Christmas

Jenae at I Can Teach My Child re-posted a great idea on what to do with your Christmas cards after the holiday season has passed. For each family that sent a card, keep them in a basket by the kitchen table and choose one family to pray for each day. Up until now we have been using the fronts of the cards as gift tags on gifts at the next year’s holiday but using them throughout the year is a great way to think of loved ones regularly. What do you do with old Christmas cards?

The kids were so hyper for a few weeks leading up to Christmas. We did threaten to call Santa a few times and then I came up with the brilliant idea that Santa and his elves do “spot checks” randomly throughout the day and we can’t see when they are peeking. But not toilet times, of course. Then we got caught up in all the “how do they check” questions and it got tiresome and questionable in answering them. Ha ha. Do you use Santa and his elves when your children are too excited to remember how to behave? Surely

Finally a feel-good story that echoes the pay-it-forward example. Any person could do this and make such a difference in someone else’s life any time either at Christmas or otherwise. Anonymous Donors Pay Off Kmart Layaway Accounts(click to get linked to the full story – I’ve checked it out. It’s a true link and a beautiful idea).

Today I thought I would hit up a consignment shop to get a few games for the kids. We are on a tight budget this year but the kids don’t need to know that. For $25 I got a circular knitting machine (kids version), 2 bags of yarn (okay that’s for me to make presents), 4 puzzles (Cars, Diego, Strawberry Shortcake, Dora) and a brand new Crayola Toy Story colouring kit. I’m really pleased with my purchases and I hope the kids will be thrilled too – this just stretched the budget big time so that there will be more

   It’s Black Friday. The Canadian Thanksgiving was in October (which I am grateful for!) but with our American friends we do have some Black Friday sales. The frenzy really gets you excited about it – even if we don’t need anything and most of our holiday shopping is under control.  Do you shop with Black Friday sales? What is the best deal you ever got?

I really appreciate the tips for organizing Christmas from Echoes of Laughter. Her secret is to “start early, give yourself deadlines, and do only the things you enjoy – let the rest go!“ I got some great tips for her. Specifically I have set the following deadlines (I had months in before but that seems too vague for me). Christmas Cards – in mail Dec 1stChristmas Decorating – outside lights, wreaths Nov 20th; inside decor Nov 26/27th; tree Dec 4thShopping Complete – Dec 10thGifts wrapped – Dec 15th Totally do-able, right? How do you organize yourself for a less-stressed Christmas?