Christmas Planning #4- Add to your Christmas Binder Calendar

Christmas Planning #4: Add to your Calendar in your Christmas Binder (see previous posts if you missed the Christmas binder info)

1.) Talk with your hubby tonight once the kids have gone to sleep and plan when you will go look at lights.

2.) If you plan to go to CALM add that on your calendar as well.

3.) Add any other Christmas activities as well.

Try and get as much down as possible so everyone knows what's going on and you have a better chance of making it extra special with some planning. This is also a great chance to find out what you as a family want to do and what you can pass on.

Christmas Planning #3

I posted this on facebook yesterday and meant to post it on here too...

Christmas Planning #3: 

Heres a great tip I ran across when I was reading author, Kathi Lipp's ways to save $ for Christmas. Check out this great idea:

Tara: "I wrote out everyone's Christmas wish list on an envelope and tuck the cash inside the envelope. Then if I'm out and see a good deal on something I have a specific list of what people are hoping for and the funds set aside to pay for it!"

Christmas Planning #2: Create a Christmas Binder

Create a Christmas Binder! 

TRUST ME! This will help for years to come!!!

I started doing this a couple years ago and seriously it has helped keep me organized for Christmas. You can keep it as simple or as intricate as you would like.

This is what my Christmas Binder looks like. The day I happened to make this binder (years ago) I was  in a "Crafty spirit" and luckily had all of this on hand already. But don't make it a big deal, just use what you have! The point is just getting one started.

In my Christmas Binder:

1.) The front pocket insert is where I keep my address list. Along with all the new addresses I get sent with Christmas cards. I just tuck them right in the front.

Here's a Free printout from "Scattered Squirrel". CLICK HERE

2.) Print out a blank December Calendar (just from my computer) . Then I go in and write down all of our Christmas Activities like...

• Christmas Movies that will be coming on tv
• When I need to mail out Christmas Cards
• What night we plan to go to CALM 
• The Polar Express Night (where we surprise the kids and take them to look at Christmas lights)- I will talk more about this later.
• Christmas Parade
• Christmas Parties
• Then I go in and add all the other "life" activities.

Other Dates you might want to add on:

• Package ship Dates
• Travel Dates

Here's an old Calendar that was in my binder:

3.) Baking Planner Here's a great Free Printout from "Life Your Way". CLICK HERE

They also have the Christmas Gift List Free printout. Great way to remember what and who you have already bought for. Also a Calendar  and Christmas Tags.

4.) Gift List to Make - This is a great way to keep track of what you need to buy for the gifts you will be making. Over at "Ellinee" She has a cute free printable. CLICK HERE

5.) The last part of my binder is for GIFT RECEIPTS This has become VERY helpful. In the very back of my binder is where I keep all the receipts for the gifts I purchase. That way if anything needs to be returned I know exactly where the receipt is!

I hope this info. is helpful! 

I surely don't have it all together. But little steps like this help out a lot!

Christmas Planning #1: Countdown to Christmas with Books!

Anything I can do to get my kids even more excited about books and reading has my vote! Two years ago I started this tradition for my kids and they LOVED it! Wrapping Christmas books and having the kids take turns opening each night to read. 

Step 1:  I went through my kiddos books while they were sleeping and took out all of the Christmas ones. We actually had quite a few! The next day I went to the Goodwill on Rosedale that just sells the books. For $10 and some change I found ALL these great Christmas books! 

Step 2: So I wrapped them all up! Here are a few of the  Christmas stories (new and old) we cherish. You can start this ANY time. Do a countdown to Christmas with however many books you have and then add to your collection. 12 Days of Christmas or 15 I guarantee whatever you choose will be special

If you know anything about me I just love "old" stuff, especially books! I like to refer to as vintage. I have them all in my house as decoration etc...There's just something so special about vintage items, so many stories, such a simplier time. A special couple I know that recently were going through old boxes (and new of my love for old books) let me choose as many as I wanted! I picked out quite a few but somehow I was drawn to the Christmas ones. Now I know why, they would go perfectly with my countdown to Christmas books!

1943!!!!! 

I Love when they are written in too. This one is from 1953.

 So here's a beautiful book I picked up from the Goodwill... .95 cents!

 

I just LOVE the graphics!

This is one from my kids' collection which is so sweet 

This is another Beautiful book!!

This is a book my mom (Mema) bought Hunter when he was born. It's not necessarily a "Christmas Book" but it talks about the gifts God gives us so I think it fits perfectly considering we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

 This is the beautiful book that our Leta Rhodes wrote! It's a favorite!

 Goodwill book

  Goodwill book

  Goodwill book

  Goodwill book

  Goodwill book

This is another great one! Filled with scripture.

So each of the books are in order and wrapped up in a bucket under our tree. On Christmas Eve when we return from Nana & Papa's House we will all get in our pjs, get our hot cocoa and santa hats and sit on the couch together as a family as Daddy  reads The Night Before Chrsistmas.

We also read the Christmas Story. This year I think we are going to read it before we open presents!

So we don't forget what Christmas is about.

A few of our Thanksgiving Traditions

So I thought I would share a few fun things we do that our kiddos love. Last Thanksgiving we decided that we wanted to start going up to a Cabin in Mammoth since Thanksgiving break is long. 

Something special and fun for our family.

So this will be our 2nd year of that tradition. 

But as far as traditions go... I came across this idea last year and we had SO much fun with it!

#1 The Turkey Legend:

It's from Craftysayings.com

So first you are going to need a large box! The goal is to catch your Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner! (Of course us Moms always have a Back-up Plan just in case!)

Let the kids decorate the box the night before. Figure out what the best way we can catch a turkey.

Setting up the box just right, maybe adding some food inside? My kids thought the turkey would love Red Licorice because who doesn't love red licorice right?

It kind of was like Christmas morning... They could not wait to see if they caught a turkey! They ran over to the box and stopped in their steps...

They for sure thought there had to be a turkey in there!

Feathers...more feathers...

And a NOTE!

This is the one that we read ahead of time that talks about the "turkey legend"

Then on each candy was a note that said...

"You almost got me but I got out of your trap. I left goodies anyway and now I'm off in a flap!"

There are a few different choices you can print. So make sure you check out below to print off yours.

Another funny one says...

"I was going to leave you candy til' I got caught up in your coop, but I still left something dandy... lots of good old turkey poop!"

(either leaving chocolate covered raisins or whoppers)

Taylor still didn't want to look under the box... but big brother had to check it out! 

 Look what the turkey left!!!!

Fun Memory!

 CLICK HERE for your Turkey Legend Printout!

#2 Turkey Cinnamon Rolls:

Let the kids have fun with the "feathers"with different sprinkles and adding chocolate eyes.

#3 Keeping the Kids busy while you COOK:

One thing I've learned is to keep the kids busy so you don't burn the pies!

Busy Kids #1: Make Turkey Cups

Cut out some feathers, add some googly eyes with glue!

Busy Kids #2: Get your husband involved! 

Thanksgiving Trivia...

Here's Thanksgiving Conversation ideas from Skip to my lou.

Click HERE

Thanksgiving Tricia from Prettieparties

CLICK HERE

#4 The Thanksgiving Tablecloth:

This idea was given to me from a very special friend, Patti King. They do this at Easter. Each guests can write a special message. Or in this case what they are thankful for with a permanent marker. 

I absolutely LOVE the little hands.

So these are some of our favorite Traditions. I hope this inspires you to create some more special and fun traditions with your own families. 

Please share any pictures or ideas on our FB page! I would LOVE to see them!

https://www.facebook.com/DancingInTheKitchenFamily