Day 5: 12 Days of Christmas Sharing

Today's Share is sort of a repeat, but sort of not a repeat.  We started an Advent wreath last Sunday.  We've never done this before, but it was a very nice shared moment last Sunday when we read the verses about the first Sunday's theme: hope.  We have a hope of Jesus' return, just as the people of Jesus' time had the hope of Emmanuel coming to dwell on earth with them.  It's a neat correlation and tradition.
Along with that we also started our "What God Wants for Christmas" nativity countdown.  Last week we opened box number 1 which contained the angel Gabriel to add to the Nativity.  It has a very neat book and 7 boxes that we open a new one each time we do the Advent wreath, then will open 3 the week of Christmas.  This is a picture of the kit:

It is a very sweet rhyming book and we hide the box each week in a spot related to the item...such as last week since Gabriel came to give a message to Mary, we hid the box in a place where we receive messages (near Corey's phone).  The website for this book also has printable activities, scavenger hunt clue cards and coloring pages.  Sadly, this is the ONLY nativity we have in our house!  I've bought one cheap one that the kids destroyed as toddlers, but have never invested in one.  I've said in years past I would buy one marked down after Christmas but it has never actually happened because I always talked myself out of it because I want the Willow Tree one that is super expensive. ha ha. Oh well...this one works fantastic for a house with kids!
I am enjoying this tradition. Our December (yes already!) has been jam packed full of activities and doesn't seem to show any signs of letting up, so this Sunday night tradition will definitely be a treasure for us this Christmas season!
Do you have any advent traditions?