Polar Express Night

I have been sooo excited about this.  It's POLAR EXPRESS night!
It looks like lots of presents, but one is the book and one is candy for Jed. :) I wrap everything this time of year!!
 

Here we go...
 

 

The girls opened a package with new PJs, junior mints and a bell necklace. 

Ta-Da... side not, I can't stand buying pajamas.  I mean I know they need them and they look cute in them, but no one really sees them and they are expensive!!
This is the one time of year I think it's worth it.  We take pj's to a lot of our Christmas Celebrations, and Claire's preschool program is performed in pj's. 
None the less, I waited until they were 50% off at Carters!
 

We read our story, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, and then watched the Polar Express movie in the basement on the mattress.  Good times!  Except I don't like the movie nearly as much as the book.
 

Finally, it was off to look at Christmas lights with our Junior Mints and Hot Hot Chocolate!! Yay!
 

Snow Books & Activities

Yesterday, we had two presents to open...
 

Livie started and got trays?? and then...
 

Shaving Cream!
 

 

This was Claire's face when she put everything together! :)
 

Claire opened the book Dream Snow by Eric Carle, and after reading about snow,
we played and played in our Shaving Cream Snow!
It's also a great way to practice spelling or sight words!!  :)
 

Happy Fake Snow Days!!

Reindeer Snacks

It's that time, time for really healthy Reindeer Snacks!! :)
It actually worked perfect... Livie had snack day on Monday, and Claire on Tuesday. 
We used chocolate doughnuts, red hots, pretzels, and white icing eyes.

 

For a picture of the finished product and more explanation see our last year
Reindeer Snacks!

Happy Snacking

Gingerbread Village

Each year, we make a Gingerbread House.  Don't be too impressed, we buy a kit from Walmart!  However, I don't think it diminishes the fun one little bit!!  This year,

the girls got to open 2 presents this time:
1. The Gingerbread Baby a book by Jan Brett
(My favorite Gingerbread Story, it has a special ending!)
We always read this story before making our Gingerbread House.
It's a TRADITION! ;)
 

And 2. These gingerbread people Jed and I found at Target for $1.99.  They were/are a HUGE hit.  There are babies, adults, kids, a dog and cat gingerbread group.  In fact, I wish I would have bought more to keep for future years!!  A few have had to check into the Gingerbread Hospital, but icing is a perfect healing agent for them! :) 

It was very serious business, and extremely fun.
 

 

Yep, this happened!  Are you really surprised?
 

After our naps, we got back after it.  In the evening we made trees for our village.  I'm sure you've seen the waffle cone "Christmas" trees.  This was super fun too! 

 

Our completed village rests on the dining room table.  They play with it like a doll house.
 

 

And for fun, you can look back at our past Gingerbread House Creations...

Gingerbread House 2012

Gingerbread House 2011

Have fun making your own Gingerbread House or Village...

Traditions

You know how much I LOVE traditions!  So have you started yours?  Ours are in full force!  We are marking off and counting down the days until Christmas, the time we celebrate the
Birth of Our Savior!!

  

 

Did you wrap 25 or so books?!  Isn't it FUN?!  Every night we are opening up our new book.  The girls take turns, one colors in the ornament, and the other opens their book present!
 

Also, our friend, Ollie the Elf, is back.  The girls enjoy waking up and finding Ollie each morning.
 

Holiday Spirit & a FUN Tradition You SHOULD DO!!

To answer my own question, after Silver Dollar City it is near impossible to NOT be in the Holiday Spirit!!
Therefore, despite my careful planning for a FALL Tea & meeting, it turned into a JOLLY CHRISTMAS TEA.
 A few pictures of my Tea and our Festive November House!

Welcome




 

 

 

 

 

And now that you're pumped up for Christmas this is a
FUN, INEXPENSIVE TRADITION
that I declare a MUST if you have young children!!
 

 This year, we turned our chalkboard door into a Christmas countdown!!  Each day we will color in our "ornament" and open our BOOK!!
Yes, a Book!  I put our Christmas Books away with our Christmas Décor last year, and then pulled them out and wrapped them with our OLD wrapping paper!! 

Each book has a coordinating number.  I have also written down the titles bc I have certain books I like to do with certain activities.
For example, #25 is The Elf on the Shelf as this is the first day of December and when our Elf, Ollie, comes to visit! 

We did this last year, and it was a BLAST!! I mean what child doesn't like opening a present each night!!  The girls were so excited about bedtime reading!! 
Click Here to see my Last Years Explanation
"Regifting" Books...  SUPER FUN

 

Silver Dollar City

No, we are not at Santa's workshop, but close...
Silver Dollar City!!
 

This absolutely made my year.  I LOVE Silver Dollar City at this time of year, OVER 5 MILLION Christmas Lights, an Enormous Christmas Tree that changes to music, a train ride telling about the Birth of our Savior, and my FAVORITE, a Dickens Christmas Carol and Hot Chocolate!
 LOVE LOVE LOVE
We were unable to go last year so Claire didn't really remember, but I don't think she'll soon forget.
They are both now tall enough to ride all the rides.  The ones we're interested in anyway. :0
Oh and the BEST part, they were able to ride the frogs ON THEIR OWN.  No squeezing or feeling queezy for Jed and I.  Jackpot!
 

The Ladybugs were just too slow.


But the Butterflies were AWESOME... I Love this picture for multiple reasons, but mainly Jed smiling at me while Livie helps Claire push the button to make their caterpillar fly.

The girls were even able to wait in line on their own.  They're too big. 

I love the toothless smile1
 

Watching Frosty the Snowman.
 

The Balls are a big hit!
 

The girls ALMOST like them as much as Jed.  It can be awkward.
 

No Seriously

We had to take this one!  2013

And a Glance Back 2011
 Claire has grown a little.

 

 

 

And Finally MY FAVORITE
a Dicken's Christmas Carol and HOT Chocolate!
 

 

Afterwards, this happened :)
 

Two Happy, Tired little girls.
 

Are you feeling the Holiday Bug?!