We did it! Christmas is here!!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
CtC - Day Twenty-Four: Open a Christmas Eve Present
Day twenty-four - present time!!
We usually spend Christmas Eve with the Ducheks and the boys loved opening presents from Grandma, G-dad and Aunt Amanda!! I think the photos speak for themselves. :)
We usually spend Christmas Eve with the Ducheks and the boys loved opening presents from Grandma, G-dad and Aunt Amanda!! I think the photos speak for themselves. :)
Sunday, December 23, 2012
CtC - Day Twenty-Three: Make a Snowman
Day twenty-three - snowman time!
So I had totally counted on winter to deliver us some snow by this late date. But of course Chicago's unpredictable winter weather was again elusive. While we did in fact get some snow before this activity came up, it was nowhere near enough for making a snowman.
Fortunately, I had planned for this possibility and thought outside the box. Despite not having a lot of snow outside, we still found a way to make our snowmen!! :)
Both boys did extremely well with this craft. I had everything pre-cut and ready to assemble, and it went very smoothly! I knew Caiden would catch on quickly, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Ezra catch on almost as fast! :)
So I had totally counted on winter to deliver us some snow by this late date. But of course Chicago's unpredictable winter weather was again elusive. While we did in fact get some snow before this activity came up, it was nowhere near enough for making a snowman.
Fortunately, I had planned for this possibility and thought outside the box. Despite not having a lot of snow outside, we still found a way to make our snowmen!! :)
Both boys did extremely well with this craft. I had everything pre-cut and ready to assemble, and it went very smoothly! I knew Caiden would catch on quickly, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Ezra catch on almost as fast! :)
Saturday, December 22, 2012
CtC - Day Twenty-Two: Make a Christmas Ornament
Day twenty-three - ornament time!
I was surfing Pinterest looking for an easy idea for making ornaments with the kiddos and came across this cute little guy. I certainly seem to be drawn towards snowmen with these crafty things!
The boys also enjoyed making these and it was really easy to do with them. They got to stuff in the "snow" and pick out the earmuff colors. I helped them glue on the pieces and draw on the faces.
I was surfing Pinterest looking for an easy idea for making ornaments with the kiddos and came across this cute little guy. I certainly seem to be drawn towards snowmen with these crafty things!
The boys also enjoyed making these and it was really easy to do with them. They got to stuff in the "snow" and pick out the earmuff colors. I helped them glue on the pieces and draw on the faces.
I love seeing these on the tree!!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
CtC - Day Twenty: Go on a Christmas Lights Drive
Day Twenty - Lights!!!
I have been waiting for this one to come up on the cards!! I love love driving around and looking at all the decorated houses. We lucked out and found some great neighborhoods just a few streets away!! One neighborhood banded together really nicely and all decorated trees with green trunks and red lights up on top. So pretty!! The boys seemed to enjoy it too. I'm glad they are getting old enough to have their interest maintained and not get bored with mom and dad just aimlessly driving around. :)
I have been waiting for this one to come up on the cards!! I love love driving around and looking at all the decorated houses. We lucked out and found some great neighborhoods just a few streets away!! One neighborhood banded together really nicely and all decorated trees with green trunks and red lights up on top. So pretty!! The boys seemed to enjoy it too. I'm glad they are getting old enough to have their interest maintained and not get bored with mom and dad just aimlessly driving around. :)
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
CtC - Day Nineteen: Play Christmas Music and Sing Along
Day nineteen - Christmas carol sing along!
This one was a little tough to make special since from Thanksgiving all the way up thru Christmas there is near constant Christmas music playing in our house! So turning on some Christmas tunes and singing along is a near daily event!
So lucky for us, we did have a special little impromptu sing along come our way thanks to Ezra! He seems to rather like "Up on the Rooftop," and really digs the "ho ho ho" part. So here's a little peek of Ezra singing his song. :)
This one was a little tough to make special since from Thanksgiving all the way up thru Christmas there is near constant Christmas music playing in our house! So turning on some Christmas tunes and singing along is a near daily event!
So lucky for us, we did have a special little impromptu sing along come our way thanks to Ezra! He seems to rather like "Up on the Rooftop," and really digs the "ho ho ho" part. So here's a little peek of Ezra singing his song. :)
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
CtC - Day Eighteen: Have a Pajama Jam
Day Eighteen - dance party!!
Tonight's activity was to have a pajama dance party around the Christmas tree. Caiden wasn't quite sure what that meant at first, but he got right into it once the music started! This one was a lot of fun, and I think it will become a regular weekly addition in our house! :)
Tonight's activity was to have a pajama dance party around the Christmas tree. Caiden wasn't quite sure what that meant at first, but he got right into it once the music started! This one was a lot of fun, and I think it will become a regular weekly addition in our house! :)
Monday, December 17, 2012
CtC - Day Seventeen: Play a Game Together
Day Seventeen - yay gameday!!
This was a fun and easy activity for us as Caiden and I often play games together. Caiden picked out Candy Land which is a favorite of ours, and he usually beats the pants off me! Today, however, victory was mine! LOL
This was a fun and easy activity for us as Caiden and I often play games together. Caiden picked out Candy Land which is a favorite of ours, and he usually beats the pants off me! Today, however, victory was mine! LOL
Sunday, December 16, 2012
CtC - Day Sixteen: Donate a Gift to Charity
Day sixteen - toy donation!
In our pursuit to teach the kids that Christmas is about giving, Caiden got to donate a toy to charity. Normally I'd like for the kids to pick out the toy at the store, but we were tight on time, so I chose something that I thought Caiden would be likely to pick while I was out. When we showed him what it was, he told us that another kid "is going to be very proud to get these toys for Christmas!" Then he wanted to pick out some of his own toys to donate too. I had to explain that this donation place only takes new toys but that we could donate some of his toys on another day. :)
In our pursuit to teach the kids that Christmas is about giving, Caiden got to donate a toy to charity. Normally I'd like for the kids to pick out the toy at the store, but we were tight on time, so I chose something that I thought Caiden would be likely to pick while I was out. When we showed him what it was, he told us that another kid "is going to be very proud to get these toys for Christmas!" Then he wanted to pick out some of his own toys to donate too. I had to explain that this donation place only takes new toys but that we could donate some of his toys on another day. :)
Saturday, December 15, 2012
CtC - Day Fifteen: Shop for Food Pantry Donation
Day fifteen - donation day!
Last year we started the tradition of shopping for a donation to make at our local food pantry. I think this really stuck with Caiden as he often mentioned it when we went back to the store where we made the purchases. I am thankful that we have enough so that we can give to others who are in need. I am also thankful that we can start instilling this desire in our children. I want them to learn to embrace that Christmas is more about giving than it is about getting.
This year it was a boys trip out. Brian when with Caiden and Ezra while I took care of some things at home. They checked online what was needed at the food pantry before journeying out in the wet weather.
On the way out of the store, Brian's box broke open and he was trying to wrangle the kids and gather up the spilled items in the rain. Fortunately, two kinds souls quickly lent helping hands and they were able to get everything gathered up quickly.
Unfortunately we've been stymied by the limited drop off schedule at the pantry. However, we can drop off the items at our church and they will be delivered before the holiday. :)
Last year we started the tradition of shopping for a donation to make at our local food pantry. I think this really stuck with Caiden as he often mentioned it when we went back to the store where we made the purchases. I am thankful that we have enough so that we can give to others who are in need. I am also thankful that we can start instilling this desire in our children. I want them to learn to embrace that Christmas is more about giving than it is about getting.
This year it was a boys trip out. Brian when with Caiden and Ezra while I took care of some things at home. They checked online what was needed at the food pantry before journeying out in the wet weather.
On the way out of the store, Brian's box broke open and he was trying to wrangle the kids and gather up the spilled items in the rain. Fortunately, two kinds souls quickly lent helping hands and they were able to get everything gathered up quickly.
Unfortunately we've been stymied by the limited drop off schedule at the pantry. However, we can drop off the items at our church and they will be delivered before the holiday. :)
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