25 Days of Christmas 2009

This will be the fourth year I have done the 25 days of Christmas for the kids. Every year the kids look forward to finding out what we will do that day to celebrate the coming of Christmas. I find that doing this it makes us slow down and really enjoy the holidays. So many times Christmas is such a rush - getting gifts bought & wrapped, baking and cooking, parties and all of that fun stuff - that it's easy to forget to stop and just enjoy it. I just love Christmas and everything to do with it and I know the kids do too. I do this so they have some good fun memories of Christmas. Not just memories of it being over so fast.

This year I'm going to add a little something to our usual list. I'm going to make it an Advent chain. I saw a this picture on flikr

and I decided I wanted to make this.  I made up 25 origami envelopes and inside I am putting each of the 25 activities we will do.  The kids saw the envelopes last night when I was stamping the numbers on them and asked what they were for. I went ahead and told them and they are already excited. :)  Here is what we will be doing from December 1st through the 25th.

1. Write letters to Santa
2. Make holiday Rice Krispie treats 
3. Red & green night - supper will be all red & green
4. Family Christmas party at Bean's school
5. Christmas video
6. Decorate the Christmas tree
7. Christmas bingo night
8. Dinner & a movie (Meatloaf, mashed potatoes & A Christmas Story)
9. Crystal Snowflakes 
10. Make magic reindeer food 
11. Go see Santa & have pictures taken
12. Hand & foot print reindeer craft 
13. PJ Day! Lots of munchies & Christmas programs
14. Christmas shopping for parents & siblings
15. Wrap gifts & listen to Christmas music
16. Christmas cards & gifts for teachers
17. Make popcorn balls
18. Christmas movie with popcorn & hot chocolate
19. Candy making day - fudge, buckeyes, chocolate covered pretzels and peppermint bark
20. Decorate sugar & gingerbread cookies
21. Winter Solstice celebration 
22. Drive around the neighborhood to see all the lights & decorations
23. Deliver gift baskets to friends, listen to Christmas music in the car
24. Make Gingerbread house (morning/afternoon), Supper @ Chinese Resturant, Track Santa, Watch The Polar Express
25. Merry Christmas! Have fun & enjoy spending the day together!

I also have a few other activities planned if the weather cooperates. I would like to take the kids to Christmas in the Country at New Ross Farm Museum on December 6th.  If we get some decent snow we'll do some coasting and maybe a sleigh ride if we can.

Do you do the 25 Days of Christmas with your family?  What activities do you have planned?  I hope you are getting excited for the holidays. :)

25 Days of Christmas 2009

Menu Plan Monday - November 7 - 13

Happy Monday! Hope everyone is well today.  When I made up my menu for this week I was in the midst of dealing with the flu so I planned a week of crock pot meals.  Hope you enjoy and many are new to our family but it's always fun to try new things!

Here's what we're eating this week:

Breakfast: - Toddler Menu
Monday: Yogurt & monkey platter (variety plate of cut up fruits)
Tuesday: Whole grain waffle, pears and 1/4 cup milk
Wednesday: scrambled egg, cinnamon toast squares (whole grain bread lightly toasted)
Thursday: French toast, peaches, and 1/4 cup milk
Friday: Organic oatmeal, fruit and 1/4 cup milk

Mid-Morning Snack: - Toddler Menu
Monday: Clementine & 1/4 cup milk
Tuesday: Cereal snack & 1/4 cup milk
Wednesday: Muffin & 1/4 cup milk
Thursday:  Yogurt & Graham cracker
Friday:  Fruit slices & 1/4 cup milk

Lunch: - Toddler Menu
Monday: Baked chicken nuggets & fries, mango and 1/4 cup milk
Tuesday:  Whole Wheat cheese pizza, soft cooked veggie sticks & 1/4 cup milk
Wednesday: Pasta & peas, cheese dough sticks, diced fruit & 1/4 cup milk
Thursday:  Salmon cakes, green beans, diced peaches & 1/4 cup milk
Friday: Macaroni & Cheese, 1/4 strawberries & 1/4 cup milk

Afternoon Snack: - Toddler Menu
Monday: yogurt & graham cracker
Tuesday: Monkey Platter (can be shared with big kids after school)
Wednesday: Toast with homemade apple butter from freezer & 1/4 cup milk
Thursday: Orange slice & 1/4 cup milk
Friday: Apple Oatmeal Cookie & 1/4 cup milk

Supper for Everyone:
With printable recipe cards (click pics to save and print) & links to original recipes where noted.

Saturday - Chicken and Rice Soup (Changes I made - I used about 12 cups water & 2 tsp salt)

Sunday - Crock pot Hungarian goulash over whole wheat egg noodles & steamed broccoli (This recipe was new to us and everyone just loved it!)

Monday - Crock pot pork chops & gravy, mashed potatoes & green beans

Tuesday - Crock Pot sausages & meatballs in marinara sauce. Served on hoagie buns &  salad

Wednesday - Crock Pot potato chowder in bread bowls &  salad

Thursday - Crock Pot Chili & Cornbread

Friday - Pepperoni Bread & salad

What are you cooking this week?  Need more ideas for menu planning?  Head on over to Laura's at I'm an Organizing Junkie for hundreds of meal plans.

Menu Plan Monday - November 7 - 13

Holiday Grand Plan - Week Eleven

Can you believe there are only 45 days left until Santa arrives? I am really getting excited!! I swear I am like a kid when it comes to Christmas.  It's not the presents - well I do love shopping and buying the presents, but I love decorating the house, baking, going to do fun Christmas activities and the snow! Oh I love the snow!

Last week I had Bubs home with the flu and mid-week I ended up coming down with it too.  He's all recovered and I'm mostly better now though, so that's good.  Even with all of that I was able to get all my chores for last week done! Yay! And yesterday I got a head start on this week's chores - I went ahead and did my zone work in the kitchen while I had extra hands around to help with the baby.

This week according to The Holiday Grand Plan site we are to be working on the garage and/or storage areas.  We don't have a garage but our back shed could use some work.  And it would probably behoove me to get the outdoor decorations out and ready to be set up before the snow arrives.  I can put them under the deck for storage right now, since I think it's just a touch early to be setting them out.  You'll want to head over over to The Holiday Grand Plan site to print off the lists for this week if you are planning on following all of their chores.  I'll be doing that chore and I'll be of course doing my Flylady zone for this week.

My goals for the week are:

*Holiday Prep*

1. Make one batch of Holiday Goodies.
2. Make one extra meal for freezer again labeled HOLIDAY MEAL.
3. Figure out holiday clothes and make an appointment for pictures
4. Finalize Gift list & go shopping!

*Chores - Flylady zone 2, the kitchen*

1. Wash walls
2. Clean knick knacks
3. Wash light fixtures
4. Dust blinds
5. Clean all appliance inside & out - fridge, stove, microwave
6. Straighten & wash all cabinets and drawers
7. Clean trash can - oops forgot this!
   
8. Shine sink
9. Sweep & mop floor

That's the plan for this week. I'm already off to a great start so I think I will try to do some little extra things here and there around the house to get a head start on some other rooms.

How is your Christmas planning coming? If you are in the US, how are you doing on your Thanksgiving prep?

Need more inspiration for Christmas planning? Check out my friends & leave them a comment too! :)
Candace at Diary of a FlyBaby
Diane at DianeDenmark
Pippa at A Mother's Ramblings

Holiday Grand Plan - Week Eleven

My Very First Blog Award

Elizabeth over at Confessions of a Working Mom has awarded me with my very first blog award! I am so honored and excited!! Thank you Elizabeth for the award and thank you all for reading my blog. I'm so glad that you enjoy my rambling.

The rules state that I get to pass this along to 15 other newly discovered blogs that I love... Should any of you choose to accept this mission...post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the blogger to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here is my list - in no particular order:

1. Jessie at Moma Lovebug 
2. Tia at Christopher and Tia 
3. Diane at DianeDenmark 
4. Maria at Project Organization 
5. Enith at Raising Natural Kids 
6. Laura at Confessions of an Unorganized Mom 
7. Kara at Mom's Just One of the Boys 
8. Tiffany at Eat at Home 
9. Candace at Diary of a FlyBaby 
10. Pippa at A Mother's Ramblings 
11. Kathryn at nannygoat 
12. Holly at Domestic Dork 
13. Slee at Paisley and Pretties 
14. Prudy at Prudence Pennywise 
15. Nicole at GrudgeMom 

These are just some of the amazing blogs that I read.  You should go check them out if you haven't been to their blogs before, I promise you won't be disappointed. :)

My Very First Blog Award