december 1

Let the countdown to Christmas begin! The kids are tucked in bed asleep and now is the time to get a few things out for the beginning of our Advent celebration. Here is a list of the activities that show up behind our Advent doors each morning. http://www.scribd.com/doc/23411321

I'm trying for consistency with many special things we do for the holidays. I want my boys to grow up with traditions, excitement & anticipation. Christmas is packed with things we'll repeat each year. Here's a new tradition we're starting with "Elf on our Shelf". I've seen this idea on numerous blogs but was originally inspired while reading http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/11/elf-on-shelf.html.

I didn't buy the story book this year

http://www.elfontheshelf.com/#/home

but did find this little Japanese cutie on EBay.

He'll show up tomorrow morning on a shelf in our house, will watch over the boys for 24 days and report back to Santa Christmas Eve night. Moving around the house when no one is looking will help him keep a keen eye on who's been naughty or nice.

Another tradition we're beginning is that I'll be wrapping 24 Christmas themed books (off our bookshelf) tonight and placing them under the tree for tomorrow. I read about this idea on http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-books.html and fell in love with it!

Each evening before bed the boys will take turns opening that night's book and will enjoy a beloved Christmas tale.

The same 24 books will be wrapped and opened each year. I think this will be a great way to make our Christmas books special and memorable.

We will also be making a paper chain tomorrow with 24 links. Each morning the boys will rip off a link and have a visual to the remaining days until Christmas.

{I'm feeling quite prepared this year}

All Christmas gifts bought (Check!)

Outdoor Lights Hung (Check!)

Christmas decorations inside setup (Check!)

Christmas Tree up (Check!)

Christmas Cards bought and ready to be sent (Check!)

Preschool Parties @ school planned (Check!)

December Birthday boy's party planned and prepped (Check!)

What's gotten into me?

I'm the queen of procrastination!

50 free 4x8 photo cards

It's the real deal. I just ordered 50 free 5x7 photo cards.

{including shipping}

from

www.seehere.com

My subtotal came to $40.50 and when I entered this coupon code

freebies4mom-1109

my total came to $0.00

Here's an idea for those that already ordered Christmas cards and don't need 50 photo cards... Just insert a photo into a blank photo card and get 50 5X7 prints for free! That's what I did! The site ran very slow during the day but was a breeze later in the evening.

Hurry...Offer valid until Nov. 30Th.

NOTE:

I JUST READ THAT THEY ARE ONLY OFFERING THIS FOR 4x8 PHOTO CARDS NOW, DUE TO A HIGH VOLUME OF PARTICIPANTS. YOU CAN GO TO THIS SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://freebies4mom.blogspot.com/2009/11/50-free-photo-cards-faq.html