Advent Tree
We are doing an advent tree (or Jesse tree as they are also called) this year at our house! Basically, an advent tree is a way for families to celebrate advent by studying the story of Christ...
View ArticleEasy Christmas Ornaments to Make
I made these ornaments when I was in kindergarten, and I still hang them on the tree every year! (I also have one from preschool – it’s a styrofoam bell with gold glitter and “Sarah 1982” written on...
View ArticleFelt Star Christmas Ornaments
Today we were supposed to go to a GI appointment for Owen, but he woke up with a fever, so we had to cancel the appointment. After the week we’ve had, I was happy to not drive an hour each way to his...
View ArticleYear End Scrapbook Activity
We had a New Year’s Eve party at home with the boys tonight! We fixed some family favorites – little smoked sausages baked in crescent rolls, green beans, cheese and crackers, apple slices, and...
View ArticleMake an Advent Book
I can’t remember what exactly got me thinking about the word “advent” – maybe it was the Star Wars Lego advent calendar I saw in the store, or the one filled with candy and decorated with pictures of...
View ArticleWe tried to take a nice family picture…
Hi, this is Owen. Mom doesn’t usually let me up at the computer, being as how I’m 2 and all, but since she’s folding laundry and not paying attention, I thought I’d share our family Christmas photos...
View ArticleChristmas Gift Guide for Boys
I can’t believe that it’s time to think about Christmas shopping already! We’re planning to keep Christmas gift-giving very simple this year because of a job transition and a time of low income during...
View ArticleChristmas Tree Math
We made homeschooling a little more festive this week with some Christmas tree math! Gresham (1st grade) is working on learning his addition facts, so I made 6 trees with numbers on the trunks. I drew...
View ArticleTurn Catalogs into a Christmas Collage
We can tell it’s the Christmas season, because lately our mailbox has been looking like this: Before taking a pile out to the recycle bin, I had the idea of having the boys cut them up and make...
View ArticleChristmas Countdown Tree (for Jesse Tree Ornaments)
The past two years, our family has enjoyed creating an Advent Tree (also called a Jesse Tree) to count down to Christmas. Actually, the first year we did a tree, sort of. We never could get our tree...
View ArticleLast-Minute Christmas Gifts for Boys (Includes Homemade Ideas!)
Two weeks until Christmas! Hopefully, you’re more organized than me and have all of your shopping done. If not, here are some last-minute gift ideas for boys. Basic Lego Tub You can’t go wrong with...
View ArticleEasy DIY Christmas Candle Jars
These Christmas Candle Jars are a great homemade gift that kids can make and give! The boys enjoyed making fall candle jars, and I bought a couple of extra jars to use as gifts, but we never got around...
View ArticleSalt Dough Christmas Ornaments
In all the years that I’ve had children, we’ve never done salt dough ornaments at Christmas! Well, last week I decided to give it a try. The boys really enjoyed making the ornaments, and we’re very...
View ArticleConstruction Paper Poinsettias
Yesterday we made construction paper poinsettias with Grandma as well as pipe cleaner snowflakes. Jordan’s mom brought over a few crafts to do with us, and this one was an idea from Better Homes &...
View ArticleThree Days Before Christmas
T’was three days before Christmas, and all through the house, ALL the creatures were stirring, and jumping on the couch. The ornaments were hung on the Christmas tree with care, And re-hung again (and...
View ArticleChristmas
Merry Christmas, a day late! We were blessed to have a picture perfect day here complete with a fire in the fireplace and snow falling outside! For Texas, a white Christmas is a very rare thing. We...
View ArticleRemember the Year Month by Month
2012 was a really big year for our family! We welcomed a new baby on January 3rd. It’s been incredible to watch Jonathan grow from a newborn baby to crawling to first steps all in one calendar year....
View ArticleDownload and Print Advent Jesse Tree Devotions
Download and print Advent (Jesse) Tree Devotions to use with the whole family! What are Advent devotions? The Advent season is almost here – my favorite time of the year! Children add so much joy to...
View ArticleNinjabread Men Homemade Christmas Ornaments
Earlier in the fall, the boys and I were out shopping when we ran across some cookie cutters called Ninjabread Men (Amazon affiliate link). I immediately thought of making Christmas ornaments out of...
View ArticleCelebrating a Merry Christmas When Money is Tight
We never really have a whole lot of money to spend on Christmas gifts, but this year feels especially light. December and January are always slow months at my husband’s commission income job. We are...
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