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Bridget
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We talked about Christmas shopping a while back in the more the merrier. I thought I would bring it up again here. I did a little shopping last night and wanted to let you know about this great site if you haven't already seen it. Julie's Stuff
She carries an adorable line of miniatures called Calico Critters that I'm getting for my girls (instead of Angelina Ballerina). Julie also has some crafty type kits on clearence. There are lots of neat things there. Julie is here on the message board I think.
Just wanted to pass along a great site owned by a Catholic hs'ing family!
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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Louise
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I second Julie's Stuff website.  I have bought from her for years. She has a wonderful service and yes, she is on this board.
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Louise, mom of 11
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http://ecolebuissonniere.blogspirit.com/
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jdostalik
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Bridget and Louise,
Thanks so much for the recommendation! I just got some Christmas shopping done!  Those Calico Critters are adorable and my daughters will love them. 
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Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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Mary G
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All "3rd it" -- Julie not only has great prices and products, the stuff comes fast and she'll let you know about possible specials, etc.
I love to support fellow homeschoolres!
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MaryG
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my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Molly Smith
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Those Calico Critters are adorable! I know my 3yo would love them. I know you mentioned them as an alternative to the Angelina Ballerina line at AG. I just wanted to plug the AG Bitty Critters. My 3yo has a bunch of them plus the house and school bus. They are very cute, and we've gotten many, many hours of play out of them.
Thanks for passing on the Julie's Stuff site. I had already started just thinking about Christmas buying, too. I'm still trying to set a budget. Do you set a dollar amount per child, or a certain number of gifts per child? These guys all get a game and/or a video or book for the feast of St. Nicholas, we have a tradition of giving everyone a new set of jammies after Mass on Christmas eve, then on Christmas day everyone usually gets 3 gifts from us and 1 biggish thing from Santa. They are way spoiled by both sets of grandparents, though, so I'm thinking of cutting back the gifts from us a bit this year. And I've already asked my mom to control herself this year  .
On the same note, what do all put in the childrens' stockings?
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Marybeth
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Molly,
I have a few stocking suggestions for you. These are things my sister and I have put in stockings the last few years.
toothbrush
toothpaste
bubble bath
crayons
markers
stickers
diary-for my niece
CD of music or book on CD
silly putty
playdoh
card game
My sister's tradition which my bil started was a note left to the family from Santa. It usually talks all about loving Jesus and keeping His b-day foremost in their minds. Then Santa tells some good things he observed that year and some things to "work on" on for the upcoming year. My niece and nephews love opening their gifts and gathering around to hear all that Santa has to say that year. It is amazing what my bil remembers from the year to put in the letters.
Just some thoughts...
Marybeth
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Bridget
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I like consumable stuff. We usually do an orange, a juice box, an ind. size junky cereal (that's breakfast). I have put in special pens, pencils, stickers, colored masking tape, even money.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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Mary G
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Our family tradition with stockings is to get those on Epiphany or Little Christmas -- usually accessories for the big Santa present, practical stuff (underwear, etc.  ) and treats. I like to celebrate this on the 6th of January rather than the 2nd Sunday after -- just me being rigoristic  ! This is a hold-over from when I was little -- and we use BIG stockings so it's quite fun!
After the stockings, we take all the Christmas decorations down and stow all books, cds, videos, etc away till the next Christ the King Sunday when we begin to "deck the halls" again.....
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MaryG
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my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Molly Smith
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Mary G. wrote:
| After the stockings, we take all the Christmas decorations down and stow all books, cds, videos, etc away till the next Christ the King Sunday when we begin to "deck the halls" again..... |
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I love that idea! So, when are the stocking actually filled? Are they sitting out just tempting everybody for 12 days ? "Who" fills them--Santa or Mommy and Daddy? We always take down our decorations on the 6th, too, so this would be a nice tradition.
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Molly Smith in VA
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Louise
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jdostalik wrote:
Bridget and Louise,
Thanks so much for the recommendation! I just got some Christmas shopping done! Those Calico Critters are adorable and my daughters will love them. |
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Make sure you check out this activity page with coloring pages, crafts and recipes.
BTW this post reminded me today to pull out from storage Lydia's old calico critters collection for Laurence (3) to play with. He is having great fun playing with the squirrel family (not available anymore). I am amaze by all the details on the furniture and accessories.
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Louise, mom of 11
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Louise
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I also highly recommend the Corolle's dolls sold by Julie. They are beautiful, durable, reasonably priced and their delightful vanilla scent last for ever.
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Louise, mom of 11
http://timetokeep.blogspot.com/
http://ecolebuissonniere.blogspirit.com/
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Mary G
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Molly Smith wrote:
Mary G. wrote:
| After the stockings, we take all the Christmas decorations down and stow all books, cds, videos, etc away till the next Christ the King Sunday when we begin to "deck the halls" again..... |
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I love that idea! So, when are the stocking actually filled? Are they sitting out just tempting everybody for 12 days ? "Who" fills them--Santa or Mommy and Daddy? We always take down our decorations on the 6th, too, so this would be a nice tradition. |
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Molly:
They hang empty throughout the season, the night before they are filled by the "Wise Men" -- actually, we don't hype this too much, but it's just assumed. Also, the kids are free to put stuff in each others (or mom and dad's ) the 5th! This works well as they never have money before Christmas but by the 6th, they're rolling in the dough 
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MaryG
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Rachel May
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My approach to stockings has been to have Saint Nicholas fill them. (I never have it together on St. Nicholas day) He only brings one small thing to remind them about baby Jesus. The kids loved the book The True Story of Santa Claus which took care of most Santa/St. NIck conflicts without ruining the magic of Christmas. Occasionally, they wonder if Heaven is at the North Pole, but no one is old enough to really question and they aren't getting strange ideas from school.
Last year stocking gifts were saint comic books from Pauline Books and Media, an idea from my childhood. We were reading one about the John Paul II tonight. This year I got half hour CCC saint videos which the kids love, and I do too when I need a little break to cook dinner. They also get a little candy, but I really like the breakfast idea. I think we'll do that this year.
I have a question too. I would like to start getting gifts for the kids' godparents. Does anyone have a good idea? I had thought to do seperate gifts for guys and ladies, but they are all married couples so I could do a couple gift too. Any thoughts would be great!
Thanks!
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momwise
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Rachel,
What about having the kids get a Mass card for their godparents? You could add homemade candies or goodies. Most years I try to have my kids make homemade cards for their godparents.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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I usually have my kids make the gifts and cards for their godparents. Recently they created a gift basket (baskets we got at a yard sale very inexpensively - also Christmas Tree shop has some very inexpensive ones), they rolled beeswax candles, included an ornament that they made, baked bread and also a sweet they made (fudge, cookie), the girls help in the fall making apple butter, pickles, jam etc so we often include a jar of one which might be a favorite of the godparent.
I really like Gwen's idea about giving a mass card to godparents. Great suggestion!
God Bless,
Wendi
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Rachel May
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I like both of your ideas. Since I have to ship the gifts, we could do boxes or tins instead of baskets. The other night we made Spiritual Bouquet cards from at kit that I had bought from Emmanuel Books, and they loved that. It wouldn't be difficult to duplicate the idea with the scrapbooking stuff I have. Of course mass cards are so easy.... Now all I have to do is make a decision which is the hardest part for me.
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Rachel
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Bridget
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L. L. Bean has free shipping rght now.
L L Bean
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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momwise
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Wendi DeGrandpr wrote:
| they rolled beeswax candles, included an ornament that they made, baked bread and also a sweet they made (fudge, cookie), the girls help in the fall making apple butter, pickles, jam etc so we often include a jar of one which might be a favorite of the godparent. |
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Here's a suggestion for a Honey Basket that would go great with Wendi's idea above!! I am sure there are some great Bible quotes on honey or sweetness that could be used in a homemade card.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Christmas shopping
