Christmas Traditions

Gosh I love the month of December, there is so many fun things to enjoy with family and friends. Today was our Christmas kick-off which included our Elf on the Shelf named Sam making his debut and we started Day 1 of our Advent Calendar. The kids were so excited to start counting down for Christmas.

If you haven't started the Elf on the Shelf tradition you should check it out (you can find them at my favorite store, Hallmark), it really brings out good behavior in kids (always makes for a more quiet month) and is a fun game leading up to Christmas. Paige named our Elf Sam last year and everyday he finds a new place to sit in our house (Jon and I have a good time finding a new place each night). We also enjoy reading the book that the Elf came with and have an additional activity book that I plan on using with Paige this year.

Now let's talk Advent Calendars (we got ours from Pottery Barn Kids but you can also find some cute calendars at Target or on Etsy or better yet you can make your own). I think most assume you put candy in it but actually most of what I put in it is small paper tags with whatever fun thing we are going to do together or if it is an item that won't fit in the pocket on our calendar.

Today we started with new matching Christmas pajamas. Other ideas could include a craft, baking cookies, fun events (ie: visiting Santa, Santa's Village, looking at lights, etc.), small toys, family game night, family movie night, hot chocolate together, gosh I could go on and on with ideas and I am sure you will have plenty of your own come to mind.

Well I still need to get these Christmas decorations out, I promised myself tomorrow it would be done so wish me luck!

Sam

Thankful Thursday

Well we had another fun filled week around here. On Monday, I took Aiden to Build-A-Bear with some friends so he could make an animal for one of the Star Wars costumes they carry. He chose the Camo Bear, dressed it in the Darth Vader costume and named it the obvious choice of Darth Vader.

I figured it would be another furry friend and a decoration for his new Star Wars themed room. He has been sleeping with Vader and pushing him around in the blue stroller since he made him so he has quickly become a favorite toy. Jon is still doing the touch-up work on the painting in his room and we are still waiting on his dresser but after we get it all put together I will share pictures of his new Star Wars themed big boy room.

Giving his bear some love...oh yes, don't mind the PINK Hello Kitty watch, he insisted on wearing it after his sister had worn it for a few days.


Giving his bear a bath


Lovin' some 1/1 time with my little man


His new best friend Darth Vader


Aiden with his buddies Hudson and Preston who also made some Star Wars friends


Paige had a Thanksgiving performance at school on Tuesday night. She was the sweetest little Pilgrim (she told me today she also made an Indian costume.) I got back her school pictures and was so relieved that they were picture perfect. I will get them in the mail to you all in a few days.

"Turkey Turkey, Gobble Gobble, Ate Too Much And Wobble Wobble"




Just after the performance with the turkey and her teacher Mrs. Khan


Doesn't she make for the cutest Pilgrim?!


Paige with her friend Jacqueline, just precious together!


Kidergarten 10/2009


Jon and I found the perfect swingset for the kids' Christmas present. I didn't want to bring a ton of toys into the house and knew it would be the best thing we could spend our money on with 3 kids and an empty backyard. Now we just have to figure out how to make the magic happen (Jon and a friend plan on putting it together as the delivery/set-up cost was over $600+ for them to do it...eek!) and get it up without the kids seeing it for Christmas morning.

I am buying each of the kids a few things though (of course Harlow needs some baby girl toys since she won't be jumping on that playset quite yet) on their wish list, since with winter around the corner it will be a couple of months before they will get to take full advantage of the swingset.

I am really looking forward to next week, Paige is off of school all week for the holiday and I have some really fun events planned for the kids.

It Came In The Mail Just For Harlow...Great Gift Ideas for Babies

I didn't have a clue on what we should get Harlow for Christmas but with 2 older siblings I knew "Santa" would have to get her some goodies since she has been a good little baby this year.

Then today the perfect catalog came in the mail with lots of great gifts for babies and in my case Harlow. I had never received this catalog before and I am so happy that it found its way in my mailbox today. The catalog is called nova NATURAL TOYS+CRAFTS. They have a wonderful website with great gifts for all ages and in my opinion they have a really reasonable price point on a great selection. Here are a few great gifts that caught my eye:

baby boo silk $7- perfect for peek-a-boo


amber necklace $22- helps to alleviate teething pain


animal teether $10

horse swing $135- great for indoor (I want it for Harlow's nursery) or outdoor use


teething doll $13

I had already intended on getting Harlow one of these blabla dolls, I have seen many kids holding them tightly in their arms so my guess is it will be a favorite: