Christmas Shopping Trip with the Kiddos!

The kiddos and I are very excited because tomorrow morning we will be making a trip to the store to let them do some shopping of their own.  I love Christmas, I love Santa, I love seeing the little ones open their gifts and giggle with joy!  But I also think it's important for them to be "gift givers" themselves!  Now my little ones are still pretty young (ages 3 and 4 1/2).  Their understanding of money is a bit limited and the price of the gift is not what is important with this activity.  I want them to enjoy picking out gifts for their siblings and mommy & daddy.  That's why our big shopping trip takes place at the Dollar Store! 

It's a fun tradition to take them out and let them browse the aisles of the Dollar Store for the "perfect" gift for their loved ones.  I want it to be something they choose, something they are excited about, and something that doesn't cost a lot.  I don't want to say "no" to any of their gift ideas with reasons like it's too much money or question their choice...we are at the Dollar Store...so they can choose whatever they'd like for each member of the family.  It's not about the cost or even the quality of the gift...it's that they are experiencing the joy of giving!  I want my sweet ones to develop characteristics of generosity and kindness.  By letting them choose gifts for one another and come home to do their own wrapping...they are able to enjoy the gift of giving!  So, tomorrow we will be off on our annual shopping trip to the Dollar Store and while the gifts they choose are not priceless...their excitement and the look in their eyes when they watch us open these gifts, is priceless!  What a fun Christmas activity!
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The Elf on the Shelf

Are you ready for some more Christmas magic this holiday season?  I am in love with holiday traditions and have added a few new ones this year.  My newest tradition is called "The Elf on the Shelf."  You may have heard the buzz about this cute little guy...because he is becoming quite popular!  This adorable Santa's helper (with a vintage 50's look) can be purchased at Hallmark and can come into your home and start the fun right away.

The elf comes with a beautiful children's book that explains the tradition.  The first thing you do is decide with your kiddos what you would like to name your new house guest.  Then it's time to read the book together.  In it, you will learn that this elf reports back to Santa each night on how you have been acting...naughty or nice.  By the next morning, he is back home with you sitting in a new spot.  And the book tells your child that they get to find him each morning, a fun game to play together!  But he's not to be touches, or the Christmas magic will disappear.  There's even a page in the back to write down when you started the tradition with your family and what your elf's name is.  I love memories like this, that you will look back on someday with such sweetness!

My little buddy loved cuddling up and reading the story together.  Before bed he said goodnight to "Sam" our elf and blew him a kiss.  And after bedtime prayers he reminded me that he wanted to look for "Sam" in the morning.  I told him he had to fly back to Santa tonight and we'd see him the next day!

I am so excited about this new tradition!  I encourage you to look into getting your own Shelf Elf or share a story about yours, if you already have one.  Happy Holidays!

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Golden Ticket to See the Christmas Lights!

In the next couple of weeks, I get to carry out this fun holiday tradition.  Instead of just driving around to see the Christmas lights...it becomes a fun, family tradition.  My husband and I decide on an evening that we want to do this one as the kiddos will be up a bit later than usual.  When the date is picked, I make sure to hide my special golden tickets in their beds.  When bedtime comes and they pull back their covers and pillows, they will find the golden tickets waiting for them.  After squeals and screams and the realization that this is the night...we load the car in our jammies for an evening of cocoa, cookies, and Christmas lights.  I love the element of surprise in this one.  The kiddos don't know what night we will be doing this festive activity but when the golden ticket appears in their bed...the excitement is beyond words!

I will be using the golden tickets this year with my kiddos and since they've never seen them, it takes a year to kick-off the fun.  But I guarantee that next Christmas, they will know what to expect and the fun that lays ahead!  Your kiddos will come bounding down the stairs in their jammies and head straight out to the car.  Make sure you are ready and have the car filled with warm drinks, sweet treats, and blankets to snuggle with.  Load up the family and enjoy a night of lights, holiday songs, and sweet memories!
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Countdown to Christmas...with Books!

I love Christmas.  I love books.  And I love traditions. This idea combines all three of those things that I love!  I collect holiday books and this is a new tradition that I started this year as I saw it on one of my favorite blogs at 320 Sycamore.  Choose your favorite 25 holiday books from your collection and wrap them in cute and festive paper.  If you don't have 25 holiday books, now is the time to be on the look out for them.  You can find Christmas books in the dollar section of Target, at scholastic.com, garage sales, and so on.  Start collecing them now!  I have so many holiday books, that it was hard to choose my favorite 25.  It must be the teacher in me! 

On the first day of December I put a huge basket out in our family room, filled with those 25 wrapped holiday books.  I put a cute label with a number on each present.  Now is the fun part for my kiddos.  Each day, a book is chosen from the basket and we get to enjoy reading it together.  It's a fun way to countdown until Christmas Day.  On Christmas, the book is the story of Jesus' birth.  My little guy gets so excited to go to bed because he loves to unwrap a gift.  And the look of surprise on his face when he finds out what book is inside...is priceless!  What fun to have these holiday books become a tradition each year to read together.  It's fun to see what their favorites are and what they become.  Have fun starting this tradition in your family!
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