Christmas with Kids

Today is Black Friday. While the retailers want us all to do our part to boost the economy, be careful out there. Just because it’s a traditional shopping day, doesn’t mean you need to get out there and overspend. Make a list and check it twice. Have a budget. Stick to your plan. Don’t dig [...]

In the rush to find toy bargains, it’s a good idea to stick to brands and vendors that you know. Beware of deep discounts or suspicious bargains because those toys might be on a recall list or made with inferior materials. Be smart!
Here are some useful links to check for toy recalls:

Toy Hazard Recalls
Biggest Toy [...]

If you are able to take a day off to shop, do it! Before your big shopping day, make your list and check it twice. A comprehensive list with the sizes you needs, people you need to shop for, stocking stuffers, entertaining housewares, and sale flyers will help you organize your day. Plan a time-saving [...]

Handmade wish lists have a certain charm and appeal that you won’t see anywhere else, so hang on to these! Make copies before you mail them to Santa!
Great advances have been made in online wish lists. There is something for everyone!
The Amazon Wish List is our top pick. Our favorite feature is that you can’t [...]

My friend Michelle sent me a note with her favorite Christmas memory filled with traditions:
“Absolutely, hands down….
Family dinner, followed by the opening of one gift, then Midnight service at church, ending with ‘Silent Night’ by candlelight and coming home and making ‘reindeer food’ with my nieces and nephews.  They’re grown now and we all are [...]

Discovery Exclusive Remote Control Moon In My Room
We’ve given this toy as a gift to another child and to our own son, who just had to have one! This toy has an illuminated moon which shows all lunar phases, waxing and waning. It includes a remote control and an audio CD. The moon automatically turns [...]

If you aren’t already reading books at bedtime, this is a great tradition to start. It’s great for your infants, toddlers, pre-readers, young readers, advanced readers, and tweens! Here are some great Christmas titles for the season:

The Night Before Christmas: The Heirloom Edition
Christmas in the Manger Board Book
The Polar Express
Gingerbread Friends
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Olivia [...]

If you are going to give gifts for grownups, give something consumable. Gifts to charities, gourmet foods, event tickets, are all great gifts for grownups.
As an extended family, we’ve decided to forego gifts for the grownups this year.

We have just about everything we want already, unless you count big ticket items.
We have a clutter problem.
Money [...]

If I had to pick one thing that I couldn’t live without, it would be books. It runs in my family. One grandmother was a librarian, the other a literature fan. One grandfather was a church scholar, preacher, and history buff, and my dad is a huge science fiction fan. My husband is a voracious [...]

Today, let’s take some time to check our progress. How are you doing with the first 50 days of preparation for Christmas? Do you know where you’re spending Christmas this year, or are you playing host/ess? Menu? Guests?
Have you scheduled a family portrait sitting and selected/ordered Christmas cards?
Are you handmaking gifts this year? Knitting projects? [...]