Countdown Chaos: My Life in 24 Tiny Boxes (Times Two)

The holidays have a sneaky way of pouncing on me like a cat on a laser pointer — one minute it’s Halloween, and the next thing I know I’m knee-deep in 24 tiny boxes, microscopic toys, sugar-free treats, and increasingly creative ways to surprise two very opinionated grandsons. Last week’s blog post didn’t happen because I spent over two hours wrapping minuscule trinkets and stuffing bite-sized treasures into Advent/Countdown calendars — not once, but twice — all while wondering why on earth I didn’t start this project sometime back in July.

Kate adored Advent calendars growing up. Back then the big thrill was getting to eat a little piece of candy before breakfast — the height of childhood rebellion. The calendars themselves were simple: flimsy cardboard with tiny perforated flaps. But then the grandsons arrived, and suddenly my job description expanded: I was no longer just “Gramma,” I had become CCO (Chief Creative Officer of December).

In my Maui years, I mailed the boys letters with photos of me and Poppa (so they knew who was writing), and their parents would read my notes aloud. Braeden’s first Advent calendar theme? Fisher-Price Little People. Then came Paw Patrol, Disney, and LEGO — each year a new chapter in my self-appointed mission to delight small humans one tiny surprise at a time. When Deacon arrived, the workload doubled. And honestly, at this point I should probably start calling them “Countdown Calendars,” because I’m not convinced either boy knows what “Advent” means.

This year I repurposed a heavy-duty See’s Candy box with perfectly sized compartments. I didn’t want to rely on candy — one grandson is cutting back on sugar — so I got creative. The boys love $2 bills, so I called my bank and ordered fifty of them. (Yes, the teller paused.) I added temporary tattoos with positive little messages, friendship bracelets in “manly” colors, flavored floss (Gramma knows the dentist), chapstick, Tic Tacs, gum, and of course a bit of candy because tradition still matters.

Of course, holiday magic is never without complications. Thanks to Braeden’s thriving online resale empire — where he sells used clothes, deposits the money into my account, and then cashes himself out at the Bank of Grandmother — several of my neatly stacked $2 bills had mysteriously vanished. So this year some days include a $5, a $10, and one early golden-ticket day with a $20 so the boys can “go shopping like real men.”

And because kids shouldn’t have all the fun, I found adult countdown calendars too. Kate gets a daily scented votive with an inspirational message. Jesse is unwrapping a beard-care extravaganza that includes oils, crème, and a tiny comb that looks like it belongs in a dollhouse.

The truth is, all this chaos is worth it. These little rituals make December sparkle — not because of what’s inside each box, but because of the joy of making someone smile each morning.

What about you? Do you have any holiday traditions, big or small, sweet or slightly ridiculous, that mark the season for you?

P.S.  I asked AI Max to use my FB photo but have me holding a glass of wine after all my teeny tiny box stuffing.

I think he added a bit of lipstick!  And smoothed that wild hair. How did he change the way my face is pointing?????