Christmas Helps

Some offerings from my cyber friends.....

Jen has a wonderful list of internet links for all things Advent. You'll find planners, devotionals, worksheets, coloring books.... And here she shares a darling Christmas craft that I can't wait to try.

I have been planning to post a list of all the Christmas books we've collected through the years. This would serve two purposes - 1. share and 2. be a LIST so I could remember what we have after we pack the books away. ::snort:: Dorothy has done a visual list of her favorite Christmas books.

Kathy has composed an impressive list of links as well. You'll find the link to our favorite Advent study, lists of "safe" toys, Christmas books, gift guides, and even a christmas carnival.

I'll write an entire entry about this next one, but I LOVE Beth's idea for making service at Christmas fun. Check out her 30 days of Joy.

I had to dig a bit for this one but Lisa decorated some darling paint cans last year - if you're looking for a unique gift visit her post.

I've debated about posting this. I'm positive that as SOON as I post, I'll find another list of links or site that must be shared...but for now....look at my talented friends. Aren't they grand? I'm sure you'll enjoy their blogs when you visit.

Homeschool Blog Awards

I've been nominated for a HSBA in the "Live What You Believe" category. Thank you to the readers who thought of me. Thanks also to God for using my silly words in the lives of others.

The voting will begin 3 Dec. In the meantime you can click here to check out the nominees in all the categories. There are some great blogs listed. I've found the winner and nominee list from past years to be a good place to begin surfing. ::snort::

Jesus' Stocking

During a rough Christmas Season last year (Mike was gone from Sept 5 - Mid March), Debbie gave me this stocking ornament. She said she thought of me when she saw it in the store. I immediately KNEW I wanted to create a new family tradition based on this idea. I wanted to find a Christmas stocking for Jesus.

I had a year to look. I found one on sale yesterday. (OK - so really Christmas Stockings aren't AROUND during the year, I didn't just procrastinate. ) I love the stocking. It didn't have a name and so Arielle and I looked all over town for ideas on how to make a name for the stocking.

Finally, at the Christian Bookstore (duh) we saw some of these rhinestone words - and here you have it.

I plan to center a family devotion or morning circle time around the theme of Christ's Character. We can go through His names, talk about Phil 2, I Cor 13, maybe use the Adorenaments....and then throughout the rest of the Advent season we'll catch each other being Christlike. When we do, we'll write the instance down on a slip of paper and put it in the stocking.

I'm not sure when Mike will want to do it - either Christmas Eve or maybe Christmas Morning, or maybe a different time (New Years?) we'll read all the gifts to Jesus that are in the stocking. I really like this idea (still haven't taken the Thankful Tree down - but I like this idea too.)

Countdown Candle

(This would be a good time to mention that I linked a few things some of us have written about Christmas in the sidebar this weekend. I'll link more. If you've heard why we celebrate Christmas before, you don't have to read it again. If you wonder - you can check. etc They are under the little "Jesus is the Reason" sign to the right).

This is one of our fun family traditions. I look for a special candle each year. The very first year we used some really intricately carved candles that my Mother in Law had given me. I loved them. Some years all we can afford is a plain 9 inch taper.

We wanted to find something SPECIAL this year. Arielle and I found this one at Hobby Lobby for 50% off.

The photo doesn't do it justice. It is sort of glittery and the young ones love it. We'll make 25 marks on this candle. We'll burn a "mark a night" during our family circle. This will be a visual aid for the little ones. IF I count right the candle will burn out on Christmas Eve. Often we have to burn it several hours on the 23rd to make this work. ::snort:: I figure it will be easy to mark this one as there are 5 squares on it with the letters P E A C E. I may let Mike mark it off. ::snort::

Fisher Price Nativity

I'm in need of two of the FP Little People Nativities. I bought one last year WITH the shepherd add on for around $30. This year they are out of stock at Walmart and Walmart online. They are out of stock at my favorite online stores. Amazon has two sets left for $89.00 - without the shepherds! If any of you happen to know of local stores in your area that have them, please leave a comment below. I'm on the hunt today for these. I'd like to find them for $30 or less. I may order direct from FP and pray they get here "soon" and aren't backordered. What do you all think? Would you take the chance that they'd arrive before 1 Jan?

Memory Making Monday

The big memory of the day was Zander’s dental adventure. You can read more about that below. He did wonderful. Currently, he’s still fussing about having “fake teeth” and is not open to the idea of another one at all.

Mike and I managed to fit a date in at lunch time. That’s fairly amazing and certainly memorable. We had some great salads at Cheddars (the honey covered croissant wasn’t half bad either). ::snort::

Nolan and I raced to speech. Nolan is working very hard on the last few sounds and combinations that give him trouble. We are all concentrating on his sequential difficulties.

We received a call as we left speech asking us to pick up some C7 bulbs, and a couple of piggy backs. We also decided to see if we could pick up an item that was on sale for Circuit City – a gift for my parents. ARGH. This town is worse than ALASKA for shopping. ::snort:: I knew Best Buy does this but it seems that they get 1 – 3 items of sale items. This was in Sunday’s ad and sold out an hour after the store opened. I simply can’t wait at stores at 5 a.m. on Sunday.

Striking out at Circuit City, we headed to Sam’s club (struck out for parents but Nolan found a gift he wanted for Arielle), then Wal-Mart. Ah – the mecca of all things cheap and Christmas. ::snort:: We found the bulbs, more wreath hangers, and such.

Back at home the crew had begun putting up outside decorations. They have lots of lights up. Jared had designed of diagram of his vision. Ah, another list thing… I guess that’s why things weren’t “quite right” in our decorating last year. ::snort:: Here are a few photos. There aren’t many as I was asked to keep the younger two inside.



Jamin was able to help for an hour or so before heading to work.

Ah, they love making memories, these two. ::snort:: Evidently, being headless is genetic.
I put these little candle/lights in the younger kids' room for nightlights...Stacia has been running around singing "my light, my light".

I tackled the MOUNTAIN of laundry that had erupted since we didn’t do much laundry on Thanksgiving and the days following.

At 7 p.m. I was sitting in my pj’s when I realized it was MOM’S NIGHT OUT. Mike told me to go ahead and change. He didn’t think it would matter if I was a bit late. I’m glad I went….I get to see several there that I see no other time of the month.

Zander's Appointment

We’re home. Zander has a new silver tooth. Dr. S is AMAZING!

Zander is trying to pull his new silver tooth out, please do pray that he is able to relax about the sensation. He’s been in tears since we left the office telling one and all that he HATES silver teeth and they need to take it out of his mouth.

He has the second root canal next Monday unless we think he needs bit more time. I forgot the camera.