Christmas Tree

I start Christmas shopping in July. I've been running out of places to put these gifts. That's why I was happy to get our tree up. I have NEVER had a themed Christmas tree. This year I do. Its snowmen. I really like it. I don't miss the other ornaments this year, but one child sure did. Each year my children get one ornament (or more) for his or her own. Each is kept in their own box in the box of ornaments. This way, when they leave home, they will have a tree full of ornaments even for their first Christmas.

When to Wrap

I always want to wrap the Christmas presents as soon as I buy them. However, I know, for me, that's not a good idea as I'll be unwrapping them to remember what I put in there. I would label them but then if the children find them they'll also know what's in there. I would try a numbering system but I'm constantly losing my list.
My gift wrap is in my craft room but I don't do my wrapping in there. I usually end up wrapping all my gifts on Christmas Eve. My children are allowed to open anything in their stockings in exchange, they are not to wake up mom or dad. I am usually up around 7 or 8am on Christmas morning so they really don't have to wait that long. They haven't complained yet.

Getting Organized for Christmas

Getting organized for Christmas is quite a task. Every year I get things done that I want to but there are other things that I think would be really nice to do but never get around to doing. I have thought about paying someone to help me be organized but I really can't bring myself to spend the money. So I go here. I like the calendars, the gift lists, the children's want lists. They have lists for making gifts, what your making, who its going to and a date to have it done by. And its free.
If you are interested in Santa sending your child a free letter, I'll post that link later, so stay tuned.

Christmas Day

In our house, the tradition is the children can get into their stockings and play with anything in there. The gifts have to wait until mom and dad get up. The children don't know any other way so it works for us. We usually wait until my mom and dad come and then head over to the inlaws. Because of the great snow storm we received on Christmas, my parents decided not to come and to see us at a later date. My inlaws called to say they would stop by on their way home from seeing Grandma. They never showed up. After 3:30pm, my father-in-law called to say one of his daughters had come to his house and were we going to come today or what! What the . . . ? Whatever. So we went to inlaws. We had a light supper there, gave our gifts to the inlaws. After a while, we decided to head to my parents house because my husband was really excited to give them what we got for them. It wasn't so bad going to my parents house but coming home was actually scary. The snow pack was so bad. We got stuck turning from the main street into our cul-de-sac. All I have to say is thank goodness for my husband and the snowblower.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Tree

We finally got our Christmas tree up and decorated. It is a fake tree. We (me and the children) put on the first row of branches and then Daddy puts on one row of lights. Then, next row of branches and next row of lights. I think he likes lots of lights. My little baby (who is 2) was loving the decorating of the tree. Anything she could find that had a hook or a loop was on the tree as fast as she could get it there. She loves our "bootiful" tree. The picture of the stocking is the only homemade ornament on our tree. I made about 100 of them one year. Gave some to children's classes at school, gave some to cousins and gave the rest to a local children's hospital.

M&M Christmas Story

In case you don't know, I teach Sunday School at my church every other Sunday, 12 going on 13 year olds. I call them my "kids". I wanted to do something special for them for Christmas. This is what I've decided to do. Attached to a package of M&M will be this poem.

M&M Christmas Story

As you hold these candies in your hand

and turn them, you will see....

The M becomes a W, an E, and then a 3.

They tell the Christmas story it's one I'm sure you know.

It took place in a stable a long, long time ago.

The E is for the East where the star shone oh so bright.

The M is for the Manger where the baby Jesus slept that night.

The 3 is for the Wiseman bearing gifts, they say they came.

W is for Worship, HallelujahPraise to His name.

So as you eat these candies or share them with a friend,

Remember the meaning of Christmas,

It's a Love story that never ends.