Captain Alphabet and the advent calendar

This year for advent rather than rushing around trying to find a bargain calendar after the 1st of December, I decided I would put my non existent craft skills to the test & buy a kit to make one. I would then be able to put what I like in it & re-use each year.
So I got the Buttonbag Advent Calendar from Lakeland & after watching a video on YouTube on how to start & finish a stitch (a skill I managed not to acquire when younger) I set to work.  It took me most evenings of a week but I got it done & it doesn't look too bad. I have filled it with a mix of chocolate coins & balls, humzingers & activities for us to do.

We are now on the 11th December & Captain Alphabet (CA) more than approves of my hard work. Not only does he love letters; numbers are high up in his list of favourite interests.  At 2yrs 9 months he can count to & recognise numbers to 100, something he has picked up with some encouragement but we have never forced him to learn. So each morning we set the date on his magnetic calendar & then we move on to the advent calendar where he will point out the number for the day & then find out what is in the pocket. One day last week he thought that by advancing the calendar to the next day he could find out what was in the pocket for that day.  

Up until the 6th there had only been chocolate in the pockets. For the first activity on the 6th, we had to go to the library & find a Christmas book to borrow. We actually borrowed two books; Santasaurus & Bless you,  Santa!  Both have been read at bedtimes in the last week, but Bless you, Santa! seems to be the favourite.
On the 7th, CA had to help decorate the Christmas tree. This was done with Daddy B while I cooked dinner & it sounded like he was very excitable.  Daddy B made it sound quite stressful,  hehe. 

Although it wasn't in the calendar, on the 8th we went to the Red House to see the Victorian style Father Christmas and it really was worth the visit. With our National Trust membership it didn't cost anything and Father Christmas was fantastic telling us of Victorian Christmas traditions and finishing with a story before giving each child a wooden toy.  CA received a yoyo.  

On the 10th the activity was for CA to dress up as a reindeer and perform in his pre school Christmas sing a long.  It was lovely to see CA and the other children all dressed and singing a variety of songs.  CA impressed me by knowing all of the words to all of the songs and he was so cute.

Today we had a chocolate coin each, but there are more activities before advent is over including, a Christmas Party, a visit to see Father Christmas at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, Father Christmas spotting when the Rotary Club visit and preparing for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve.  If I get a chance I will do a follow up post and see if I can beat the record for the amount of times I have mentioned the words Father Christmas and Christmas, hahaha.