Hello and Merry Christmas!

I didn't even look to see when my last post was on this blog, probably at least a year or two (or three) ago.  I really should just combine all my blogs into my Whimsical Mom blog.  I don't post frequently on there either but it's definitely more than on this one or my Halloween blog. 

Anyway, our elves arrived on December 1st with an early Santa present...a Wii U.  My husband is deploying very soon and he wanted to see their faces when they found it and he wanted to play it too.  Our elves have been having some fun so far this season.

 They were found "testing" out the new Wii U to make sure it was up to North Pole standards before we got a chance to play it.

They snuck into my closet and pulled out the bracelets I had made for me and the kids to wear during Chad's deployment.  They were caught wearing them so we took them back and started wearing them ourselves. 

 Apparently they wanted to test their skills on crossing great divides. 

They were just hanging out this morning having a jolly old time on our large ornaments. 

CIJ Day 6

For those on your list that have iPods or any other music listening device that requires headphones, a neat gift idea. 

An earbud pouch!  The link has the tutorial.  It even has a key ring so you can attach it to your keys so it's always accessible.

CIJ Day 5

Again, browsing Pinterest this morning I found something very cool.  How do you do presents?  Do you put a tag on each with which child they are for?  Do you have a secret code that you write on each package? 

The idea I found on Pinterest was to wrap each child's gifts in different paper.  Then you place a scrap of the paper in the bottom of the child's stocking, so they have no idea whose presents are whose until they go through their stocking first.  I may do that this year, although we usually do stockings last. 

Usually I write their initial on the back of each package, very small and in a hard to see spot.  We also use gift tags some years. 

CIJ Day 4

I found this on Pinterest this morning.  It's an Advent Pocket Calendar.  You make a big wall hanging calendar with cardstock and scrapbook paper and then put a different activity in each day.  Very neat!

CIJ Day 3: Yarn Christmas Trees

I've had these yarn trees bookmarked for quite a while and still haven't tried them, but i'm hoping to this year!  You can see the tutorial at Pretty Ditty.

How many of your holiday decorations have you made?  Or do you prefer to just use store-bought decor?

CIJ Day 2- Cute snack idea!

I have had this in my favorites for quite a while.  It's from the blog Cookies and Cups.  It's called Santa Hat Party Mix.  It is a super cute idea for a kids class party or for a holiday party!

Happy First Day of Christmas in July!

It's the 1st of July, which means Christmas in July has officially started.  I have absolutely nothing prepared to share on here but i'm hoping to wing it until I have time to get some stuff together. 

Last year I participated in an ornament swap for CIJ and I made these Sparkling Ice Crystals.  They were pretty easy to make and pretty when they were done.  The hardest part was finding the right beads in my area.  Of course, I waited until as late as possible or else I probably could have ordered beads online. 

Let the Holiday Fun Begin!!

It's been forever since I posted to this blog and I figured there's no better time to start back up than now.  We were out of town all last week visiting family.  We got home on Sunday and the trees went up on Monday.  Chad finished the outside lights two days ago and now we're set.  Well, except for the kids trees and those will go up this weekend. 

Chad and I got almost all of our gift shopping done yesterday for the kids.  We put Eli in daycare and went to Topeka and shopped by ourselves and had lunch, so nice!  I still have to do stocking stuffers and maybe a couple more gifts but we are well on our way. 

I have my baking list ready and my Christmas dinner list ready as well.  Now I just need to shop for them.  I will do two baking sessions, at least.  One next week at some point and one the 23rd right before Christmas so Santa can have fresh cookies.  The first session I will gift alot of what I make while the second session will be just for us.   

How is your Christmas prep going? 

Merry Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve so I figured I would finally post some pictures of my decor. I went really low-key this year because Chad is gone and I just didn't have the want to do anything elaborate.

This is our half decorated tree. It's half decorated so I don't have to worry about keeping Eli out of the ornaments.

Food Gifts

I have started my baking marathon for food gifts. I'm not sure when the best time is to gift cookies and goodies but as my mom put it, if I do it this weekend i'll be the first because no one has probably baked yet so my gift receivers will have some goodies to tide them over until they bake.

Yesterday Addison and I whipped up our sugar cookie and gingerbread man dough to put in the refrigerator for a while to chill. Then I made a batch of peanut butter fudge. Last night I rolled, cut, decorated, and baked the doughs. I got finished around 10 p.m. Everything is packaged, i'm doing that as I go. I don't think everything i'm making is going to fit in the plastic tubs I bought. Luckily I found some pretty takeout type cartons that I can use for the overflow. I should rearrange everything and put cookies in one and candy type stuff in the other. Maybe I will, we'll see.

Today will be peanut butter balls, peppermint bark, and peanut blossom cookies. Do you notice a peanut butter theme going here? I can't help it, I love peanut butter and chocolate together and peanut butter fudge. I hope no one is allergic to peanut butter!

I know I said pictures were coming and I completely forgot so i'll work on getting those up.

The Elves Have Arrived....

On December 1st, our three elves made their appearance. It was simple, they just appeared on the table with a letter from Santa and there were Hershey Kisses in the advent calendar.

On the second day, they were hiding in various places around the house. Edward was in Samuel's backpack, Snowflake was riding Eli's toy with a Patrick the Starfish ornament and Bella was reading my magazine on the table.

This morning they left a weaving loom to make presents for the grandparents with. I will need to pick up some more loops though i'm sure because I won't be able to resist making something also. :)

Tomorrow I think will be paper chain making, but we'll see since Samuel will be gone to his dad's.

Update

So, the tree is up and half decorated. I intentionally left the bottom half bare so my 20 month old can't get the ornaments. It saves us both from yelling and trouble. That doesn't keep him from trying to unplug the lights unfortunately.

I still need to fix the outside lights at some point this week.

I am happy to report that i'm almost finished with my shopping. I finished up all the main presents for the kids but still have some stocking stuffer items to grab. I also have to figure out what i'm getting my brother.

This week i'll mail out my Christmas cards and finish decorating the inside of the house. The elves will be here on Wednesday so I need to finalize plans for that. I need to find all three of them also.

Pictures to come......

Lights

This morning in the 35* weather, I went out and embarked on the putting up the Christmas lights journey. I hung one strand of icicle lights, which spanned the length of my porch, and 3 strands of colored lights, one on each column. When I finished and went to plug them in, I realized that I screwed up and put the icicle strand the wrong way. Even though everything is plugged into each other, I can't plug them in to the outlet because it's the same end. I got extension cords and all sorts of things to try to figure this out and so far nothing has worked. I will be checking Walmart for a same double ended adapter of some kind to try to make this work. Otherwise I will have to take them all down and start over. Go figure.

I did get the main tree in the house and put together yesterday. I got the lights on it but the kids and I haven't done the ornaments yet. We'll do those after school today. I also hung a strand of colored lights around the window behind the tree. Looks pretty good.

Christmas is coming.....are you ready?

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas......

Ho Ho Ho! Welcome to Christmas 2010!

I have started decorating a little earlier this year since we'll be gone over Thanksgiving weekend. The kids decorated their room trees earlier this week and today I put up the kitchen tree (see picture in sidebar).

I whipped up my first batch of Sugar Cookie Dough for the season this morning and it's hanging out in the refrigerator. Later i'll start bringing in the pieces for the big tree and putting it together. Since Chad is deployed I have the daunting task of doing the lights by myself. I hate putting the lights on the tree. I suck at it. When we replace this tree, it will be for one with lights already on it, you can bet on that!

I've already sent Chad his present and his stocking is next to go. I've gotten a little shopping done but still have more to do, however with the kids in tow it's hard. Some things just can't be ordered online.

My Christmas cards for a swap i'm in are all ready to go, just waiting for after Thanksgiving to mail them. I need to get busy on the family and friend cards too. Finding my address book will be a challenge.

Have you started Christmas yet?

2009 Holiday Tour of Homes

Hello and welcome to my humble abode. :) First off I would like to say a big thank you to Cathymac who is hosting the Holiday Tour of Homes. My pictures are in no particular order so enjoy.
Don't mind the kitchen witch in the picture, she's always hanging in my kitchen.



Samuel made this last year in school. It's supposed to contain a picture of him but I don't have one that small.

This is my kitchen tree.
This is the paper chain that Addison and I made a few days ago.

Time to share those cookie recipes!

What is your all-time favorite cookie to eat during the holidays? What's your favorite to make?


I have more than one favorite i'm afraid, which is horrible for the waist line. My favorites are sugar cookies (decorated or not) and peanut blossoms. My favorite to make are the peanut blossoms. They aren't really difficult and there's no rolling and cutting out.

I'll be sharing all my favorite cookie recipes in the coming days!

Almost finished.....

So, the decorating is ALMOST done. I still have some work to do in the kitchen but hopefully it will be done today.

I am finished with all the gift buying for the kids, minus stocking stuff. I need to pick up a few more things for the stockings but i'm not sure what those will be. I still need to shop for Chad. I only have 2 things for him so far and no clue what else to get him, let alone what the heck to put in his stocking.

I'll be back later with pictures of the decorating!

Christmas Countdown Week 6: Celebrate

To Do This Week:

•Write and address final one-fifth of Christmas card List this week. Mail all cards by December 10.

•Complete the final one-fourth of gifts to make this week. If the gifts have not been completed, put them away for next year. Add any needed replacements to the master gift list.

•Complete gift shopping. Wrap and mail send-away gifts by December 6.

•Plan holiday parties using free printable party planning forms. Plan the event with the party planner form, track and record RSVPs on the guest list, and keep the lid on finances with the party budget form.

•Begin a family Advent observance. Use an Advent wreath, calendar or daily family activity to underscore your spiritual values.

•As a family, broaden your own observance by learning more about other holiday traditions.

•Record each year's special traditions on a holiday tradition tracker form. Add new ideas, and record your family's reaction. Keep the memories alive!

•Set aside favorite holiday books, music and video for use during the season. Print a Holiday Favorites inventory form to remind you of what's in the family library.

•Does your family collect holiday figurines, houses or collectibles? Print a Holiday Collections form and inventory Christmas collectibles for your Christmas planner.

•Order poultry or special roasts for any holiday meals held in your home.

•Cultivate a calm and quiet home during the height of the season. Turn the television off, and substitute reading one evening each week.

•Complete interior and exterior decorating. As a last touch, decorate the front door as a symbol that you are ready to celebrate!

•Get resolved! Consider New Year's resolutions carefully, and maximize your chances of following through by writing them down on a New Year's resolution form!
January 5, hold a holiday debriefing. Record impressions, memories and solutions to guide next year's holiday

Christmas Countdown Week 5: Decorate

To Do This Week:

•Write and address one-fifth of Christmas card List this week.

•Make one-fourth of gifts to make this week.

•Set up holiday tearfiles. Use tearfiles for ideas for holiday decorating. Save for next year!

•Inspect and inventory decorations. Record results on our holiday decoration inventory. Check light strands for cracked or broken bulbs. Add needed replacements to the master shopping list.

•Does your family give children new ornaments each year? Preserve the memories along with the gift. Use printable ornament memory record pages to keep the gift alive!

•Prepare for Thanksgiving dinner, baking desserts and salads ahead.

•Give thanks on Thanksgiving Day!

•Check in with family members at Thanksgiving celebrations. Ask for gift suggestions, and arrange to share or contribute to holiday meals.

•Begin interior and exterior decorating

Christmas trees

I snapped some pictures of the kid's trees tonight and wanted to share.

This is Samuel's tree with his special spaceship ornament and penguin ornament he picked out.

This is Addison's tree. She also has two special ornaments but you can't really see them.

This is Eli's little tree. It's the pre-lit tree I sent to Chad last year while he was in Korea.