There is an order to our Christmas madness...

Yes there is an order to our Christmas Madness this year... the 25 days of Christmas is always a big hit in our house and we just love learning numbers and getting a gift each day. Last year was a huge hit where we could display all the presents from Vivi and Grandad for the 25 days of Christmas and then Pierce would open one each day in the right order... on Dec. 1st this year we had a little melt down when he saw all the presents and was only allowed to open one present... so we changed it up this year... we have a new method that we are all a big fan of. Thanks to Nana for her contribution and to Vivi and Grandad for theirs... here we go...

Step 1 - Go to the computer first thing in the morning to see what day it is. Nana sent us this awesome advent calendar online from Jacquie Lawson where it will only allow you to open up the correct day for the date that is on the computer. You can go back and look at previous days but it will not allow you to skip ahead (which is key for a 3 year old).. the village picture looks kind of dull on day one but as each day go ones its gets cheerier (I don't think that is a word :-) but it works for this) and comes to life...and Pierce loves seeing all the cool animation and making the village come to life. Here is a picture of the demo slide on line.
Step 2... after we memorize the date for the day (learning numbers) we run to the pirate advent calendar below and Pierce has to find the correct number and then we build what ever is inside.

Step 3... we go on a treasure hunt (staying with the whole pirate theme here)... Pierce goes and hides in his room and waits until I yell okay we are ready. I take the gift for the day (provided by ViVi and Grandad) and hide it in the house. Then we spend the next 5 min. trying to find it... he tries to get everyone to help him... me... daddy... tita... whomever but we all way until he finds it (we have been known to get hints) and here are a couple of the pics below of one of our treasure hunts... he loves this part and lights up every time.
Pierce is hunting in the next pics...

Do you see where the present is?

So excited...

No not under there...

Found it...

Does not waste anytime here...

I am sure this is his scary lizard face... are you scared???

So much fun... Thank you Nana and ViVi and Grandad for making the 25 days of Christmas so much fun...