Christmas countdown

This year I decided to try an advent calendar for the kids.  

However, we don't celebrate santa and we don't pretend about santa. 

Christmas for us is about Christ's birth.  That is what we celebrate.  

I'm one of those mom's who does not like to give my kids candy or small toys.  So I was at a bit of a loss, I posted a plea on facebook.  My friends came thru and gave me great suggestions.

I decided to make the advent calendar easy and easily doable.  These had to be things that I could do with the kids that didn't cost to much money and did not focus on 'getting'

I made two paperchains,

 my kids, I knew would not share

My kids can't read yet, so to make it even easier for me, I just wrote the date in each chain-link.

Then I printed out my advent list and posted it between the chains

 December 1, 

each kid cut their chain-link and our special countdown task today...

cut out snowflakes and start to memorize a bible verse for the Christmas season.

I used coffee filters so that it would be easier for my little ones to cut. 

The kids still are not super fantastic with scissors, so I ended up doing most of the cutting,

letting the kids unfold them.  They thought that was just as great.

Jesse Tree

This was my first year
attempting the Jesse Tree
with my kidlets
I can't say it
wasn't successful
I believe
the word of God
has power
and reading them
to my kids
even if they don't
listen or if they
fight the entire time
over who gets to use
the yellow felt
is never a waste


I hope to do the
Jesse Tree
with them next year
maybe it won't end up
being a test of
mommy's patience
the kids however
did look forward
to the craft time
and enjoyed coloring
and putting them
on their trees

Oh Christmas Tree

Let me just say
I'm not against
Christmas Trees
I just realize
that I'm the one
who will have to
clean it up
and put it all away
I have a hard enough time
cleaning my house
why would I purposely
make more work for myself?


In the past
we put a tree up
if we had a Christmas event
at our house
the past two years
we did not decorate for Christmas
one year I was pregnant
and as a result
hospitalized in the days
leading up to Christmas
and last year
I was in the midst
of post partum depression
the fact that I bought
presents was enough for me


This year
I was hoping
for one more year
with out the work
of a tree
but my kids
are catching on
so the tree is up
but the traditional decorations are not
I've let the kids have fun
and play with decorating the tree

I have enjoyed seeing
how much they are enjoying
decorating the tree with various things
the biggest decoration
as been elastic bands
and a few toys


we also have gone
and driven around
to enjoy Christmas lights
girly doesn't get it
but my little man
loves it
and will say from the back
wow, those are beautiful
it's so sweet


last night we were able
to go thru the live
nativity drive thru
that a local church puts on each year
the little man loved it
and it was pretty neat
for him to see the Christmas story
displayed that way
he really liked the angels

seeing the kids excitement
over various Christmas things
encourages me for next year
to possibly get more involved
in decorating things for them

The Tree

I was really hoping
I had my fingers crossed
I kept my mouth shut
I didn't encourage
I thought I could
get away with it
for one more year
I lost
The tree is up
not decorated yet
but up
the kids won

we started the afternoon
at the Apple Barn
for a ride in the tractor carts


what kid doesn't love
any type of farm vehicle ride
mine love them all



it was a nice short ride
with numerous cute
Christmas blow ups
and lighted trees



we pulled up to
'santa's workshop'
one little boy in our group
was yelling
'this is the real north pole'
he was so excited
there was a nice trail
thru 'the north pole'


they had cookies to decorate
and a play area
with a nice train set
a warm fire place
and hot apple cider
for the adults



after the ride back
we visited the bunny barn
and then headed home
to put up the Christmas tree
the kidlets were pretty excited
I'm excited for a fake prelit tree
that is easy to set up


after it was up
the kids decided
it was time to sing
jingle bells
so they rocked it
out around the
Christmas Tree


girly decided to
start decorating


after the tree was up
we decided that
mommy and daddy
were too tired
to deal with decorating
so we had some yummy dinner
california rolls
avocado rolls
the kids love them
my little man
eats a lot
he loves it



they jury is still out
on if decorations
will be put on the tree
as the mommy who has
to clean it up
I'm voting no decorations

Christmas.....baking

I don't often bake
sweets, that is
I will bake bread
but not often sweets
we try not to keep
to many sweets

But Christmas seems
like baking should be done
not sure why I feel this way
but I fell prey
I baked sugar cookies
the recent post on
The Pioneer Women
may have something to do with it
so I headed over to
Bake at 350
I did not have illusions
of the amazing cookies
on Bridget's blog
but I thought it
would be a fun idea
to let my kids decorate a few

Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies

3 c unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 c sugar (I use sugar that I've stored vanilla beans in)
2 sticks (salted) butter, cold
1 egg
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pure almond extract (I didn't use this)

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine the flour and baking powder, set aside. Cream the sugar and butter. Add the egg and extracts and mix. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat just until combined, scraping down the bowl, especially the bottom.

The dough will be crumbly, so knead it together with your hands as you scoop it out of the bowl for rolling (video on University of Cookie).

Roll onto a floured surface and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets (I recommend freezing the cut out shape on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before baking) and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit a few minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.


on a side note
I love my kitchen aid
my sister was able
to score it for me
used for $40
the only thing
the lever to keep
it locked in place
it doesn't work
but I can fix that
sorta.....


these were easy to make
and baked for me
in about 10 minutes
it depends
of course
on the thickness


I was certain
my kids would really
enjoy decorating the cookies
I made them each
their own letter
ohhh the excitement
for me anyway
the fact that my kidlets
have yet to learn
their names didn't matter


I mixed icing sugar with lemon
to ice the cookies
armed each of my kidlets
with paint brushes
gave a brief demonstration
that was disregarded by all
and let them go


the kids enjoyed
painting the cookies
for all of 2 minutes
then they just
mostly enjoyed eating
the icing and toppings
it took all
my will power
to just let them be
to not direct
or discourage
but to just let
them be themselves
the did have fun
at least I'm pretty sure


like I said
they enjoyed
eating the icing
here is the evidence


the kids left
and this is what
they left
and I was alright
with that



it allowed me to
decorate the remaining cookies
I am no expert cookie decorator
but they are fun looking
and I did enjoy
letting the kids try
even if it did seem
a little bit pointless
we spent a bit of time
together doing
something fun