Think I am mad - pls share your Christmas madness to reassure me

[MercedesDeMonteChristo]

And decided on a book a day advent calendar. But because I already had a few decided to do one for each child so now we will have 72 new (well new and used) books by Christmas Day!! This is broadly ok, some are activity books, joke books, quiz books BUT the wrapping!!!!!

Have been thinking how else to address this without spending £££ on bags or similar, plus want to put them all out in piles on a shelf. Christmas Eve will be a board game for us all instead.

We dont buy lots for the day and I love the lead up but I think i might be mad. Please share your Christmas things that might be a bit OTT to others to reassure me.

You are absolutely mad, but the best usually are. And books are great so you can never have too many!
My family thinks/knows I'm mental, dh usually talks sense into me on some things. If I hadn't konmari'd the house last year, I'd be joining you on the book countdown.
Instead of wrapping each book, would you consider doing a treasure hunt for them? Just hide it somewhere and get the kids to look for it.

You’re mad but it’s a fab idea. Envelopes and stickers/labels will be your friend.

I wouldn’t wrap them- hiding is a great idea.
Mind you I wouldn’t have bought one each either I don’t think... books are nice to share! And how on Earth have you found 72 new books???? 😂
Yep. You’re mad!

Oh, are all the books christmas related? And have you seen the Xmas 'book trees' on Pinterest?

I did the book advent but wrapped them in newspaper. You don’t gave to wrap them though.

I had a few book people sets then just got carried away. They aren't Christmas related, but I should have just done 24 but I am terrible at buying books, I just can't stop myself. We have 4 Billy bookcases and they are all full, we are going to have to cull and do a charity shop dash.

Sounds like a great way to update your children’s bookshelves, just make sure you remember to cull 72 old/unloved ones between now and 1st December!

Wrt to wrapping, could you wrap all 3 children’s books together (so 24 ‘parcels’ in total, with 3 books in each one, to be shared among the children each day, if that makes any sense at all!)

My OTT thing, btw, is unusual and homemade Christmas tree decorations. I buy/make them on and off all year round as I see stuff or as the mood takes me. I’ve made some Harry Potter ones already this year (might get them out for Halloween too)

That's a good idea actually. DH is going to have some comments when he discovers this plan. He is a. Not a reader really b. Thinks I/the DC have too many books (we prob do) and c. Thinks I overdo Christmas (I don't).

Oh well. I am quite excited, there are 3 quiz books too and we LOVE a quiz.

That sounds cool, we have very boring generic box set we bought years ago. Our tree is very thin, tall and black. It's all a bit too cool if you see what I mean. I keep wanting to buy some history/lit themed decs but just can't justify the costs to myself, but that would be very us.

I think my DH would love your ‘too cool’ tree Mercedes. Sadly, he’s stuck with my massive, mismatched ‘Christmas has vomited over this tree’ one though

My friend is thinking of creating bags made out of Christmas themed fabric this year as she is wanting to cut down on waste. What about making 3 bags (that fit the biggest book) and then re-using them each day?

Love this idea! Though I will stick to 24! Do you have an actual calendar with a door to open for each day and book behind it?

I dont think there’s any such thing as too many books. If nothing else they are great insulation and save £££ off the heating bill

If you store them on a book shelf and wrap them in bundles of threes, you only need enough paper to cover the spines and covers, but don’t necessarily need to cover the tops and bottoms. I’m imagining a shelf with alternating contrasting patterned paper with numbers 1-24 in a Victorian font and cut out in ovals glued to the bundles.

I did this with my ds but I got a lot of library books I'm sure you can get 12 out at a time beside me. Also we own a few and always left the night before Christmas till the 24th

Could you have a special box or bag & just place the new book in every night to open in the morning?

Or some Christmas fabric & a ribbon to re-use?

Lovely idea :)

P.S The Works are great for books!

I did this last year for dd1 & dd2 but they got alternate days of that & another non book advent so there weren't so many books and I used gift wrap different for each from a pound shop

Love the fabric sack idea! I have two sets of 24 books so a set for each DC. They are all Christmas themed books which I keep each year but rotate and replace a few out each year as they outgrow them. I keep the favourites as I'm hoping they'll become 'traditions' to read each year! Last years favourite was 'Santa's Beard' I also have a beautiful little box set that I got years ago which is 24 tiny little books that you hang on the tree. We read one a day and they take turns to hang it up [santa]

DC also have wooden Christmas Eve boxes which are reused every year, just filled with a few games and little treats etc.

DC have Christmas themed duvet covers which go on on Dec 1st too