started doing crafty stuff too which I'm really excited about. It's partly because we want our children to experience the magic we never did, but because, frankly, we deserve to finally enjoy Xmas too! I hated it for years, now I love it :)

I've found that simple works best for our family. We are not naturally rush-aroundy type people anyway and I've discovered that our DCs are very easily pleased! It doesn't take much to make their little faces light up.

Even the stuff we do probably seems OTT to many, we do the Xmas eve jammies which was shamelessly nicked from various online threads like those that crop up every year. We had no traditions to take from our own childhoods so we just take ideas, play with them and see what sticks :)

I found some stunning calenders, German Glass Glittered by hand, so I got those and she loved them, they were mini works of art....then MIL came crashing in and gave her a cheap cadburys thing with chocolate.

Last year I didn't give her MILS and she said to me " Its much better not to have a chocolate isn't it when you open it, Its much better to have a little picture"

Of course she said this with a terribly sad voice, and a meak little smile.

So she will get TWO THIS YEAR. Yes two!

And no, if you do not get your own DC two as well, you are not depriving them as I am talking about myself, myself.