First of December

Yay!!! My most favourite time of the year!! 

Have you been busy today putting up your tree? Decorating your house? Organising your Elf?

We have been!

Over the past few years , as the kids have gotten a little older and more knowing, we have developed traditions in which we do at the start of December to mark the festive season! I used to think I would get more excited than the kids, but that just isn't the case anymore and its just wonderful!

So ... today Alfie our Christmas elf returned, ready for lots of naughty action at night time! 

This year , he was waiting outside the fairy door, with a letter for the kids saying how proud we are of them for adjusting so well to a new town and house! The kids thought it was amazing that he knew what had been happening this year and where to find them again!

I know you can buy Christmas wreaths and mini trees for fairy doors , but they all come at a pretty price, so I just use a wreath from a Christmas embellishment pack from Crazy Clarks. It looks gorgeous and no one would ever know it cost around 30c!! 

Last year, hubby and I  had so much fun planning and organising the nightly antics of our naughty elf, and seeing as though we live more remotely this year, and with less retail options , I wanted to be prepared with the planning process. In case we need a few supplies or special equipment for a night, I needed time to be able to order online or through Spotlight and have it sent (just $6.95 from Spotlight if you ever need!) So I am using this gorgeous December Calendar from the gorgeous Bianca at a little delightful. I have also printed off another to keep track of special events that we can attend (like Carols by Candlelight) and also the craft activities we plan on doing. Again, this will make it easier to have everything pre prepared so that we can do them efficiently after school and with minimal fuss and mess (that's my sort of craft!!)

This morning, I also helped each child fill in their Letter to Santa. This year I decided to go with this gorgeous free printable from Wink Designs found HERE, thanks to a tip off from Clare from The Home She Made on her facebook page. Its the perfect amount of writing and creativity from the kids without being too overwhelming for  the little ones. Some name writing practise , tick a box and draw a picture. Simple. I then colour photo copied each one, kept the original and we have posted the letters into their chair backers for Alfie to take to Santa tonight!

 

Now , last year , we used our Christmas books as a way to count down the days until Christmas, where we unwrapped a different book each night on the countdown until Christmas day, then on Christmas Eve, the kids received a new one !

You can read more about that HERE in my post from last Christmas. However this year I wanted to do something a little different , and there are only so many ways you can count down the days. Otherwise our nights and mornings would be filled with counting, cutting, glueing etc. 

So we have gone with the Santa beard Advent again, using a gorgeous printable from a little delightful again, you can find it HERE. This seems the most practical for us, great scissor practise for the younger ones, no glue involved and the kids have been enjoying the Christmas books being on display. 

Plus we also have a small festive blackboard where we cross off each number with chalk until the big day , and we can't forget our first year of using a LEGO Advent Calendar!! 

Now these are certainly NOT cheap, but we have just the one to share for the family and judging by the excitement of opening that little box this morning, it is going to be a winner!! 

They have small boxes leading up to the 25th, each with its own little package inside. It may be a tree, a figure etc and in the end it will create a Christmas scene. 

So there you have our wonderful First day of December. We have watched the Santa Claus movie, started on some gorgeous Snowman craft, read lots of Christmas books and had a wonderful day at home absorbing the spirit and excitement!! 

I can not wait for what the next 24 days bring!

Advent count down books

I am so pleased that our kids love books as much as I do, and there is nothing better than digging out your Christmas boxes from storage and rediscovering your festive books.

This year, I wanted to do something a little different with the kids to make the books a little more special, and to also aid in our countdown until Christmas Day. I have seen this idea around the traps and thought it was perfect for our kiddos!

Each year I try to add to our collection of books, as Santa gifts at Christmas parties, ideas for grandparents and I also purchased a few newbies when I was in Perth in October as the Big W stock is always different than our local Targets.

As a advent calendar of sorts, I have wrapped 25 Christmas books, all a little different and a little interesting and have used these gorgeous tags created by the clever Bianca from a little delightful.

The cute tags all count down the number of days to go!! So at story time every night, the kids will take it in turns at unwrapping the next book in the series and we will read it together.

I kept a basic colour scheme of red polka dot paper ( I love polka dots and this paper was only $2 for a large roll from Target!) and brown paper (the smaller books as below are actually wrapped in a brown sandwich bag!! When wrapping 25 books, the quick option is often the best and a brown bag doesn't need cutting!)

Even a bit of washi tape was used to add finishing touches to the wrapping but the labels are certainly gorgeous on their own!

When the kids discovered a gorgeous basket filled with lovely wrapped parcels, excitement filled the air!! It certainly beats the bickering we had last year over who got to choose the book for the night! And what a lovely way to count down to Christmas Day!

Oh how I love Christmas!

The very clever Bianca has created these Advent Count down labels and is so generous to offer them as a printable for you to use at home! They are so versatile and can be used for anything and everything. Used in an advent calendar, on treats for your children, labels on a scrapbook . The possibilities are endless. Or , like I did, to add more joy to the most beautiful gift you can give a child. A book and the imagination to fill the pages.

To Download your very own copy of these cool labels , check out Bianca's blog HERE

While you are there, make sure you have a look at her other gorgeous Christmas printables. The Advent cards are on my print and laminate list for today and we have already used her 'Letters to Santa' Printable. Just love them!

Christmas Books and Movies

One of the best parts for me about getting out the Christmas storage boxes, would have to be the books!

I am a book lover, always have been and it seems my kids have inherited the gene!

It helps that we have always read to them, but they certainly have an interest of their own and are more often than not, found sitting under their new Bookshelves (will share a photo soon) flicking through and reading to themselves.

This year, I also picked up some Christmas movies on sale in Target. I know that they air them on TV, but it never seems to be at a convenient time as our kids go to bed between 6 -6:30pm.

I thought I might do a brief run through of each book/movie, for those interested in expanding their collection and not knowing what to buy.

Below we have ;

All Dogs Christmas Carol- a cartoon , and only goes for 20 mins, a few parts were a little scary (so Stella said) but nothing major, no tears. Reminds me of Lady and the Tramp!!

Ice Age; A Mammoth Christmas- funny, short and a little different than the traditional story

Santa Claus1, 2, and 3 - I am sure everyone has seen them, they have been hammered on TV, but I love them all the same .

Our purchase for next year will be The Polar Express.

Now for our books, this collection has definately expanded over the last few years. We started out with just a few, half being ones that were already on our bookshelf, however over the past 2 years, we have added quite a few, with the help of a few Christmas parties where the present I had to take for each child was a book . ( I love this idea for Christmas parties!! Better than a toy, useless plastic stuff the kids don't need, so I try to buy our kids Christmas books , and its great as kids don't know the value of books, the difference between a $2 one and a $20 one!!)

This year I was organised enough to place an order through Book Depository. Free shipping worldwide and VERY cheap prices and an extensive range too!

The books below are as follows;
Santas Aussie Holiday- Beautiful illustrations, a bit of a long book (for the likes or 18 month olds) but great to incorporate more of an Australian element
Twenty Five December Lane- a Little whimsical, and again a bit longer (have seen this in Target just this week)
Christmas in the Mouse House (we received this through a Secret Santa Swap for my bookclub, we chose to do kids books this year and it was great) -  An amazing Lift the Flap book, where the little mice search for 12 gold stars for the Christmas tree, Stella's favourite and fantastic for counting practise aswell!
Santa's Reindeer - Not a story book, more of a informative book on Reindeers, what they eat , the Santa workshop etc. Great for older kids or for ours to look through for an insight into Santa's world!! (Bought from Book Depository last year)

Books below as follows;
The Night Before Christmas-  The traditonal verses and story, but with embossed pages and gorgeous Illustrations (bought for $9 at local IGA store)
Dear Santa- A lift the flap book, about gifts, very short and good for tired nights! ha
That's Not my Santa- A board book, textured elements on each page and Twins favourite! (Book Depository this year)
The Night Before Christmas Golden Book- Same Story but with my childish Illustrations (Local Target for a few dollars)
Santa Down Under- Short story, about how he gets around etc, (Found at book sale for 50c!)

Books below as follows;
Father Christmas Needs a Wee -  Really funny, and a counting book! (Book Depository this year)
The Night Before Christmas - Board Book, great for littlies (Crazy Clarkes)
Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer- Golden book, great for 2-3 year olds (Target few dollars)
I Love Christmas- Simple, Classic Anne Walker
Wombat Devine - Part of our Regular book reading and a beautiful tale
Mr Men 12 Days of Christmas- Counting, Christmas and typical Mr Men ( Woolworths a few years back)
Santa- Board glitter book , good for littles, short story, texture and glitter ($2 shop)

                                And a few cheap Christmas CD's, much to Noels disgust

Our book Basket, getting fuller each year! We also have our colouring in and activity books here too!

And a favourite little Christmas corner with our new little cushion from Pottery Barn Kids, Babys First Christmas, I did think it was going to be bigger, but its not, cute all the same!

                                                            I hope this has helped!!
                                                            What is your favourite?
                           Oh and "The Jolly Postman " is on its way from Grandma and Poppy for Christmas!