Christmas in July?

So I have recently started talking to people about Christmas...and I have to post this or I will forget. :-) Yes people Christmas in July. I'm starting shopping in Sept...so I gotta get to it.

I have a few projects I want to do.... 1. Advent Calendar.

I'm not sure if Aiden will truly understand this Christmas this year, but I still want to do everything. :-) So let's start with the Advent Calendar....I remember having them as a kid, and I want Aiden to experience that. Well what's better than a homemade advent calendar! One that we reuse every year! All those savings :-) and personally made by Mommy! Double bonus.

So the hunt began for ideas.....Thanks to Tip Junkie there were LOTS there. I will take and grab from there, but below is the one I want to make. I love the concept of it! What kid doesn't love decorating a tree!

I can DEFINITELY make mine look better than this one....and ORGANIZE those pockets. They drive me crazy with all those empty spaces. lol But this is my starting point. 

Steps: Use felt as the background and the tree. I was thinking a Red background and a Green tree. Possibly even put a Yellow star at the top. Then for the pockets I will go and find some cute Christmas fabric. Now comes the fun part. Button hunting! Once I have 25 buttons, attach some Velcro behind them and DONE!

Cute right?!?! Then I was thinking on some of the days attaching a note to the button.

Example notes: "Makes cookies for Santa." "Watch a Christmas movie with Mommy and Daddy." etc....then when Aiden get's older do notes like "Give away a toy" "Make cookies for neighbors and friends"

But then my yearly tradition that's starting this year is the Christmas Eve present. So that will definitely be a note. What's the tradition.....new PJs! New PJs to wear to bed and wear on Christmas day. For the whole family not just Aiden. I'm excited about that one!!