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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Dec 29 2011 at 2:53pm | IP Logged
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I like to do something special each day with the kids on the days leading up to Christmas. In the past this has forced me to quickly throw things together over Thanksgiving weekend which ends up not being as fun as I wish it to be. So, this year I decided that while so many neat ideas are out there on various blog pages, etc. I am going to jot down ideas of books to read, crafts to make, homemade gifts, recipes, games, or whatever and file it away to open next year. It would probably be a smart idea too to buy the doodads for crafts and stuff now during the after holiday sales. Then, when next December rolls around I can just take everything out and just enjoy it all.
So, would you all like to share any neat ideas for crafts, gifts, books, traditions, recipes that you have?
Our favorite for years has been "NaNa Elf". I saw this idea somewhere else about an elf that hides and watches over the kids and reports back to santa. Well, the year we started the baby at the time called me "nana" and so "nana elf" was born. I made her simply out of felt and she ends up all over the place over the days watching everyone. Every few days she hides with a treat and everyone has to look for her. It is a very cherished tradition of ours.
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Dec 29 2011 at 8:25pm | IP Logged
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Jackie, I agree with you. I have the best of intentions, but leave everything way too long then it doesn't happen.
I want to create a Jesse Tree, with embroidered ornaments.
I want to do other things too. Lapbooks or unit studies on books relating to Christmas....
so many ideas!
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Dec 30 2011 at 3:53pm | IP Logged
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I am working very hard this year to *get everything in writing!* I've been taking note of what worked this year, what didn't, and am really trying to be detailed. I'm seriously detail-impaired so this is very hard for me!
For us, we need to streamline what we do, choosing to keep our favorite traditions while modifying or dropping what isn't working for us now. We'll keep:
paperchain advent countdown
advent wreath
advent calendars
cookie baking
manger
purple lights on tree
Christmas books
Christmas movies
Christmas music
outdoor decorating
gift purchasing
sending Christmas cards/photo
Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration
OK...there's more but I need to stop there! Look forward to seeing what others are doing now to prepare for next year!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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JodieLyn
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I need to sit down and write out the amounts of each of the goodies now while I still have a grasp of how much we want of each. And I need to write down how much nuts we went through especially.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Dec 31 2011 at 6:47am | IP Logged
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Holy Heroes Advent Adventure works well for us. It only takes a few minutes each day, and all we have to do is click on the link, so there is no prep for me.
The Jesse tree segment of HH this year was especially nice for us- the stories were presented on a felt board, which my dc always enjoy. I would like to make a set of permanent ornaments for next year... but that has been on my lost of goals for about three years now  . My dc like the Jesse tree stories but they burn out on making daily ornaments by about day 5.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Dec 31 2011 at 6:49am | IP Logged
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Jodie-that's a great idea! I can't believe the amount of chocolate we went through. With 6 boys treats just disappear around here. I actually kept everything in ice cream pails in the basement this year which worked well. If it is in the kitchen It doesn't make it through the day!
Angie-paper chain countdown, I forgot this year...have to write that down. The visual is so good for little people.
mommy4ever-check out homeschoolshare for lapbook ideas. I love the ones they offer for the Jan Brett books. When my kids are 4 we always do a Jan Brett Christmas theme covering Christmas Trolls,Wild Christmas Reindeer, Trouble with trolls, Night Before Christmas, and Gingerbread Baby. I use Jan Brett's website too for coloring pictures and such. At this age too we use Jan Brett's books to learn about the continents each month.
One thing I forgot to do that I really wanted and so might do today even is make a handprint tree. I've done these over the years; but, now we have a new baby and so I really want that little sweet hand traced. I have everyone trace their hands on green construction paper 4 times or so, cut them out, and assemble like a christmas tree. The baby's foot becomes the angel's body and hands are the wings. Yes, I will do it today! It can be our "new year's tree"!
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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nissag
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Jackie,
It has taken us several years to build up to a full Advent. There are so many great feasts! Several years ago I made an Advent Calendar out of matchboxes. For most of the days, there were smarties (one for each child) to eat. That turned out to be a boon to our family of 6, 7, 8 children. Everything fit! And I wasn't worried about just one smarty before bed. We don't eat much candy here, so it was a satisfying treat for all.
On special feast days, we had surprise trinkets (holy medals, stickers, or little notes) On those days we wanted to do a project or give the children something larger than could fit in the box, we used a little note. OR, they found a surprise on the table in the morning instead - a stocking with a clementine, bag of gelt, and a little toy for St. Nicholas. Honey rolls and honey straws with breakfast on St. Ambrose. We have celebrated St. Lucia for many years and that is always the highlight of Advent for us, and conveniently placed midway!
Now, we also extend Christmas gift-giving with Christmas morning being the day that the children give their handmade gifts, and Epiphany being the day that they receive gifts from Brian and me. It has also taken a lot of pressure off of us. We're busier than ever now that we're in Brian's final year of diaconate formation.
This has been a very pleasant, easy Advent and Christmastide for us.
Do a little bit more each year and build up. It can be overwhelming to do everything all at once, and then it's not much fun for anyone.
HTH!
Blessings,
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Nissa
Deacon's wife, mother of eleven, farmer, teacher, creator, cook.
At Home With the Gadbois Family
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Cay Gibson
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Jackie,
Madeleine L'Engle's book The 24 Days Before Christmas with the Austin family has the mother doing this in the days leading up to Christmas. It's covered in Christmas Mosaic as well.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Turtle
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| Posted: Jan 28 2012 at 9:20am | IP Logged
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"I would like to make a set of permanent ornaments for next year... but that has been on my lost of goals for about three years now"
Seastar,
Have you considered an ornament swap.
Our homeschool group did this 2 years ago. One wonderful lady organized the families who were interested. Each family made many copies of one day's ornament. For instance, an apple with a snake. Then the families got together to swap. We ended up with a beautiful set of ornaments. Many were handmade, but some, such as the star, were store-bought.
This is my children's favorite advent tradition. All the unique ornaments make the Bible stories come alive, plus they love knowing which families made which ornaments (they kept track). All advent its, "mommy, who made this one?" and "My best friend's family made that one. Can I hang it?"
They came out so beautifully! There were actually so many people who didn't get into the original swap and regretted it, that the organizer whipped up a second swap just before Advent began. I was very grateful to be in that group!
:)
Melissa
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: Planning for next Christmas
