Monthly Archives: December 2016

Late Christmas Tour

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A little more of the home tour…

imageimageimageimageimageimageThese are pictures from our dining room and living room.

The tree is what we call the “peacock tree”. It’s decorated with all things colored or themed peacock.

On the mantle in the living room, I have one Christmas tree I painted when I didn’t have any children. The other tree is from a village set. The fabulous snowman was a joint creation from my husband and third daughter at a pottery class. It is among my favorite things–ever! I got the stockings from Pottery Barn Kids after a flood in our basement over the summer ruined our old ones.

The dining room is decorated with my Spode tablecloth and napkins. I also have more hand-me-down ornaments  decorating this room as well. The back of the dining chairs have a wreath with plaid ribbons on the backs. I love how festive it looks!

 

 

Christmas Home Tour {a little late}

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The hustle and bustle of the holiday is finally slowing down. I always feel like I really start to enjoy Christmas AFTER Christmas. It’s usually those days after where I get to spend real quality time with the children without worrying about gift buying or school.

I wanted to share my Christmas decorations, but just couldn’t find the time until now. I hope you won’t mind. This will also help me next year when I’m trying remember how I did it last year.

I will try to share a few rooms at a time.

I like to decorate the foyer colorfully. I love my nutcracker tree and all the nutcrackers lining the stairs. I always try to add to my collection after Christmas when I can usually find them 50% off.

 

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The ornaments in the glass vase are from my parents and Granny. I love how colorful they look.

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I painted that little snowman before we had our first child. That’s probably the last time I had a chance to do something like that.

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I try to decorate every room in the house. The tree above is in the guest bath.

I asked my daughter if she could paint a Christmas tree with a cross for the little bathroom. I love how this turned out. I also have more ornaments in jars in this room as well.

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I will try to share more rooms in the days to come before I finally have to take it all down.

 

 

 

Unique Gift

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Back in October, when we went to the Chattanooga Aquarium my husband fell in love with the jellyfish exhibit. He mentioned that he would like jellyfish for Christmas. I was then on a mission to find him some for Christmas.

I asked everyone I knew if they knew where to get them.  Finally, after a quick internet search, I found a company that had exactly what I wanted.

Jellyfish Art is a company that sells everything you need to get started with jellyfish ownership. They have a detailed instruction book and several You Tube videos to help along the way. They also have an Arrive Alive Guarantee that ensures the jellyfish will be alive and living for at least 10 days after they are delivered.

 

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I ordered the aquarium about a week and a half before Christmas Eve. It came with everything needed for quick setup (except spring water). The instruction book said that we had to wait two weeks before redeeming the jellyfish in order to have the proper environment for them. I hadn’t known this when I placed my order. I took our water to the local pet store to be tested and it was perfect! I sent an email redeeming the jellyfish. The company informed me that because I wasn’t waiting the two weeks, the Arrive Alive Guarantee would be voided. Since our water was perfect, I decided to proceed. I hid all of this in my big girls’ bathroom, knowing my husband would never go in there.

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On Christmas morning, he was quite surprised.

The jellies have since been relocated into our bedroom. They are so relaxing to watch.

I feed them with a pipette and watch them eat. A few minutes later, the food has moved into their clover-shaped stomachs. It is all very intriguing. The aquarium has different color lights and a remote. It’s fun to see the jellyfish in different colors.

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This is a unique gift that was such a pleasure to give. If you are looking for something for someone who has everything, a jellyfish might just be a great choice!

 

Charlie Brown Christmas Dinner and a Movie

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My children and husband had never seen Charlie Brown’s Christmas. I bought the movie and planned one of our Advent activities to be dinner and a movie so we could fully enjoy the experience together.

I found a roll of Charlie Brown wrapping paper at Dollar Tree. I decorated the table with that and the new nativity set I convinced my husband I “needed” for Christmas.

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I made chicken with Peanut sauce, Pig Pen’s not that dirty rice, pigs in Linus’ blanket, and Peppermint Patty brownies.

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The children did truly enjoy the explanation of each dish. After dinner, we watched the movie. I have to admit that for many years I have felt like Charlie Brown. This year, I decided that I was going to let the world do its thing with Christmas and that I would do mine. I have enjoyed it more than I have in years. I still haven’t gotten everything done and still feel stress, but it’s way less than Christmas passed.

If you’re wondering what Christmas is really all about, Linus explains it best.

 

Linus’ King James version scripture reading from Luke 2: 8-14, read:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

 

More Advent Ideas

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Each day of Advent we do our reading and one of the children gets a treat. Some of the days have an additional treat to do as a family. Some of the examples include:

*picking up Starbucks and driving around to look at lights

*making a gingerbread house

*Charlie Brown Christmas dinner and a movie

*making treats for our teachers

* watching a Christmas movie

*going to a Christmas concert

Some of the gifts that I give them are:

*pajamas

*Christmas movie

*hand sanitizer with a cute holder

* Christmas ornament relating to each one’s birthday party from the year

*one gift specifically for them

They each look forward to when it’s their turn.

It does take some planning and there have been moments of selfishness that have made me think about calling the whole thing off. I tried to turn those moments into learning experiences instead of punishing everyone. They turned into talks about people who are less fortunate, the meaning of the season, and the fact that Advent (just like Christmas) isn’t about “things”.  It’s about a the birth of a baby sent to save the world.

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Grinch’s Grow Your Heart Breakfast

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This morning, I put together this little breakfast. I love the Grinch Grow Your Heart program and all that it represents. If you aren’t familiar with it, it basically is a program that encourages good deeds around Christmas-time and then gives books to underprivileged children. It’s super easy! Just go to their website and put in the three good deeds that your child did and submit it. Random House books then will give a child a book.

There are lots of activities that you can print out and do on the website. My children love the Bingo game. It has a bunch of different good deeds that they can mark off. Some of them are: call or spend time with your grandparents, make a card for your teacher, play with someone who seems lonely, help make dinner, clean your room, plus many more.

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I made bacon hearts, heart-shaped cinnamon rolls, strawberry milkshakes. I also served green grapes and watermelon.

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I printed out the Bingo game and we talked about what they were going to do.

This is a fun little activity that helps the children be motivated to do kind things and that benefits others in more ways than one.

I hope you’re having a nice start to your holiday season!