Sweet place to visit

Count down the days until Santa returns with this gaily decorated advent calendar gingerbread house from Hearth Song. The wooden house, with its 24 drawers to hide tiny toys, candies, or erasers from Dec. 1-24, will quickly become a beloved tradition in your home.

When I was growing up, my sisters and I would take turns opening an advent calendar drawer and claiming a treat. One grandmother told me that instead of using 24 pieces of candy, every few days she would leave clues to a treasure hunt. Her granddaughter had a great time deciphering the rhyming clues and following the hints to her prize, which could be anything from a book to a small toy. As she grew older, the difficulty of the clues increased to keep it interesting. However you decide to make the tradition your own, an advent calendar is a great way to help the kids enjoy the countdown until the reindeer are on the roof again.

Gingerbread House Advent Calendar, $39.98, www.heart‌hsong.com.