Silly Socks Valentines Day Advent

Last year I made this "Countdown to Valentine's Day" for my kids. They love to wake up to surprises every morning!! To make it, you will need a partner to share the socks with. My Super Mommy partner was my sister-in-law, Jen. We got fun Valentine surprises to put in the socks each night (you can share these, as well!) and wrote poems that corresponded to each one. You can download our list and the surprise that goes with each one here. We found our socks at Target, Old Navy, and Gap. The little groundhog came from Alaska, it was a souvenir from Grandma and Grandpa so I dont know where to find him. The rest of the goodies I bought at our local dollar stores or department stores.

Our family also did a secret Valentine countdown to one of our neighbors. We took them the same surprises that we got each morning and secretly delivered theirs each night. My kids loved ding-dong- ditching them! You can download those poems here (we didnt use socks).

To make the socks, we used fabric scraps stamped with fabric paint for the numbers which we then glued onto a regular clothespin. Then we topped it with a bow made out of Valentines Day Ribbon. We clipped the socks onto pink tulle and then tied red ribbon onto the ends to fasten it to the stairs. Here are a few details on what I do each day. You might want to refer to the downloadable poems above for clarification.

day 1: I put clings in the socks on day one. I also set out all of the hearts and fun decorations that we have. That way the kids get to help decorate. It is less work for me and more fun for them!

day 2: I put the Ground Hog into the sock and clip on the poem. Then the kids know that we will be eating dinner on the ground and we will be making a ground hog's day treat. This year the ground hog said we would have 6 more weeks of winter so I set out a white table cloth with white dishes and we had a winter picnic on the ground. I also hung white snowflakes and white crepe paper from the ceiling.

I also attempted a ground hogs day meatloaf (I know it looks more like Mickey Mouse, smaller ears next year!), and I put potatoes through my Pampered Chef peeler, corer, slicer tool to make them look like dirt holes. Yum-Yum! Then we topped them with sour cream which looked like snow.

I found the idea for these cute cookies from tipjunkie. I LOVE it!! They really were very easy.

We also had pears, because they are white too and sparkling cider because its fun .

day 3: On day three the poem says to give them something to wear. I usually just buy a red shirt for the boys as I am shopping clearance throught the year. My 9 year old boy doesnt want anything Valentine-y to wear! Last year I got a red and white soccer one. this year I found a black and red ringer t-shirt. I also make it into a treasure hunt or we play the hot/cold game to find them. This adds an element of fun since the shirts cant all fit into the sock!

day 4: I give them a simple and little Valentine treat. I just use whatever cute treat I have found.

day 5: I give them a game or a toy to play with. This year I gave them a Pictureka card game because I got it with a printable coupon from Target for $.24. That is twenty-four cents!! Check out my favorite couponing sites for deals like these: fabulesslyfrugal.com or discountqueens.blogspot.com I love to have these types of games and toys on hand for when I need them for a special occasion!!

day 6: On day six I give them a Valentines Balloon. Ty (who is one) loves this day. I found some mini-mylar balloons in 4 packs at the dollar store. You just smack them and they inflate.

day 7: On day seven they get a new chapstick (Ty, who is 1, got a candy chapstick this year!). My kids have very dry lips in the winter time so they are always needing some. Check out those coupon blogs to get it for free. Walgreens usually has it and I stock up.

day 8: I put in a Valentines Day sucker for each of them.

day 9: This is the day we heart attack our neighbors. We take the stack of hearts that are cut out and secretly tape them all over their front doors. This year we also took plates of heart sugar cookies and left them on their doorsteps.

Here are some photos of our door when they heart attacked us back.

day 10: Today I put out the Secret Post Office so we can start writing notes to each other.

day 11: They get mints or gum in their sock so they dont "give the kiss of death!"

day 12: This is my birthday so we lay low. The poem says that we make cookies but this year we did that with the heart attack so I just filled the sock with a cookie for each of them to eat.

day 13: They get bubbly cider and goblets on this day. I found these red heart plastic ones at the dollar store and they work great for the kids.

day 14: They get their buckets at the top of the stairs, a treat at their spot at the table, and a little surprise in the sock. This year Ty got a candy Wii remote so the rest of us can play Mario Cart together without him getting upset that he doesnt have a remote. I just use things I have gotten on a good sale or things they need~I keep it simple.

We are using it our Silly Socks again this year. They stored perfectly (leave socks clipped onto the tulle) in a gallon sized ziploc.

Here is a link to Martha Stewart with a cute sock advent that I found while searching for more inspiration on how to do this.