Countdown to Christmas 2011 ~ Week 3

I cannot believe Christmas is just a few days away! 

This last week has been a little boring around our house :(  With so much sickness, we haven't been feeling up to being all that festive.  But the other night as I was getting ready to go to bed {and Taylor was just waking up} I was sitting in the living room, rocking her, and looking at our brightly lit tree, and I started thinking.  Do I have it all wrong?  Here I've been running around like crazy.  Shopping, shopping, and more shopping.  Decorating.  I've scheduled an activity or craft for my girls every day in December.  We've baked cookies more times than I can count.  And just how much time have I devoted to reading the Bible, or quiet time with God?  Hmmmm, let's see.  Probably less time this month than any other month this year :(  It hurts to admit that, but it's the truth.  I'm not saying that traditions and activities aren't fun and an important part of the season.  I just think I've lost a bit of the true meaning somewhere in all of the hustle and bustle and planning and stress.  And I find that totally ironic.  And sad.

Anyway.  On to the recap.

Last Thursday {Day 15} we went to the Portland International Raceway to look at lights.  Other than a little car sickness, we had a great time :)

Friday {Day 16} was Beauty Day.  It had been awhile since our toes had gotten special treatment.

And just in time too!  Because the girls' dance recital was our big outing for Saturday {Day 17}.



On Sunday {Day 18} we had planned to go to the Church Christmas Program.  But Kam wasn't the only sicky anymore, so we had to miss it :(  Instead, we got in our jammies and watched Christmas specials.

Taylor had her Six Month check up on Monday {Day 19}, and all we were really up for afterward was a quick stop at Starbucks for a Vanilla Bean and Cake Pops.



I was supposed to attend a Cookie Exchange on Tuesday {Day 20}, but with the number of sickies multiplying, I had to miss it.  We stayed in jammies ALL DAY and Nana and Grandpa cooked us dinner that evening.  But I was soooooo sad to miss the cookie party :(

By Wednesday {Day 21} we were all feeling a little discouraged that our plans weren't really turning out the way we'd imagined.  I had picked up a Gingerbread House Kit, and it was screaming the girls' names.  So we invited Grandma over {despite the fevers and coughs}, and put it together {after a certain 2 year old went to bed . . . at 6pm, ahem}.  I have a few photos of the masterpiece, but they're not all that great, and I'm tired, and can't bring myself to upload them right now.  Envision a lot of frosting and candy.

And here we are.  I'm not sure what our plan is for today.  The coughing turned to vomitting last night {sorry TMI!}, so I'm guessing that we'll have another low-key day.  And that's okay.  I just want the girls to feel better in time for Christmas.

So . .  . what about y'all??  What have you been up to?  Please do let me know!

And also? I'm finally {FINALLY!} linking up {kinda late, but oh well} with Beth @ I Should Be Folding Laundry. Because I've been meaning to for about 300 years now.

Countdown to Christmas 2011 ~ Week 2

Another week gone by already??  That means one week closer to Christmas! 

Our days get busier and busier as we get closer and closer.  Whew!

Week Two . . .

Thursday's activity {Day 8} was reading Christmas stories.  I knew the next few days were going to be busy, busy, busy, so I wanted an activity that was a little more low-key.

On Friday {Day 9} we had friends over for a craft day.  The girls had so much fun decorating snowflakes, crafting ornaments, and making these Rudolph Candy Canes:

Saturday {Day 10} was our first-ever Cookie Baking Party.  My mom, sister, and niece came over for a full day of cookie baking.  Next year we hope others can join in.  The more, the merrier!  But even with a small group, we had such a great time.  We made seven different cookies, and they were all scrumptious!  Notice I said were?  Yeahhhh, they're pretty much gone now.  Oops :(



Sunday's activity {Day 11} was heading up to Grandma and Grandpa's for tree decorating.  If you can't tell by now, the girls love to decorate ;) 

Big Sis teaching Little Sis the importance of tree decorations.



On Monday {Day 12} we started wrapping gifts {I don't have pictures}.  Sierra was so excited.  She'd been asking to wrap for weeks.


On Tuesday {Day 13} we were invited to Grandma's work for Hot Cocoa and Donuts.  This is our third year having Cocoa with Grandma at work.  So, definitely a tradition ;)  Last Year and 2009



Wednesday {Day 14} Jeremy took the girls Christmas shopping.  I'm sorry, but I pretty much think that is the sweetest thing ever.  Especially since he detests shopping.  He knows what it means to the girls, though, so he does it. 

So.  That was our week!  How about y'all?  What kinds of holiday fun have you been having?  I want to hear about it.  Link up your favorite recipes, traditions, activities, or crafts below.

Cookie Baking

We had our first annual Cookie Baking Day with my mom and sister {and niece!} last weekend, and it was such fun!  We will definitely have to add this to our list of traditions, because Family + Cookies = all sorts of wonderful memories.

We made my variation of Jam Thumbprints:

Those are Jeremy's favs.  I think they're okay.  I mean, I wouldn't turn down a cookie, but Jeremy thinks they're the greatest cookies on earth.

We attempted to use a cookie press, but it just wasn't workin' so great.



Which actually resulted in a lot of laughter and even a few shenanigans.  I love that photo.  Sierra was either totally embarassed, or laughing so hard she couldn't keep her head up any longer.  I'm thinking it was the latter ;)



Then Sadie got serious about it, and managed to create a few trees.  And they were SO adorable.



See?



We wound up with a LOT of cookies.  But we're not complaining one bit!
Have y'all started baking?

Countdown to Christmas 2011 ~ Week 1

I say this every year, but seriously, where does the time go???  I cannot believe we are less than three weeks away from Christmas!  We've been busily crafting, decorating, and baking.  How about y'all?

A recap of our week:

You can view days 1-3 here.
We started off our countdown by making Hershey's Advent Calendars.  We make them every year, and the girls love them.  Day two was spent crafting.  And day three we went to a local Christmas Bazaar.  On Sunday {Day 4}, we got our tree!  Oh how I love picking out a tree, putting it up, and decorating it.

We love it so much that we get a little tree for the girls to decorate {our Day 5 Activity}, and we even help others decorate their trees ;)

Nana and Grandpa invited us over on Day 6 for that very purpose!  {Well, that, and to consume lots of yummy snacks and beverages}

Makenna topped our tree, Sierra topped the girls' little tree, so naturally, it was Kam's turn :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday {Day 7} we tried out Cupcake Liner Trees.  I saw this ADORABLE craft from Desiree at 36th Avenue, over at Tatertots and Jello.

Kenners did such a great job, and stuck with it.

Kam pretty much just enjoyed eating marshmallows. 

And yes, she's wearing her nightgown. 

She lives in nightgowns.

And someone else has inherited some perfectionist tendancies from her mama, and decided she didn't care much for her tree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have lots of crafts and activities coming up in the next few days ~ I can't wait to share them!

Have y'all been baking? Crafting? Decorating? I want to hear all about it!

Link up below:

Countdown to Christmas Happenings

We've had a busy start to our Countdown to Christmas, how about y'all??!


December 1st found us making our Hershey's Advents.  We always have so much fun with this.  This year we used the Hershey's Caramel Chocolates.  Uh, yum.

On the 2nd we attempted Christmas Shrinky Dinks.  We cut them out, colored, placed them in the oven, and . . . nothin'.  No shrinkin' whatsoever.  

We'd heard about a local Christmas Bazaar on the 3rd, and went to check it out.  It was pretty small, but one of the tables catered to crafts for kids.  For a couple of dollars they could choose any crafts they liked.  The girls chose Christmas Tree Ornaments.



And yesterday . . . . we got our tree!  YAY!  We've been hit with some sort of cold, and haven't been feeling our best, so we weren't sure when we'd get a tree.  But we sucked it up, and got it yesterday.  And it's HUGE.  They look so much smaller out there in the field, don't they?  Our old house had, I don't know, maybe 7 or 8 foot ceilings, but our new house has vaulted ceilings throughout much of it.  So.  Pictures of that adventure coming tomorrow ;)

How are y'all celebrating?  Don't forget to document your happenings, and come back here on Thursday for a link up!

Countdown to Christmas 2011

Oh my goodness, people.  How can it be December 1st already??  How? 

December totally snuck up on me this year.  And I'm not all that prepared.

But I'll get there.

The past two years I've blogged about our Countdown to Christmas.
We plan a special outing, activity, or craft for each day in December.  I make little notes that I've numbered 1-24, and each day I stick one, outlining our activity for the day, in a corresponding pocket of our "Advent Tree". The girls LOVE it.  And I love it too.  We like to celebrate the whole month! 



Today, we will be making our Hershey's Countdown.  Want to make your own?  Check out how here :)
Enjoy this special time.  Another year will be upon us before we know it!

{Interested in sharing your favorite holiday crafts, activities, or recipes??  Come back next Thursday, the 8th, and we'll link up!  I can't wait to see what y'all are up to!}