the countdown has begun!

So I wanted to have a better advent calendar this year, we have a cloth Santa where you move the little candy cane down his beard depending on how many days there are left until Christmas. We've done the cheap little ones that a door opens and you get a piece of chocolate, and I've never been blown away by those. So I decided to create my own. I figured it would not only add some excitement and fun to the countdown, but make it easier for Starla to know when Christmas is, since she asks just about every day if it is Christmas yet and can we open our presents. :)

So I took scrapbook paper, and cut it into 4 triangles, and then folded those into cones, stapled them and added a ribbon. Bourbon's have darl blue ribbons, Roman's have light blue ribbons and Starla's has yellow ribbons. I wrote the numbers 1-24 on each set. Yes, I made 72 of these cones. I know, I'm crazy. :) Then I had Alan & Roman spraypaint clothespins red. I hung up some tinsle, and attached the cones to it with the clothespins. Now each day the kids take down the cone and see what goodie or treat they get for that day. Today was the launch, and the kids loved it.And it really does look very festive! You don't get the full effect on the pics, it looks much better in person. :)


These are Starla's




This is only half of the ones that go across the "doorway" of the dining room, the other half are Bourbon's.