Our 12 Day Birthday Countdown!

Every year, we do a countdown to each child's birthday 12 days before their special day, as a sort of twist on the 12 days of Christmas. With Parker's birthday coming up (hers has always been the first of the year until we had Leah this year), it's time to put the 12 days of Parker together!

I will do the same gifts for both Rylee and Ashtyn's birthday later in the year. Oliver, being younger and a boy, will get a different item for some of the days. Leah won't get a countdown until she's turning three.

Day 1: Cake Mix with sprinkles and frosting

The kids love cooking and helping me in the kitchen, so this is a fun way to let them make something more on their own. We did it last year and it was their favorite thing (especially Oliver)! For Ashtyn, I get her cake flour and she makes an angel food cake because she loves to follow recipes and doesn't like eating cake mix cake very much.

Day 2: Foldology Book

This is a fun activity book that I heard about from Everyday Reading and I knew when I saw her talking about it that my girls would love it! Oliver is probably not quite old enough for it yet, so I was planning to get a couple matchbox cars for him this day instead.

Day 3: Candy

I always like to throw in a few days of candy because it's cheap and fun! I also like to have at least one candy day where all the kids can have some and have some days where the candy is just for the birthday kid.

Day 4: Shower bombs and lip gloss

I bought a pack of shower bombs and a pack of lip gloss that I could divide up between all the girls through the year. I think they're going to especially love the shower bombs. Oliver will get some bath stuff this day instead.

Day 5: Paint Sticks

My kids love all things crafting and these paint sticks seemed like a pretty lowkey item that they can use without my help, but also something a little out of the ordinary of what we have around for them to craft with.

Day 6: Candy

Another candy day!

Day 7: Pokemon Stained Glass Art Book

In addition to loving crafting, my kids are very into Pokemon. I think all four of them (including Oliver) will love this little art book.

Day 8: Kindle Page Turner

Both Ashtyn and Parker have Kindles and love them. I think they will think these page turners are fun and use them a lot, especially when they're reading in bed at night. Since Rylee and Oliver don't have Kindles yet, I'm going to do something different for them. I was thinking of trying to find a less expensive telescope for Rylee, because she's been really wanting one, and doing rock crayons with a notebook for Oliver.

Day 9: Candy

Another candy day! The kids love getting the candy and I always try to find candy that I know they really love but don't get very often.

Day 10: Modeling Clay

This is another crafting thing that I think the kids are really going to have a lot of fun with.

Day 11: Twinkies

Our kids all love Twinkies, but we basically never buy them (pretty much only for their birthday countdown), so they are always very excited for this day.

Day 12: Special Necklace

The girls (Parker especially) have been really into jewelry lately and I found these cute necklaces that are customizable with the letter of their first name. I think the girls will love it! Oliver obviously won't be getting a necklace. The thing he is really into is super heroes, so I was planning on getting him some simple super hero masks for this day. I know he'll love them.

That is what we are doing for our birthday 12 day countdown! This is one of our favorite birthday traditions, even when we keep it simple and get dollar store gifts. What is one of your family's favorite traditions?