The 12 Books of Christmas: 2015 Selections

The tradition of having the kids open books on the 12 days leading up to Christmas has become one of my favorites. This year was no exception. I'm not sure what we'll do as they get older and picture books are no longer as captivating (since we read the stories together after opening them). Chapter books are not as ideal for this tradition. I am tossing ideas around and open to suggestions.

Regardless, I love this tradition and I will now share the books we selected for this year...

Wake Up, Little One

A Day with Animal Firefighters

Eight Silly Monkeys

Green Eggs and Ham

 

Russell and the Lost Treasure

 

You Can Do It Sam

 

God Gave Us Christmas

 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Thanksgiving: What makes it special?

 

Here Comes the Crocodile

A Chick 'n' Pug Christmas (My personal favorite)


Bear Stays Up for Christmas 



2013//2014

Linking up with Waiting on Wednesday

Christmas Traditions

I LOVE the Christmas season. 

My husband and I would be content having the house decorated and looking festive most of the year. With this beautiful season comes cold weather (yeah, still waiting on that), amazing food and extra time with family and friends. To top it off, we have special family Christmas traditions that we always look forward to.

Trimming the Tree

Our tree is an after Christmas sale (and I mean dirt cheap) but from a distance, and once it's decorated, you can hardly tell. We always put the tree up on Black Friday. Since I do most of my shopping online theses days, it opens up lots of time to enjoy decorating. 

Ornaments

Each ornament that goes on our tree is special and represents some part of our lives. We also have a traditional ornament that we get for one another each year. For my husband, he gets his annual fire truck, I get the latest in the Puppy Love series, and G gets her fairy. Our ornament series all come from Hallmark (no compensation for the plug) and it's tricky when buying for the other person not to scope out your own. We always want it to be a surprise. My husband was in charge of selecting the series we would start for our son. I can't wait to see what he chose!

Stockings

I have been longing for coordinating stockings that would stand the test of time. In the past I've used Santa sacks that I made from festive material. This year, thanks to an awesome half off sale and a 20% off coupon, our family now has coordinating stockings and I could not be happier. Our stockings are opened Christmas Eve, along with the ornaments.

Baking

There is always baking. Everything from cookies to pies to Cornish hens. Something is always being made to enjoy this time of year.

My mom has started a tradition of making cookies with G in their matching aprons and although she won't get to be here this year, we'll pick up on the tradition again next year.

Elf on a Shelf

We love our daughter's imagination. She cracks us up. To add to the fun, we've thrown in the Elf. G named her Princess and looks for her every morning. 

The Christmas Story

One of my favorite traditions is reading the Christmas story. On Christmas Eve we begin the scripture and end right before Jesus' birth. On Christmas morning we finish the story and have a family prayer. This year, G has been very excited about the coming of Jesus' birthday. Melts my heart.

The story of His birth, His Life and Resurrection are the premise of our Christmas celerations. He is the reason for the season and His sacrifice was truly the best gift ever given.

Linking up for Mommy Moments

12 Books of Christmas: 2014 Selections

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It's hard to believe that Christmas is over and a new year has begun! This year holds so much promise but before we jump in, I'm still taking time to reflect on some of my favorite moments from Christmas and the things that have shaped and grown us over this past year. One of the things that I've been missing already are the traditions that happen in our home at Christmas.

The 12 Books of Christmas is one of my favorite traditions. Last year was fun, but this year was a blast. Everyday G asked for her book and could not wait to sit, open and read. These are such treasured moments. You can check out the list of books she received last year...The List.

Here are the books she opened this year...

1. If You Give a Dog a Donut
2. Little Owl's Night
3.The Little Christmas Elf
4. Giggle, Giggle, Quack
5. Charlie Goes to School
6. Bear Says Thanks
7. Busiest Firefighters Ever!
8. Just Me and My Dad
9. Someday*
10. Minerva Louise
11. You Will Be My Friend!
12. Room for a Little One

*My personal favorite from this year...

I'll soon be on the hunt for new titles as I purchase books for next Christmas throughout the year. What book titles would you suggest?

Linking Up with Annie from Home of Malones

Christmas Memories: Homemade Sugar Cookies

I was so blessed to have my mom come up for Christmas. I love seeing her interact with G. I hate that our time together is so short and that the distance between us is so far...I have dreams for it to change some day. So until that day, we soak up every second and make as many memories as we can.

One of my favorite memories from childhood was making Christmas sugar cookies with my mom. She has used the same recipe forever and it always tastes the same. It is the essence of my childhood Christmases. To my delight, my mom chose to keep the tradition going with her granddaughter.

She even brought matching aprons! Isn't that the cutest thing?!

She and G enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Granna taught G how to roll out the dough and use the cookie cutters.

We opted out of the frosting this year and just decorated the cookies prior to baking. What fun!

Homemade Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

2/3 c shortening

1 1/2 c sugar

2/3 c butter (10tbsp)

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

8 tsp milk

4 c flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

Cream together shortening, butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and eggs, add flour, baking powder and salt. Add the milk. Mix well and chill for several hours (or overnight).

Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Flour your work surface. Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters. Bake until the cookies are very lightly browned (10-12 minutes). Cool, frost and decorate.

Linking up with Green Fashionista

12 Books of Christmas...How It Happens in Our Home

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Last year we began the 12 Books of Christmas with our daughter. Beginning on December 13th she opens one book, we read it together, and add it to her book collection. I've had a few people ask me about the logistics and also for a list of the books we've purchased for this tradition.

I begin buying books in January. I purchase one book each month, with my final book bought sometime in December. It works well. I've purchased books online, from Scholastic, thrift stores and consignment sales. All of the books I choose are in new or "like new" condition. I wrap them all and have them set out in the living room.

On the 12th we begin by sitting down as a family and have her open her 1st book of the season. She eagerly sits in anticipation as she waits for us to read the story. These moments are so precious and will hopefully continue to cultivate a love of reading.

As for the books I choose? Honestly it tends to be what strikes me. As a teacher I get the opportunity to look at a lot of books through our library, the collections of other teachers and the annual Book Fair. I make note of books I like and keep an eye out for them as the year goes on. I think back to books I enjoyed as a child and try to include those as well.

Here is a list of books from 2013.

1. Pout-Pout Fish and the Big-Big Dark
2. Curious George
3. Madeline's Christmas
4. Henry's Pirate Surprise
5. Have Fun Molly Lou Mellon (seriously one of my favorites...ever)
6. The Very Busy Spider
7. Who's Peeking at Me?
8. Christmas in the Barn
9. A Charlie Brown Christmas
10. My Little Red Fire Truck
11. God Bless You & Good Night
12. The Family Christmas Treasury (we just read stories from this book from time to time)

On Christmas Day we read the scripture of Jesus' birth. We then open presents and enjoy our time together. I hope you'll find some special ways to make memories with your family this Christmas season.

(I'll do my best to get up our 2014 list soon after Christmas...because I honestly can't remember all of the books that I chose...)

Linking up with Annie for Thoughts for Thursday

Fall Fun To-Do List

I'm so excited about fall! It is my hands-down-absolute-favorite-cannot-get-enough season. I ran across a great Fall Fun To-Do List and I decided to make it our bucket list for the fall of 2014. My goal is to capture me and/or my family completing each one of these items. It's a challenge I gladly accept.

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To kick things off, I'm linking up with Amanda at Tickled Pink for her Countdown to Halloween. I hope you'll join in!

Here are a few things that I've accomplished so far...(*Items marked with FFL are directly from the Fall Fun To-Do List.)

I created our fall chalkboard art for the family room...



Hayride (FFL): I took G on her first hayride. She really enjoyed herself. Not only did she get to experience the hayride but she also had her first face painting experience.

Favorite scarf (FFL): I recently bought a new scarf and I love it! Something about scarves just says "fall".

Love Print Infinity Scarf



Of course I couldn't let Tuesday slip by without sharing a recipe.  This one is for the slow cooker. Mine gets double the use during the cold months and this tasty dish is surprisingly versatile.

Crock pot Hawiian Chicken

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

1c pineapple tidbits with juice

1/2c chili sauce

1/4c water

1/2tbsp corn starch

Directions:

Place the chicken in the crock pot. Pour in the pineapple with juice and the chili sauce.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours. 

Remove the chicken and shred or chop. 

In a small bowl combination the water and corn starch.  Mix well. Whisk into the crock pot. Add the chicken and allow to cook on high for 10 minutes.  The sauce will thicken slightly. 

This serves well over rice and veggies or sets well on a toasted bun. Enjoy!

I hope you'll join in the fun this fall!

Also linking up with Green Fashionista for Tasty Tuesdays and

Love in the Kitchen for Tuesday's Table.