life in general

sharing a piece of christmas

I know everyone has taken down the tree, packed up the decorations, and said goodbye to another Christmas season . . . but wait!  I have one more thing I want to share before I forget.

Several months ago we discussed plans for my in-laws to join us for Christmas after the move.  But the move never happened ;) so we've post-poned our Christmas gathering for a year.  In lieu of being together for Christmas I decided that I would share a piece of our Christmas with them each day.

It begins with 25 cards and 25 envelopes

At the end of each day in December I printed a photo, wrote a little note (or recruited one of the kids to write a note) about something that happened that day, and mailed it off.  Simple and, I think, very meaningful.  

I know they looked forward to checking the mailbox each day for a new card.  Maybe even competing to be the first one to find it?  ;)

I also put together this gift of letters for my parents 2 years ago . . . the first year that they were empty-nesters (4 kids married and one on a mission).  I know that Christmas is extra magical when there are small children involved.  By sharing pieces of our Christmas all month long (sitting on santa's lap, christmas piano recitals, cub scout service projects, etc.) I hope that they got a taste of that kind of magic as well.

(I promise there were 25 envelopes to begin with . . . I just took this picture 10 days into the project.)

To do the project . . . . 

• Gather 25 envelopes and 25 note-cards
• Stamp the numbers 1-25 on the note-card AND the outside of the envelope.  This is important because sometimes a few cards might show up in the mail at once (after a weekend) so they need to know which card to open first.

I stamped my numbers with red paint and while it was still wet I sprinkled glitter over the top.  This is definitely an assembly line kind of project.  And it is so helpful to just take an hour and prep the cards ahead of time so they are ready to grab when you need them.  Once my cards were done I placed them in a picture frame stand and set it on my kitchen counter.  It was good to have them sitting out as a visual reminder each day.

I always enjoy this project -- it is something meaningful, thoughtful, and from the heart.  Plus, who doesn't love receiving something in the mail?

I can see myself doing it again in the future.  The same idea would work for a missionary, cousins, long-distance friend, college student, etc . . . . whoever you are missing at Christmastime and might appreciate some extra holiday cheer. 

christmas 2011

A photo slideshow of our Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

Music:  Mindy Gledhill and Michael Buble

christmas afternoon with instagram

some of P's new toys // Anna movin' it with Just Dance Kids // mini martinelli's . . . love! //  lifesaver gummi rings  // the table set with care  // my loot

more Just Dance 3 // christmas morning rolls // my christmas gift from Conner // sugar cookies // I love you // candy cane stripes

a special new necklace // christmas sparkle // how the boys spent their afternoon // cuddled on the couch after Mr. Krueger's Christmas & Joy to the World // project life - clementine edition // an ornament for 2011 - a green center for Oregon

Can you tell that I'm having fun with my new toy?  :)  I even sent my very first text message today.  I know, I'm way behind the times.

Merry Christmas!  

(Pictures of christmas morning coming this week.)

 

merry christmas!

Hoping you enjoy a wonderful, happy, blessed, safe, and sweet Christmas.

on the 3rd day of christmas break

day one - clean the house day

day two - drive mom to the brink so she decides to take you swimming to get your energy out day

day three - project day

day four - chillin' day and pick up dad day

and here we are on day five - sugar cookie day.  I need to get started on those.

Just wanted to share a few quick pictures from day three - project day.

Some candy cane reindeer that turned out a little freaky.  That's how my kids roll.

Felt christmas trees.  The stand didn't work out, but we were okay with that.

The boys attended to a few science experiments that involved luminol, copper sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda . . . you know, all those harmless household chemicals and solvents.

I was the cutter and Anna was the painter . . . 

so that we could create these jingle bell flowers.

And I played with all this . . . 

so I could create this . . . 

Note to self: Clean your windows.  And do not look directly into the sun.  I nearly burned out my retinas trying to get a photo from this angle.

I quite like the pom-poms.  They are attached to the bottom of the blinds so they go up and down as sun protection is needed in the kitchen.  

Okay, now I really need to get to the sugar cookies.  Have a great day!

not wanted: coal

A note before I begin . . . the christmas shopping is done!  We laid everything out last night -- nothing was missing, the spread of gifts looks good, and everyone has an equal amount of presents to open.  All packages have been shipped.  Teachers have been thanked.  Christmas cards mailed.  Christmas break is upon us and there is almost nothing on the calendar for this week.  I am in a very happy place and ready to enjoy the heck out of this week.

The kids wrote their letters to Santa and we mailed them on Thursday.  I love the Santa mailbox that they place outside the fire station.

 

Even if it is dark at 4:45pm when we finally make it there.  Thank goodness for manual mode and a small clue as to how to use it!

I also love the tradition of sitting down to write letters to Santa and seeing what the kids have to say.  I do have to give plenty of encouragement and instruction that this should be a letter.  Say something nice to Santa, tell him how good you've been this year, etc.  It should not be, "Dear Santa, I want . . . " and proceed to list 20 items.  Santa does not like letters like that.  You've got to butter him up.

So here is what the kids came up with this year.  (The stationary was a free download from here and here.)

Anna gets away with a fill-in-the-blank letter because she is in kindergarten.  But, oh my, look at that great handwriting!  Good job Anna B.  :)

Dear Santa, I love Christmas.  I love the bowling, the rolls, and the presents.  Here is what I would like:  

1. any Pokemon DS game  2. Nerf Stampede  3. A battery case that I can plug my DS charger in  4. the remote control camera car.

Not Wanted!  Coal

Thank you Santa and enjoy the cookies

love, Conner

Dear Santa, I love Christmas!  Why should it only be one a year?  I have been very good.  This year I would like:

1. Mario Cart DS  2. Lego Star Wars DS  3. Knex Roller Coaster  4. a little TV  5. a bag of Twizzlers.

Merry Christmas.  Love, Payton

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I think the kids made Santa's nice list so they should expect to see at least one thing from their list under the tree Christmas morning.   Although, there are still 7 more days until Christmas.  They better not blow it!

december update

We are enjoying this month, but I am feeling especially busy this week.  Nothing major that I'm working on, just a million little things that need my attention.  Yesterday, I was feeling a bit like a chicken with it's head cut off -- frantically making lists and darting here and there.  Today, I think I have a better grasp on things and I'm slowly choosing things that I'm just going to let go of.  I feel like if I can make it through Friday I'm home free.  School will be out, shopping done (hopefully), packages mailed (hopefully), and then we can just settle down for a cozy winter break at home.

So until I reach that magical moment when my command station (a.k.a. kitchen island) is free & clear of piles (christmas card remnants, legal pad with lists, post-it notes, and dental insurance info - you don't want to know), the last classroom party has ended, and I'm finally able to sit down on the couch and watch Elf with the kids . . . until that moment, here is a gathering of a few things we have done in december so far.

We watched the Polar Express and then slept under the Christmas Tree.  Yes, even I slept on the couch.

I just love Anna's set-up

The next morning we woke up bright and early to do some Scouting for Food.  The Cub Scouts collect food donations for the food bank each year.  This is our 4th year participating and I believe they collected 380 pounds.

Then, that same day we attended the ward christmas party where the kids sat on Santa's lap, ate an astonishingly large amount of ham, and sang Away in a Manger in the program.  Anna even sang the first verse as a solo.  She was loving all the attention & compliments.

We made lots of cards and treats for our teachers -- school teachers, primary teachers, and a piano teacher.

We also made Christmas cards for our cousins.  Cousins Alert: don't look!  We're dropping these in the mail tomorrow.  Although, I have to apologize to Sam & Heidi in advance.  I hope Payton's well-intended note doesn't set Preston up for disappointment on Christmas morning:  "I hope you have a Merry Christmas!  Maybe you will have a remote control car!"  When you read it for Preston you are more than welcome to make something else up.

There's the classroom parties -- 1 down, 2 to go.  I helped Payton's 3rd grade class make these woven star ornaments.  I think it was a hit!

More Cub Scout service as we went caroling at a nursing home . . .

 Christmas lights in our bedrooms

and gorgeous sunset lights in the sky

My eyes are getting heavy and my head is nodding off so it is time for me to say goodnight.  Looking forward to a wonderful (busy) Friday and a fabulous weekend!

advent: 4 ways

So if you have browsed pinterest anytime in the last month you've probably seen that there are a million totally cute, crafty, creative ideas for Christmas advent all over the place.  So many creative people out there.  

For a very small moment I was tempted to make something equally cute, crafty, and creative to assist our family in our countdown to Christmas.  But then I realized I really didn't want to go to all that work.  And really, would all that work be worth it?  And appreciated?  This blog post about the crafty advent debate solidified my resolve.  We're just going to go with what we already have in place.  

Keep it simple.

So here is how the Brown family counts down to Christmas:

1.  The hang-an-ornament-on-a-tree advent

This was a gift from my mom lots of years ago.  (from Pottery Barn Kids)  Payton seems to have taken ownership of this one.

2.  The magnet Nativity Advent Calendar

This one came from Grammer Valerie lots of years ago.  It goes on our fridge and each day Anna dumps out the bag's contents to find the next number in the countdown.  We start with 1 and work our way towards 24.  Baby Jesus is #24.

3.  Unwrap and read a Christmas book advent

I've seen this idea on the web for several years and have always wanted to do it, so this year we are giving it a shot.  Yes, it is something new but it required zero creative juices and I'm only out a roll of wrapping paper.  The kids LOVE it so far.  And I love sitting by the Christmas tree each night and reading to them.  Definitely brings the spirit of Christmas into our home.  

4.  A Christmas Fun list

Similar to the summer fun list, I like to create a list of possible activities to do each day over the Christmas season.  (Some advent calendars I've seen assign activities to a specific day but I can't be tied down like that!)  We can check them off as we go, and it also provides reminders & inspiration if we need a little holiday lift.

A couple things I forgot to write down:  

• make reindeer milk (thanks Waite family for this!)
• go bowling on Christmas Eve
• watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional - check!
• play the Christmas chimes

But really, there's a host of traditions that are just a normal part of our December so it isn't necessary to write them all down.  This gets us off to a good start.

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21 more days to Christmas!