Day 6 of Fun for Christmas

On Sunday, the boys were in the church Christmas program.

Ethan and Tyler in their costumes.

Then on to lunch and a 6th birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

This present was a butterfly house from Matthew and Lynden.

The cake... made by mommy.
After the party we headed over to Matthew's church to watch Lochlyn in his Christmas program. The boys also made crafts and colored pictures.

All in all, a long busy day.

Day 5 of Fun for Christmas

On Saturday morning, we had breakfast in Bethlehem. The characters came around to our table and told their stories as we ate. Then the boys did some crafts. (Yes, I do realize that Mary and Joseph look "older".) Isaiah enjoying his pancakes and sausage.

Then we went to the library and a very short Christmas parade (which was good because it was very cold out)! I think there might have been 8 entries and 3 of them were fire engines. Throw in the local bank, girl scouts, 2 churches, and a 4 H group and you have the makings for a parade! :)

At home that night we made homemade candy cane hot cocoa. It only had 3 ingredients (cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and crushed candy canes) and was surprisingly good..


Ethan crushing the candy canes.

Fun for Christmas Day 4....CANCELLED

Due to a unfortunate occurrence between 2 boys and this gingerbread train (mainly the eating of a bunch of candy), there was no fun today. There was only a very angry mommy. Maybe we will have fun tomorrow.

In other news, 6 years ago today the nurse told me I was not in labor. She was wrong. Happy Birthday Ethan and Tyler!

Day 3 of Fun for Christmas

Today, the boys and I made a gingerbread train. I bought it at Target last year after Christmas when it was greatly on clearance. I knew it would probably work just fine for this year and it did! The expiration date was April 2009, but who really eats their gingerbread houses anyways???

I love how pictures make everything look like it was perfect. You don't see Tyler in timeout for eating too much candy or everyone falling apart afterwards for lack of naps!

Day 2 of Fun for Christmas

Today the boys and I made pomanders, or should I say started pomanders. They thought it was fun for awhile and then abandoned them to go play. Pomanders are basically oranges with whole cloves stuck in them. Then you can roll them in spices and they smell good. Some people put them in bowls, others tie them up with a ribbon and hang them up.We used toothpicks to make holes in the oranges. This made the cloves go in easier.

If you'd like to try your hand at making a pomander, click here for instructions.

The boys are half naked because it's so warm in the house. When you are burning wood, you don't have a whole lot of control on the heat. Better hot than cold though!

Day 1 of Fun for Christmas

OK, my scheduling day yesterday was a total bust. I didn't plan a thing! Fortunately, I had a couple of ideas already in mind. The first was to make paper snowflakes with the boys and hang them all over the school room. We did that today.

Tyler making a snow angel in all of the scraps!

The nice thing with snowflakes is that we won't have to take them down after Christmas. We can leave them up all winter.

Planning and Preparation

I'm trying to make today a planning and preparation day. I really want to do something special with the boys each day in December leading up to Christmas. I have some ideas, but I want to plot them out and be prepared.

I'm also wanting to think about what kinds of things I'd like to do in the new year. Things for school, myself, our house, etc. I want to look at next year's calendar and anticipate things better. Things seem to sneak up on me every year.

I also need to figure out what I have for Christmas and what I still need. I'm done w/ the gifts for the boys. It is so much easier when your kids don't ask for anything and when you only give them 3 gifts! We are also cutting back on gift giving this year in general since I'm no longer working. And honestly, most people are relieved to have others cut back. Most people are wanting and willing to cut back, but are afraid to suggest it.

Yesterday we went to Leeland's baptism. The pastor spoke about the lack of joy in Christmas. The people you see out shopping are not happy. They are just the opposite. They are tired, grumpy, rude, etc. I hate buying a gift just for the sake of buying a gift. There is really no purpose in it.

So things will be simple around here this year. But in a lot of ways, not really that different from years past. My kids won't notice any difference at all and for that I'm thankful. Now, time to get on to that planning!

Do you like Aprons?

If so, there is a giveaway going on over at "Not Quite June Cleaver".

The giveaway if for 3 of EllyAnne Geisel's books. I believe my sister in law and my cousin both own "The Apron Book" and I remember flipping through it and being all nostalgic about "The good old days".

NQJC also has an interview with her friend EllyAnne that I'm sure you'll all want to head on over and read!