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.

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62 thoughts

  1. Amy Albert says…
    09/07/2011

    Too funny, I was just thinking about this kind of Adent Calendar's for my girls! I also get just excited as they do! I was also thinking last night about your cute, little advent messages with those messages and things to do in them for the month of Dec. Where do you get your ideas for ideas and messages? I love this advent idea as well because it gives and creates many memories and new traditions to start! Thanks, Amy

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. taniawillis says…
    09/07/2011

    so weird to think how close Christmas is. i love this little tradition you have with your children and i'm so impressed--how do you keep yourself so organized ali?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      09/07/2011

      Hi Tania - I so don't feel all that organized. Just thinking ahead to some of my favorite parts of the holidays.

  3. Susan says…
    09/07/2011

    hey, christmas is right around the corner. i've got much family coming in so i am planning much decorations and celebrating and traditions so a Lego advent calendar will go well - one less thing i have to make!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. tracey says…
    09/07/2011

    Ali,

    A big Thank You!! My son wished for this and when I couldn't find it I assumed they were already sold out. I just got one for him on Amazon, thanks to your handy link! You helped make a boy's dream come true today!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Melanie L. says…
    09/07/2011

    I love that you're thinking about these now because I want to get these before they sell out. I might get one set for myself this year. Thanks for all the handy links!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Torie says…
      02/18/2014

      Your post is a timely cobntiturion to the debate

  6. Sandi says…
    09/07/2011

    Last night my boys and I came across the Advent Star Wars calendar.
    They immediately choose it for this years Advent calendar. They talked
    all night about what characters they will get. Now I just have to place my order.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Suzie Perrie says…
    09/07/2011

    I saw the Star Wars one when you Tweeted it and made sure to go grab one. My son is getting his bedroom redone in that so he will be very excited. Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. denise says…
    09/07/2011

    thanks for the reminder ali. i bought two of these for ethan because i couldn't decide which one to buy! i am thinking i might do the star wars one for his birthday...which is november 30th and then the lego city one for christmas. i've also been filling his advent calendar (i think it was a karen foster kit with 25 little boxes) with trinkets from places we visited this summer. it will be a grand holiday season this year!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Linda says…
      09/08/2011

      Denise, thanks for sharing -- I love the idea of filling the KFoster Advent with trinkets from thru out the year -- what a wonderful way to relive the memories of that year.

  9. Sue TR (Your Story 2011) says…
    09/07/2011

    Thanks for the info on the advent sets!!!
    Was thinking of Simon this week as the girls both got HUGE lego sets for their birthdays last weekend (Lily got H.Potter Diagon alley, something like 3 million pieces and she's almost done --- Gwen got a "City" Firestation and the Cars2 V-8 Cafe they both added up to Lily's one) Simon would be loving the lego construction table we've set up in the new Family Room and would have had a blast with the girls, had he not lived 3000 miles away ;)

    Will definitely order those advent sets today for a christmas treat! Good luck on the first day of school (we're on our second week already) !

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      09/07/2011

      Diagon Alley is on the list here - can't wait for him to get that one :). Glad the move has gone well!

  10. Sue says…
    09/07/2011

    We have the same ones packed away and ready to come out after Thanksgiving. We have many nativity sets and the playmobil is our favorite.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Jamie says…
    09/07/2011

    I ordered 3 of the Star Wars ones... 1 for each kid and 1 for my husband!!! So much fun, I am so glad they did a Star Wars one this year!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Carrie D. says…
    09/07/2011

    When it comes to Lego, it's never too soon! I ordered mine within the last couple of weeks (Star Wars for my son, City for my daughter). Let's hope I'll remember where I hid them come December!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Clare says…
    09/07/2011

    We have at least 10 Playmobile sets in storage from years past. We also had this same tradition every year except back then they did not have any Lego sets so ours are all Playmobile. Sad to say my children have now outgrown (23,19 and 15)these, but I am saving them for my grandkids. They are too wonderful to part with, we also have a huge Lego collection in storage plus numerous Playmobile sets. I can hardly wait for the next generation. Enjoy these moments of memory building because they will remember, appreciate and treasure them. I have witnessed that already and mine aren't even that old yet.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Brandie says…
    09/07/2011

    I ordered the same two advent calendars a few days ago.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. nerdgrl says…
    09/07/2011

    The Advent Calendar is one of my most cherished memories of the Christmas season. Even though we have no children, I always get one (the Hallmark kind, not the Lego kind.) My husband thinks it's silly; I say, "It's a tradition I'm not willing to give up."

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Jo-Lee says…
    09/07/2011

    Thanks for the tip Ali. I love getting Christmas presents purchased early. Makes for a more relaxed holiday season.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Cathy says…
    09/07/2011

    Thanks for sharing this! I always want to do this but never order one in time. I'm on it this year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Ruth says…
    09/07/2011

    I agree about liking these calendars possibly as much as the kids and the Playmobil nativity is incredible (we got their advent calendar one year and it was cool but the nativity set rocks!!!) Lots of good traditions and it's not too early to start shopping since these always sell out! TFS!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Cindy says…
    09/07/2011

    Wow! I didn't even know there were so many. We do the Lego City one each year, but this year we may branch out. Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. abbeyviolet says…
    09/07/2011

    My son is going to ADORE the Lego Star Wars set. So excited to catch it. We've really just done wall advent calendars with things I put in them (activities, sweets, small toys) so this will be new, but I think a lot of fun!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Charity says…
    09/07/2011

    Those look like a lot of fun. I hadn't thought of looking for this type of advent calendar, but I know the boys would love it. We have the little people nativity set and they really enjoy that.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. M. MADISON says…
    09/07/2011

    Just ordered the Star Wars Advent for my son and a Lego City version for my Daughter yesterday. I too like to start early and love that I am not alone.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Christine H says…
    09/07/2011

    My almost 16 year old son is too old now for these types of toys but we have a count down to Christmas decoration. Santa sits at the top of the chimney and as you pull a brick out each day he comes down the chimney. The bricks are numbered 1-25. I am always pleasantly surprised each year when my son starts doing the bricks without prompting and asks me to keep it up on the weekends when he goes camping with his scout troop.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. jennifer says…
    09/07/2011

    Ali, thanks for being one step ahead! Now I'll be sure to beat the rush and get our advent calendars. Can't wait to see what you have in store for Daily December this year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Danielle says…
    09/07/2011

    Ali, I love that you share your traditions. My dd is 17, and we do some type of advent calendar every year. It is always a hit! Which reminds me, I need to get started picking up some things.

    Reply 0 Replies

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