Our advent calendars begin

Yes calendarS.  Plural.  Because, as you know, I'm indecisive and couldn't decide on just one to do!  There were other ideas that Roy & I liked, too, but this year this is what we are doing:

1. Like last year, each night the kids get to unwrap a new book.  If you do the math, that's 2 books a night for 24 nights = 48 books.  And I wrapped each one for them.  That is not a quick activity, for anyone wondering!  Here are the kid on night one:

2. When John and Anna moved this summer, she gave me a Santa advent calendar with pull out drawers.  Each morning the kids find the day and open the drawer to find out what fun activity we will be doing.  It's been fun, and relatively easy, to come up with things.  I made a list of about 30 ideas and decide each night what to plan for the following day based on other things that are happening, the weather, etc.  Luckily the you cant tell if the boxes are empty or if I've added the note in yet, and it has never occurred to the kids to look ahead into other days only to find them empty, so I can get away with deciding last minute.  You know, like I am pretty famous for?!?!