Countdown Till Christmas

I love advent calendars. I think it stems from all the chocolate-filled cardboard advent calendars we used to open as a kid. We have a big wall hanging one you put candy in that I got from Pottery Barn Kids on a great sale a couple of years ago but I really wanted another one. Then I came across this idea on a blog -- basically you take envelopes and fill them with different activities. I like this because it really focuses on us doing things together as a family and getting our little kids into the spirit of Christmas. Luke was so excited that he snuck out of his room early a few days ago and opened ALL of the envelopes. But luckily he can't read yet so it didn't spoil anything. He loves it -- and that's the point, right?

I downloaded the template on line and used my scrapbooking scraps to make the envelopes. Then I just hung it on a ribbon on our piano.

Here are the activities we're doing:

1. Have fun at a Christmas party and tell Santa what you want for Christmas.
2. Write letters to Santa
3. Buy a toy for a child in need
4. Read Christmas stories
5. Play Christmas music and dance around the kitchen
6. Draw Christmas pictures to send to Grandma and Grandpa
7. Watch a Christmas movie together
8. Go visit Mommy at work and eat cookies together
9. It’s family game night!
10. Candlelit dinner together
11. Make Christmas cookies together
12. Take Christmas cookies to the neighbors
13. Pick out a favorite stuffed animal and Mommy or Daddy will make up a Christmas story
14. Go see the Christmas lights downtown. Don’t forget the hot chocolate!
15. Go outside and throw snowballs at each other
16. Sing Christmas carols together by the piano
17. Bake another batch of Christmas cookies and share with neighbors.
18. Have breakfast for dinner.
19. Make a list of ten things you are thankful for. Hang it where you can see it every day.
20. Make and hang edible gifts for the birds and squirrels.
21. Have a campout around the Christmas tree.
22. Call all of your Grandparents and tell them you love them.
23. Go outside and look at the stars. Have hot chocolate together afterwards.
24. Unwrap one present after dinner (mom and dad get to pick which one) and read the Christmas story.
25. It’s Christmas Day. Remember you have a family who loves you. And that’s the most important gift of all.

You can download the template and get more info here: http://www.quietfish.com/notebook/?p=1244. You still totally have time to do this for the 12 days of Christmas.

Breaking in my new toy

I plopped the baby down in front of the Christmas tree and tried to snap a few photos. I'm mostly using the auto focus setting now, but on my down time at work I've been scouring the web for helpful tips. Maybe I'll get brave enough to break out of auto one of these days. I'd really like to figure out how to get better indoor shots (key in Minnesota - especially this time of year!).

Here are a couple of good ones (at least I think so!)

Mama - razzi

We did it. In the name of "family Christmas present" and via a great deal on Amazon, we got our digital SLR -- a Canon Digital Rebel XT. It is sooooooooo lovely. Of course, I have absolutely no idea how to use it. Okay, all you photographers out there (professional and amateur alike), got any ideas for me? Or at least any good websites/help books/super photographer mentors?

I've been playing around with the autofocus features and have gotten a good start, I think. However I've been home and awake for like 6 hours only every other day this week so I haven't really had time to play much or post the pics. Please someone help!

Baby Got Bow

Okay, baby got flower, really. How great is this hat? Our bald baby solution! And no one will ask "how old is your little boy?" now, that's for sure! Okay, so it's just a little over-the-top -- but so darn cute, seriously.

My stylin' baby

This my favorite picture of the kids together to date

I love this one too!
Anyway, check them out here: http://www.coccoletta.com/.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .

Steps to decorating a Christmas Tree:

1. Make sure you have all the proper equipment


2. Concentrate very intently -- this is important business!

3. Space all the ornaments evenly across the tree (Luke had his own little 2 foot high section of tree completely covered -- we're working on the idea of "balance")

4. Admire a job well done (okay, well partly done).

I love the day after Thanksgiving -- eat nothing but leftovers, play lots of Christmas music and decorate the house. Happy Holidays!

What I'm Thankful For

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude" Thomas S. Monson

I'm, sadly, at work today hoping I'd have plenty of time to read and peruse the shopping ads but it was actully quite busy -- luckily I have a hubby who traipsed up here with 2 sort-of crabby kids so we could be together as a family (and so I could have some Turkey and sweet potoatoes!). I did have a few minutes to jot down a few things I'm thankful for today:


1. A fabulous husband who supports me, loves his kids, comes to visit me on Thanksgiving even though I'm working all day and it means he misses out on football, doesn't complain about my shopping addiction and even watches Grey's anatomy with me.

2. 2 great kids. I can't believe how much I love them. I am so very very blessed.

3. My great family, parents who still show up a few times a year to help out, 2 sisters I love to talk to

4. The seasons -- I love it all here (yes, even winter). I am excited for snow on the trees and hot cocoa, building snow forts in our yard, playing outside

5. My job -- I am so lucky to have a job I love where I get to help people, see crazy things, work with great people and sometimes save a life.

6. My faith -- again, how blessed am I

7. Friends -- through all the stages of my life I have been lucky to find those who love me, support me, make me laugh, or sometimes just sit and listen.

7. Life, in general -- to be able to run through it, enjoy it.



Happy Thanksgiving, all!