God loves a cheerful giver!

I want my children to learn that giving is better than receiving. We are blessed because we have each other, a roof over our head, food to eat, our health and most importantly a God that is in control. We hear a lot during this time of the year of what I want or what I have to have. My kids are quick to grab that Toys R Us catalog from the mailbox and circle practically everything in it. My youngest even circled items she already has. When I told her she already had one just like it, she said, "This one has flowers on it!".  All the more reason why I should show her how she is blessed.

Our church makes bears for the children at a local hospital. I asked if we could make some and deliver them. We made it a class project with our buddies and finished over 30 bears.

Ella is working with her buddy to stuff the bears.

Don't ask me why she has that confusing look on her face.

After the bears were finished, we planned a day to deliver them. 

Here are both classes with the finished bears.

Last year, we were not able to hand deliver them. 

I was so excited this year when the nurses allowed us to deliver to 4 children. 

We grabbed a quick picture in front of the Christmas tree on our way out.

After the hospital, we grabbed a quick bite at Stevi B's before heading off to Toys R Us.

Nothing like a plate of bacon bits with a side of pizza!

Our trip to Toys R Us was not an ordinary one. We were bringing toys we had collected at school for Toys for Tots.

We did take the kids through Toys R Us just to look. We are not that cruel!

We had a great day of giving cheerfully! 

Maybe the next time Ella grabs the Toys R Us catalog, she will think twice about circling everything.

Christmas Craft Ideas

I know it is the week before Christmas but I thought I would share some crafts we have been working on.

Tissue Ornament

Take a glass ball ornament and place torn tissue paper over it. Using a paint brush, brush StarchFlo over the tissue paper. This acts as a glue. Once it dries, add a ribbon to the top.

Popsicle Ornament

Hot glue popsicle sticks in the shape of a star. Spread glue on each one and sprinkle with glitter.

Rudolph Clip

Take a close pin and color or paint brown. Add a pom-pom for the nose and googly eyes. Hot glue to another close pin and add a magnet on the back. You can use this as an ornament or as a clip on the frig to hold the kids crafts.

Snowman Ornament

This is made by using your child's hand print.

You could do one of your whole family by painting one finger from each member. I am planning to do this while at my parents.

Santa Claus 

This is  made by placing white tights over a stretched wire hanger. Twist a rubber band around the tights to hold them in place. Add red construction paper for the hat, googly eyes and cotton balls for the beard. You can hang this from a light or on a door.

Painted Wreath

Cut out the middle of a paper plate. Paint the plate green. Once it dries, add berries (thumbprint) using red paint and add a bow.

Wrapped Peppermint

Paint part of a paper plate red. Once it dries, cover it with saran wrap and tie both ends with ribbon.

Rudolph Shirt

Paint a brown triangle and add your child's hand print to the top corners of the triangle. Paint a red nose and eyes.

Edible Christmas tree

Take a sugar cone and cover it with green icing. Use sprinkles to decorate. Simple and fun!

Rudolph Snack

Cut a piece of bread in the shape of a triangle. Spread peanut butter. Add a M&M for the nose, raisins for the eyes and pretzel sticks for the antlers.

Hopefully, I have given you some ideas of crafts that can be done with your kids.......in your spare time, of course!

Traditions

There are several traditions we have around the holidays. I posted about our trees yesterday.

I crank up the Christmas music and the decorating marathon begins! I am glad I have girls that want to help with the decorating and boys that will tote the heavy stuff as I command.

Another tradition is our count down to Santa.

The kids place a cotton ball over that days number and  pulls out one paper. Each paper has a special treat written on it.

Here are just a few of the treats.

Please excuse the misspelled word. When you hand write something there is no spell check. If you do not see a misspelled word then we are all good!


Thanks to my mom and dad, we added a new tradition this year.

Elf on the Shelf

If you are not familiar with it, it is about an elf who reports to Santa each night about the behavior of the children in your family. Each morning, he is in a new spot and the children try to find him. You sit down the first night and read the book.

At the end of the story, you have to give your elf a name. After thinking long and hard, the kids came up with.........

Harley

Looks like someone had to take the backseat!

Harley has been found in several places so far.

In the Christmas tree

 
Playing PS3

Taking a peak.

Taking a ride with the laundry.

Digging into the cookie jar.

Not going for several days.

Hopefully, we will not catch him here again!

The kids have loved having Harley this year!

Introducing our trees

The main tree located in the living room. 

This is the tree that holds all of our memorable ornaments.

Front and center is my favorite ornament. 

In our kitchen is a small tree that holds kitchen type ornaments.

Each child has a tree in his/her own room. Each year they get a new ornament to add. My decision for the new ornament is based on the year. What did they like? What new sport did they play? Any milestones......like turning 16? Sometimes they may receive more than 1 depending on the above questions. Each child has a journal where I document the new ornaments. Once they move out or get married.....I pray that does not come to quickly, I will give them the journal and ornaments.

Okay, back to the trees in their rooms. First up.......Ella.

She has a small pink and purple tree. I forgot to mention that as they get older they upgrade to bigger trees. Ella is the youngest so she does not have as many ornaments as the others yet. She is quickly catching up though! 

Her new ornament this year was this.

I used to think she was going to be my tomboyish sports player. This year it was all about the girly things. She has told me on several occasions, "Mom, I do not like green or blue....they are for boys!" She even (gasp) was a cheerleader and was good at it (gasp again) (nothing like her mama????). I am still on the lookout for a cheerleader ornament. 

Next up, Laney's tree.......

It is a tall white tree with a zebra bow on top. We are in the process of changing her room into a Paris with zebra print theme. She received 2 ornaments this year. One was an Eiffel Tower....

and the other which I did not get a picture of is a bag with  Let's go shopping on it. She has been my sidekick shopper this year. I could not get out the door on Saturday mornings without her running to the car asking if she could go. 

Lastly..........Griffin's tree.

Well.........he is not into it this year like in years past. It took me a week and a half just to get him to put the tree up! I added the bow to the top.......pass by his room the next day........ bow is thrown on his desk. Having a bow at the top does not mean you are any less masculine. Right???

I forgot to take a picture of his ornament. It was a football. I am also looking for a car since he turned 16 this year.

I added a new tree this year in our entryway.

Since the tree in our living room holds the special ornaments, I wanted to do a pretty tree. I love trees that have the bead branches ( I am not sure what they are called) sticking out. I took a close up so you could see what I am talking about. 

Well.....that is all for the Weed trees. Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Tomorrow, I will talk about our traditions.

Our Thanksgiving

We went to South Carolina for Thanksgiving. As usual we had a wonderful spread on the table and great company I might add.

After spending  a few days in SC we headed to North Georgia for the annual Parker Reunion. I did not get very many pictures this year because I was enjoying the conversations too much!