WAH Wednesday: Christmas Family Memories

Last Monday I talked to you about my pre-planning.  Well it is in full swing!

Last year I shared this list with you and I am bringing it back today. This is more of a list than anything else.  This list is meant to help you spur some ideas for creating more memories with your family.

We do two advent calendars.  First is our Christmas Book Countdown.  I wrap one book for each night leading up to Christmas. We start our advent calendars the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  This year I will be wrapping 26 books.   Yes, I have over 30 Christmas books.  I found the majority of the at a thrift store for $0.29 each.  I will be pick up a few new ones each year because some have been so loved they need to be replaced.  Others are just too long for right now.  I will find them at crazy times of the year and I will buy them.  I bought 4 Mother's Day weekend in Wisconsin.

The other is an activity that we do each day, like visit Santa, or Christmas Go Go Day (watching and dancing to ALL of our Wiggles Christmas DVDs).  This year we will also be doing our preschool activities.

We don't do all of these things, but this is a great list for you to get a jump start.

Serve others

1. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
2. Collect blankets and give them to a homeless shelter. (Need to turn it up a notch - have a blanket making party.)
3. Clean out your closets and donate to local agencies.
4. Fill a box of formerly loved toys and donate to local agencies. (We must do this every year because of Christmas and birthdays being so close.)
5. Bake cookies and deliver them to a local retirement home.
6. Plan a “playdate” and let the other mom’s get some kid free time for shopping, wrapping or de-stressing.
7. Purchase gifts from an Angel Tree.  (Gifts for needy children)
8. Fill stockings and donate them to local agencies.
9. Make a meal and deliver it to a needy family.
10. Bake cookies and give them to people who have to work on Christmas Eve.
11. Make edible gifts for the birds and squirrels.

Random Acts of Kindness

1. Feed the meters.  Hang a Christmas card on the meter.
2. Tape quarters to the toy machines at the grocery store.
3. Give out gift cards to the local coffee shop in the mall.
4. Go to a holiday display and offer to take pictures for families.  (You know Mom is never in the pictures!)
5. Hand out Christmas cards to random people.
6. Give rolls of wrapping paper and tape to your neighbors.
7. Offer to load a full cart of groceries or packages into their car for them.
8. Make extra dinner and invite the neighbors over, or deliver.
9. Give out flowers to people while shopping.
10. Hide dollar bills in the toy aisle of the dollar store.
11. Fill stockings or old shoes with treats, go to a different neighborhood and leave them on doorsteps.
12. Make ornaments and hand them out with candy canes.

Family Activity Ideas

1. Go look at Christmas displays.
2. Family Pajama Movie Night - be sure to make it complete with Hot Cocoa.
3. Go to your local Christmas Tree lighting celebration.
4. Christmas Carol Bath - Listen to your favorite Christmas Carols while taking a bath, complete the mood by hanging twinkle lights.
5. Fancy Dress Dinner.
6. Write a Christmas story.
7. Dessert first dinner.
8. Pajama Breakfast Dinner.
9. Decorate a gingerbread house.
10. Go to a live nativity.
11. Go to a Christmas parade.
12. Write and send Christmas cards.
13. Decorate every door in your house.
14. Write a family letter to Santa.  
15. Get a letter from Santa.
16. Hot chocolate and popcorn for a snack.
17. Christmas Dance Party!
18. Christmas Treasure Hunt
19. Ornament Decorating
20. Decorate Stockings
21. Make a gingerbread house
22. Decorate sugar cookies with icing
23. Use cookie cutters to make a fun lunch
24. Make a Christmas gift for a member of the family.

Christmas Crafts

1. Cotton Santa Beard
2. Paper Chain Garland
3. Make Christmas Cards for Friends and Family
4. Hand and Foot Angels
5. Create an outdoor Christmas scene and use shaving cream for snow.
6. Cone Christmas Trees
7. Decorate Paper Cookies
8. Beaded Candy Cane Ornaments
9. Paper Plate Wreathes
10. Shape Reindeer (only using circles, triangles and rectangles)
11. “Stained Glass” Ornament Sun Catchers
12. Create Christmas scenes and use glitter for snow.
13. Make your own gift tags

Fill you Advent Calendar with:

1. Christmas Jokes
2. Christmas Books
3. Christmas Quotes
4. Christmas Scripture
5. Christmas Coloring Pages
6. Christmas Crafts 

Home Making Monday: Pre Planning for Busy Seasons

I don't know if it is a blessing or a curse, but we are about to enter our busy season.  September starts the celebration season of our family.  To help things go smoothly I start planning now! Yep, July.

Things I start planning:

• Budget and Savings
• New things to add to our festivities
• Projects I need to get done by Christmas 
• Birthday Parties
• Trips to visit relatives
• Mark the Calendars for all the events

Why do I start planning so early?  So I don't forget things - like the kids letters from Santa (yep totally forgot to do them last year).  

I have been doing these for the kids since they were born.  I haven't been doing baby books, but I have been doing these letters.  And who knows it might turn into a scrapbook down the road.  It helps keep all those important things remembered.  You know first words, when the first potty was.  The first naughty word that was said -- July 10, 2014 by big one.  And the funny story that goes with it.  So those need to get started.  I will even write last years and put it with their others.  These letters come from Santa and although last year's won't have a post marked envelope it's okay.

So here is my list of planning needs:

• Family Vacation (long weekend on Labor Day)
• Dad's Birthday
• Mark Calendar for Brother-In-Law's birthday (find out if I am making the cake)
• Anniversary Date
• Day out with Thomas the Tank?
• 40th Birthday for Hubby
• Halloween
• Sister-In-Law's Birthday
• Pumpkin Farm Plans (Georgetown, Milford and Little Miss wants to go to Grandma and Grandpa's!)
• Sister's Birthday
• Little Mr's Birthday 
• Thanksgiving
• North Pole Breakfast
• Advent Activities (including visiting Santa and the Christmas Concert at Church)
• Little Miss's Birthday
• Warner Family Christmas
• Brother's Birthday 
• Nephew's Birthday
• Father In Law's Birthday
• Christmas Eve - Movie and PJ's
• Christmas Day
• New Year's Eve

I am probably forgetting something but it's okay.  I know it is anxiety provoking, BUT I LOVE IT!. And this is why I start planning in July!  It is quite a list - and to think we put all of that into 4 months!  Oh and this is just the family stuff not to mention all the stuff I have to get done for work.  

Good thing I get to review this thing of beauty.  That's your tease.  You have to be here October 28 to see if it is working, not working ... if I love it or if I hate it ... and where you can buy it.

I know I am not the only one out there who starts planning early.  Anyone want to share what you are up to this upcoming season?

Teach Me Thursday: Raised Hands

I mentioned that we made at least one gift for each member of the family this Christmas season.  It is always a safe bet to go with hand-print gifts for grandparents.  We made plaster hearts with raised hands from each kid for Nana and Papaw (my in-laws).  I wanted something different than the classic imprinted hand-print.

This was possibly the easiest gift made.

I did remember to snap the final product.  

{Teach Me Thursday} Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  One of the best days of the entire year. 

For years Valentine's Day was my favorite holiday.  This was even before I had found the Love that God created for me.  This was before I ever experienced the love of someone other than my family.  I am all about hearts, pink and red, and love.  I love the idea of love.  I love being in love.  I love sharing love.  I love LOVE. 

We have had a few rough years and I have not been able to celebrate Valentine's day the way that I would want.  I am looking forward to next year being different.  I am not even referring to the expensive dates and gifts.  I am referring to things like ...

14 Acts of Love

Making fun crafts and Valentine Cards for the people we love.

like this placemat from The Domestic Notebook

or this great little craft

How cute is this?  

I want to do a count down to Valentine's Day with I love you because ...
I want cute Valentine's Day decorations. 
I want to make cute Heart shaped foods. 
I want to make my family a special meal and eat them on Valentine's Plates. 

Valentine's Day is all about love.  Love is who I am.  This holiday just fits me. We will have Valentine's Day traditions, just like we have Christmas Traditions.

So share some love today!  Happy Valentine's Day to you from all of us here with The Hickman Five. 

Forth of July Adventures

So I am behind on things.  Does this surprise any mom of 2 under 3?

I recently posted this page as a speed scrap.  Probably not my favorite page.  I will be making a few other pages to make the day complete.  Within the last few months I have discovered digital scrapbooking.  I love it!

This page highlights what we did on the Forth of July.  Little Miss loves parades.  So since her cousin was going to be walking in one we had to go to it.

We played on the grass while we waited.  

We hear the band!

They had horses!  

The last several parades that we went to did not have any horses.  

It was hot, but we had a great time.

That evening we had a indoor cookout and played with our indoor fireworks.

Last Minute Fourth of July Decorations

Have I really been this behind on things that I am now just posting about our Fourth of July.  {hangs head in shame} yes.

So I had decided the Thursday before the Fourth we were going to do something on the fourth, just the four of us.  So I headed over to many people's favorite obsession.  Pinterest.  That is where I found the blog AliLily.  She had 20 Fourth of July crafts nice and organized.  One or two were her's and others were links to other sites.

We set out to make some fun decorations and activities without more than $5.

Pull String Indoor fireworks.  

{They look cute, but didn't work so well when it came to pulling the string.  They either pulled right down, or wouldn't open.}

Bead and Pipe Cleaner Fireworks.  

Don't you love the look of concentration on a toddler's face.

Firework Painting.  

I put the paint on wax paper so it would spread around easier.  

I also made a wreath frame with newspaper; however, I started to take pictures and didn't take them all.  SO I am not including it and I will be making it again another time.  

How did we do with making our decorations spending less than $5.  Great.  With the wreath, I had to buy crepe paper streamers ($3).  And that was it.  I also cut out a USA from craft foam and covered them in glitter.  

We a simple fun day.  The best part?  Daddy was home with us all day!  What can you really do when the holiday falls on a Wednesday?  

{almost} Wordless Wednesday

I love my MyMemories digital scrapbooking software.  This whole page only took me 30ish minutes.  I was getting upset that it was 10:30 and I had nothing posted for today, and it is {almost} Wordless Wednesday.  

So here you go!

My lovelies at the Fourth of July parade.  What a great picture of my two favorite guys.  Both so into whatever was passing by at the time.  

And who knows what has gotten Kaitlyn's attention.  

It was a nice parade.  Keith is really wanting a parade with more than one marching band.  I am thinking we are going to have to go to New York's Macy Day parade for that.  

Okay maybe I am just trying to get to New York.  

Mother's Day 2012

I know it was 2 weeks ago and it was just Memorial Day.  But while going through, organizing and backing up the pictures.  Hey I am only sorting and backing up May! Woot.  I am on it with this.  I realized I never posted about Mother's Day other than the gifts we made.

Sunday morning I get woke up in the usual wake up method these days.  One of the two kids needing my attention.  This particular Sunday Kaitlyn walked in.  "Hey Guys!" (where did she get that?) She crawls into bed with us and asks for Disney Jr. I am more than happy to oblige because then I can ease into my morning a little.

We had done the whole family thing on Saturday, so today it was just us.  It was nice, except for the rain.

Keith asked me if I wanted my gifts now, I said sure.  "Babe they are not wrapped so close your eyes."  How did he get away without wrapping gifts?  Anyway.  "From Alex Mommy"  I open my eyes to find a yoga mat in my hands.  So I close my eyes again and get something dropped into my hands.  "From me" In Style magazine - which I find out is a subscription!  Finally, "From Dadddy" - Ralph Lauren perfume.  It's a new one of his.  It smells really good.

"So, a yoga mat so I can go to the gym and get my skinny on.  My magazine subscription so I can get my entertainment on while I get my cardio on at the gym.  And perfume so I don't smell like I was just at the gym.  I love them all!"

Then we go to church and Kaitlyn runs out after with a picture.  "Happy Mommy's Day!"  It was a hand print flower.

I am pretty blessed.

Is it weird?

I love all these hand-print crafts I see all over preschool sites and Pintrest.  Seeing that my kiddos are not in preschool how am I going to get these cuties?  I am going to make them with my kids - Is that weird?  Sure it ruins the surprise, but if I want the fun crafts I will take it on myself.

Look at these little numbers!

These are kitchen flour sack towels.  I used fabric paint (that stuff that comes in the squeeze bottle) and painted it onto their hands.  Alex's was not easy by any means, but that is what makes it so darn cute!

Easter: Collage Review

Easter morning Kaitlyn runs into our room - "Hi Mommy! Hi Daddy! Happy Easter Day!" 

"Good Morning Pumpkin." 

"BASKET DAY!"

I really don't know where she got all this information about Easter baskets and the Easter Bunny, because we have not mentioned all that much about it.  Anyway, we go downstairs and Daddy tells her that the Easter Bunny might have left her an Easter Basket, but he likes to hide things.  She finds Alex's basket first.  Then Daddy helps her look for her basket.  After the goods are found they are inspected, by both kids.  Alex was really into looking into his basket.  The tradition of candy for breakfast has begun.

We were having brunch at my brother-in-laws house.  So, I got everything ready that we were taking with us. 

She really got the hang of the egg hunt after being guided to an egg or two.

We hung out and just spent some family time together.  Four peeps later the sugar high kicked in.  Kaitlyn was a bigger ham than usual.  We played "Plate" (frisbee) and ball.  Alex loved all the cuddles.  

Jesus has risen and we celebrated.  

Easter - A Secular and Sacred Celebration

With the flowers and trees starting to bloom we know that Spring is here, even though it is technically still Winter.  The grass here is already green.  In Cincinnati, we actually had to pull out the summer clothes already. It's actually pretty insane.   Seeing that Spring is here, that means ...

Easter is right around the corner.  

As Christians Easter is a big, big deal.  Sometimes as Christian parents we have a hard time explaining these Christian concepts to our young children.  

We have written a short eBook to assist with your Easter Celebrations.  It gives you a brief history of Easter and the symbolic reasons behind the Easter Egg, the Easter Bunny and other symbols of Easter.  We discuss ways that you can share the story of Jesus with children as young as 2.

Not only do you get a history you get:

• Great activities to make your Easter Celebration one to remember.
• Crafts for some great decorations
• Recipes for a DELICIOUS Easter Brunch.

By enjoying the life God blesses us with we are celebrating all that Jesus has done for us.  

This eBook is $0.99 and available now! Get your copy by clicking the Buy Now Button.  Once you payment is verified you will be sent your copy of Easter - A Secular and Sacred Celebration within 24 hours.

$0.99 purchased in March, 2012

Holiday Review - In Pictures

This was Christmas Number 1.  Christmas with my side of the family has to be flexible seeing that we pretty much live in 3 states most of the time.  Last year, we did Christmas with my side of the family on the Sunday after Kaitlyn's birthday.  This year everyone (minus Uncle Joe) was close enough that we were able to do it on the Friday before Christmas which was really nice.

Does this dog look 11 1/2?  This is my parents dog Rocky.  He is such a good dog, even when he is being tormented by Julian Casabeagle (my sister's Christmas present - a 6 month old beagle/blue heeler puppy).

 The evening was so much fun Kailtyn lost her pants!  "Oh No! Happen?"

Alex's first Christmas.  He might not look it, but he was actually awake for the celebrations.  I would like to thank Carter's for their awesome Christmas clothes this year.  Yes, I bought them, but they had great collections this year. 

A better picture of the awesome Christmas clothes.  We got 3 wears out of these! And Kaitlyn will be able to wear some of the pieces more.  Alex, we will see.  He probably won't fit in them come next week. 

Look at those PJ's for Kaitlyn!  "Santa and the Reindeers World Tour"!  She is enjoying a cookie while she sets them out for Santa with Daddy.

My wonderful little family!  Christmas morning.  I am so blessed. 

This little girl loves her books.  She did this last year too.  Opened the books then needed to 'read' them.  She is laying on her Elmo pillow pet.  All wonderful gifts from Aunt and Uncle Hickman.

My brother-in-law takes great pictures.  Merry Christmas from The Hickman's.  (My kids will learn to smile for pictures some day.)

I hope your holidays were as blessed as ours.

Gratitude

I am not one of those people that wonders where the year went after Christmas passes.  This year is no different; except, where on earth did the holiday season go?  It just flew by!  Keith feels the same way.  The past 6 weeks have been nothing but go, go, go -- could be that we have an infant in the house.

Look at those two adorable kids I have!

So today on Thank You Note Day I give you a top 10.  

The ten things I am thankful for this past year:

1. A husband who loves me, even when I am mean to him at 5:30 in the morning.  (sleep deprivation is beyond set in)
2. Two healthy children.  Even when their schedules are completely opposite and a little boy who does not want to nap.  
3. My sister.  She came to live with us for 3 weeks in November.  We would not have managed the birth of Alex without her.  She was a true blessing.
4. Lisa, our babysitter.  She came to our house everyday this summer to watch Kaitlyn to keep her on schedule while I was working.  
5. My business.  Even though there are changes coming and we are working on making things stronger in certain areas.  I am thankful for the 3 successful summers we have had thus far.
6. The ability to work at home.  If I didn't' have a supportive husband and a business this would not be possible, but I love that I am able to be working with my children at home.  (one of which is trying to fall asleep on my lap as I am typing this)
7. Family that love my children.  My family lives in multiple states and although my brother was missed this year it was nice to see everyone for Kaitlyn's birthday and then again a week later for Christmas.  
8. Job changes.  Job changes lead to job security which then leads to a happier husband.
9. Post pregnancy weight loss.  I lost 30 pounds in 3 weeks having the baby.  I was back into my regular clothes within 7 days and I am starting to feel like my old self.  Now to start toning this all up.
10. Our faith.  I would have not survived this year without my faith.  God brought the right people into my life and I am thankful for each and everyone of them.  

Now this is not in any specific order, and my faith should probably be the first thing on this list because without it I have nothing else on the list.  It has been a long year for us here at the Hickman Five.   I am looking forward to 2012.

This week we are going to be talking about other things we loved throughout the year.  

However it is Thank You Note Day so here are some great things we recommend for all your Thank You Note needs:

Linked with Oh Amanda!

Fall Fabric Pumpkin

Crafts are one of my favorite things to do. Especially the no-sew variety. I am not a great crotchetier or knitter, so those don't work for me at all. This fall craft was so simple older children could do it with very minimal supervision. This fall craft can be brought out in September and left out until you put your Christmas decorations out. 

This craft was inspired by a bath tissue pumpkin I saw on a blog. I did not want to use a roll of bath tissue to make the pumpkin, mostly because I didn't like the shape, so I doctored the idea.

Read More

New Traditions

When Keith and I started dating, we didn't really worry about Christmas Traditions.  Then we got married, and it was more of the same.  We just went along with what our families wanted to do.  We didn't have kids to create amazing Christmas memories for.  Well, 2 years ago that all changed.  Sure she was a newborn, but traditions still needed to be started.  Here is the full account of how we did it.

Read More

One of our new traditions:

Yearly Ornaments

We decided that each year we would be purchasing an ornament for each child.  When they leave home and they will have a nice collection of ornaments for their first tree.   Our daughter's first ornament was in 2009 and it was a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament.  (We purchased two.) The next year she started her love for Elmo.  Even though she still loves Elmo and it would have been really easy to just pick her up a new Sesame Street ornament.  However, she is OBSESSED with the Wiggles and the Red Wiggle is her favorite.  This means we went out and found her a red guitar ornament.

Blending Christmas Traditions

When we are children we don't have much of a say in what traditions are carried out during the Christmas season. Our parents make those decisions and we just go with it. That is exactly what we expect Christmas to be, we have no other perspective. Then we get married and now there are two sets of expectations of what Christmas should be. Then you have children and that throws even a bigger twist into things.

This is how Christmas looked when I was a child.

Read More 

Christmas is in the Air

This is my all time favorite time of the year.  Even with the added stress of having Hickman #4 I still love it.  People seem to be a little nicer to each other.  Families want to be together more.  Santa is everywhere and when seen there is a super excited almost 2 year old!

Are we terrible parents for taking this picture and posting it for the world to see?

Back story:  Hickman #5 (the dog) is a weird mutt.  He likes to be under covers.  He likes to wear warm clothes.  Now, he is a short hair nervous dog and does not have an ounce of fat on his body, so I get that he wants to be warm.  My family - mainly my sister and I - used to dress him up all the time because it was insane to us that this 45-50 pound dog liked to wear clothes.  My dad found a Santa outfit for him one year for $5.  This was in his toy basket and found.

She got so, so excited she wanted to wear it.  "Tanta Coat, Tanta Coat!" So we put it on her.  We were surprised it fit her.  But the picture is just too cute to not share.

Other Articles you might like:

The Gift Card Insult - One woman's view on gift cards. 
Make your Own Christmas Planner - It really will help things run smoother
Pregnant at Christmas? - Holiday without a hitch, our story.
How to Plan an Advent Calendar - Tips to create an advent calendar without 24 gifts.
40 Family Advent Activities - Plenty of ideas to fill your advent calendar with.
Blending of Christmas Traditions - How 2 hearts became 1 Christmas

Throwing a Halloween Party?

Last minute Halloween Party Planning Tips:

• Look around your house and use what you have on hand.  
• Look in your recycling bin.
• Look in your pantry.

READ MORE for 5 budget friendly recycled Halloween Crafts, 5 not so scary Halloween Games, and 5 spooky snacks.

With these tips you will be able to throw a Spooktacular Halloween Party this weekend!

Preschool Halloween Activities

Hickman Entertainment Services is an educational entertainment company.  We focus on learning that is all around us, this means we truly use everyday items for out learning fun.  I figured what better time to give some Halloween preschool activities that we love. 

 
Wiggly, Wiggly Witch
Fun Game for Spatial Learning.  You can use this game to teach left, right, front, back, next to.  It is also a large muscle game.  Children will also work on following directions. 

Letter Parade
You will need a paper bag for this activity and art supplies. 

Color Mixing Witches Brew
This is a classic experiment with a color mixing Halloween twist.  This experiment will engage the senses of sight (the colors and the reaction), hearing (the reaction), touch (they can feel the reaction), and smell (the ingredients). 

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds and Uses

Pumpkin Seed Math
Two great counting activities using pumpkin seeds as a manipulative.  One of the activities can be transitioned into addition. 

Personalized Letters from Santa

Would your little one love a personalized letter from Santa?  Look no further!

What is in this letter?

• 3 accomplishments or things to be proud of that happened this year.
• 1 thing to work on to keep being on Santa's Nice list.  

In addition to a personalized letter from Santa your little one will get 3 original coloring pages.

You will be emailed a copy of the letter when it is complete.  You will also be emailed a note from Santa that you can print out if your little one decides to leave out one of the coloring pages.  Your little one will be receiving the letter from Santa after Dec 10th.  The letters will be post marked from the North Pole (key for older children).  

Personalized Letter From Santa - $2.95 
All Postage is included.
 

After your payment is received you will receive an email form to fill out for all the details of your letter!