Planning Ahead | Advent Calendars
One of our favorite holiday traditions the last few years have been advent calendars from Lego and Playmobile.
I know it's early.
I know we haven't hit Halloween or Thanksgiving yet.
But man I like having these things in house and ready to go. The truth is that I think I like these just as much as the kids do.
For 2011 I went with the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar for Simon. If they didn't have the Star Wars version we'd be getting this one: Lego city edition (7553).
Anna will have the Playmobile Christmas Post Office Advent Calendar.
Last year we had Playmobile Christmas in the Forest (awesome set of animals) and the Lego City Advent Calendar (2824) - both are still available and were great. The pieces were packed away with the holiday decor last year and will come out again in December (not as Advent calendars but as holiday toys).
We also love to bring out the Playmobile Nativity Set each year.
Ali, I'm really confounded by a Star Wars Advent Calendar -- how does it work? Is there a nativity scene at the end or does Yoda just win? I'm thinking of these for a goddaughter (Playmobile) and a sorta godson/nephew/adopted son of my cousin I went to Russia with to pick up -- and I just want to make sure there's an actual Advent component -- is there? Thanks, Mary
It's a countdown to Christmas - 24 little boxes with Yoda in a Santa suit at the end. Definitely not traditional advent but still a fun seasonal countdown activity - especially for kids who really love legos & Star Wars. You can see the full view of the contents here: http://shop.lego.com/en-US/catalog/mediaPopup.jsp?productCode=7958&initialTab=moreViews
Also - this one is more traditional than the Star Wars version: http://shop.lego.com/en-US/LEGO-City-Advent-Calendar-7553
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You are amazing. That is all. :)
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love this idea, but would be worried about the small pieces with my toddler. :(
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I got one for my grandson coming to visit Hawaii for Christmas!
May the force be with all of you! Aloha.
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I LOVE this idea!! Thank you so much for sharing. Alexandra is almost the same age as Anna and I know she will love it too!!!
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Haha! I enjoyed seeing someone else who gets going early on the Christmas holidays! I always begin my shopping while we are on summer vacation on our Goldwing! One can find all kinds of interesting little things while travelling . . . I especially like the key rings that have names on them, just add a ribbon and you have a dandy little Christmas ornament!
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What perfect timing. I had a note for myself on my to-do list for the fall to make an Advent calendar; however, this year I think that we are going to get Lego's for the girls, so it will be perfect to have a Lego Advent calendar. Even if I don't buy a pre-made Lego calendar, I will use the idea to put Lego's in one that I make. Thanks for sharing!
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Ha ha, my husband texted me the image from the Lego shop last week - he managed to wait to buy it lol
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Thank you for the reminder! Just ordered one for my son. I waited too long last year and they were sold out of the one we wanted. I just bought some clear Christmas ornaments to make into gifts at Michael's today - can't believe I am thinking of Christmas already!
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we did lego & polly pocket advent calendars last year...polly was not quite as exciting as lego (polly only had one little piece per day) but it's a good alternative if you've got girls who aren't into playmobile... super fun :)
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Hi Ali.
I have been doing christmas for several weeks. Making wreaths,and hand made ornaments and a quilted panels for the
kiddos....never to early. I already have my fall decorating ready to go even though it is not till9/23 for Autumn...besides living in the desert of Phoenix it makes psychologically cooler even though the thermo sez 105
hugs and blessing
Sharon Dryjanski
You are totally on top of it Sharon - that's awesome!
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The advent calendars have become a big part of our Christmas tradition as well. I sometimes think the kids enjoy them more than the abundance of gifts they get on Christmas Day. We did the animal set when Tate was two, this year she picked the horse stable. We also have the Playmobil and Schleich nativity sets. When I was small, my mom would put out her creche scene with the traditional camels, sheep, and donkey for accessories, but she would also put in any additional small animal she had found throughout the year in her thrifting. It wasn't unusual for an elephant to want to visit the baby Jesus. So in continuation of the tradition, we dig into our Playmobil stash and extensive Schleich collection and pull out our circus animals, our forest creatures, pets, etc. The animals far outnumber the people, but I love it now as much as I loved it then.
I totally need to check out the Schleich nativity set.
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for the last few months Ive been painting little boxes for advent boxes like what your done Ali, and looking forward to putting a little treat for each of the kids and a different activity for each day bring on december hehe....
I love those boxes so much!
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What a wonderful idea! My two nephews are so into Star Wars and Legos -- I immediately ordered the Star Wars advent calendar for them. I think buying it was almost as much fun as they will have opening it! :)
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We love the Lego Advent calendars! Thanks for the reminder because last year I waited too long and it was very hard to find one.
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Have two sitting in my closet already for this year as I missed out last year!!
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Ali, I love the Woodland Advent from last year. I think I will do that one! I am planning a Christmas party playdate and this will go with our theme. The theme for our party is Christmas for the Animals. We have just under 7 acres and are going to fill the feeders, hang suet, put out oranges, apples and a salt lick, and of course make pinecone feeders and string popcorn. Thanks for the advent idea to tie in with our theme.
That one will be perfect for your theme!
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I'm so happy I snagged one on Amazon the day someone on one of the forums mentioned it. We've never done the lego calendars before, but I have a boy with a Star Wars room who LOVES legos, and needs some motivation to finish homework quickly in the evenings. I think this may be just the ticket, we'll open the calendar each evening AFTER the assignment is complete.
Love that idea Jen - awesome motivation.
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I've always been late to the party when it comes to these awesome advent calendars. By the time I'm ready to purchase one...they are all sold out. But...not today! My daughter loves Lego City and this one is perfect to ring in the season. Thanks for the links!
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I'm like you: Love planning ahead and love Lego & Playmobil! :)
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We love Advent calendars in our house too - I think this will be a fun new way to celebrate the season!
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I was just looking at those the other day, I plan on buying mine early as well. My son picked the same Star Wars one you bought for Simon and my daughter (she's 5 now) picked the Playmobil Unicorn Paradise. I'm so excited. I had a bad experience last year when I decided to buy them little trinkets I saw here and there for their advent and when time ran out, some days they didn't receive anything! It was crazy and hectic last year so this year, I'm buying these!
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Thanks for the Lego Advent reminder!!! We love those!
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I had no idea Lego made such a thing! This is definitely bookmarked and will discuss with my DH. My Simon and Ben would love this! Although, that probably means 2 calendars so they don't fight each and every day until Christmas! :)
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Wow, you've already bought Advent Calendars. Wr collect Playmobil and we also love the Advent Calendars and the Nativity.
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