Countdown to Christmas 2018 ~ Week 2

We've been so busy, I haven't been doing a great job photographing our 

Christmas Countdown fun :(

Day 5 ~ We went to the theater to watch "Ralph Breaks The Internet"
{I voted to see "The Grinch", but was outvoted by the girls.}

Day 6 ~ Our annual Community Tree Lighting ~
Sierra was a helper elf to Santa again this year,
and the rest of us girls helped move the Santa line along.

Day 7 ~ Our new kitty, Miss Luna, had another vet visit,
so we took advantage of running into town, and picked up donuts.

Day 8 ~ Shopping with Friends

Day 9 ~ Church & Gingerbread House Decorating:

How have you been staying busy?

Countdown to Christmas 2018 ~ Days 1-4

We are full-swing, countin' down to CHRISTMAS, y'all,  how about you??

We started December with our annual North Pole Breakfast:

Day 2: Beaded Snowflake Ornaments.

Day 3: My favorite day!  Christmas Tree Hunting!

And Decorating!

 And today we read my favorite Christmas Book:

"The Gingerbears' First Christmas"

And tried our hands at stringing cranberries and popcorn:

The strands turned out great!!

What's been keeping you busy??

Link up your countdown ideas so we all can share!

                   

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Countdown to Countdown to Christmas

With only two days to go, I am bustling around here trying to prepare

for our yearly Countdown to Christmas.

2018 activity, outing, and craft ideas are jotted in the Christmas planner,

and all that's left to do is cut the slips of paper, and place them in the Calendar.

I can hardly believe that this is our tenth Countdown to Christmas.

A whole decade.

Where does the time go?

The last few years we've kicked off our countdown with a  North Pole Breakfast.

Our elf, Holly, returns, and the girls LOVE it!

What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

I'll link a couple of our Countdown favorites, and leave your ideas in the comments!

I'm always looking for new activities!

Movies & Baking

Christmas Crafts & Decorating

DIY Christmas Gifts

Well, November is just zooming on by, isn't it?

But it's not too late to get moving on some DIY Christmas gifts.

One of my favorites is Homemade Vanilla.

Nearly everyone in my family loves to bake, so this gift is a no brainer ~

it's easy to make, fun to package, and greatly appreciated.

And if you make it soon, it'll be ready for gift-giving by Christmas!

I make my vanilla individually, but you *could* make up a big batch in large mason jars, 

and then divide it up into smaller bottles at the end.

I buy my BOTTLES on Amazon

My BEANS on Beanilla

and my VODKA ~ just the cheap-o kind at the liquor store

I slice through the center of each bean, drop a couple in each bottle, 

fill to the top with the Vodka, tie up with pretty ribbon, and set aside for 5 or 6 weeks.

And voila!

Seriously, y'all, they make the greatest gifts!

Make some today, and check some people off your gift list!