New Year's Tradition

Here's an idea for a tradition for next year.  I didn't think about posting about this until this week, so I am sorry, it's too late for this year, but any who....you can prep your kids for next year, now. hahaha

The stockings on Christmas are usually kind-of overlooked, don't you think?  With all the gifts and excitement, any little treasures small enough to fit in a sock just don't compare to the rest of the hustle and bustle.  A dear friend shared her family's tradition with us several years ago and we have been doing it ever since.  Thank you Debi Wilde and the Wilde bunch.

For Christmas, the stockings still hang on the mantle and wait for the happy new year.  During the week between holiday's, we have the kids sit down and write a thank you note to Santa.  They tuck it into their stocking and await the new year.  When the new year rolls in, baby new year, or an elf, or whoever you decide, comes to get the thank you note to deliver to Santa. To reward them for their thankfulness, they leave goodies!  So, New Years Day is another fun, magical event for the little ones.  This way, the stocking is the main event, and everything inside becomes more precious.  The best part, besides the lesson learned in gratitude, is all the cool stuff you can get on December 26 to fill the stockings for 50-75% off!  Yahoo!

Looking forward to 2012.  This is going to be good.

Scarf that is EASY to make!

Another video, woot woot!

Another video! Woot, woot!

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhrrggcgGbY&context=C356926dADOEgsToPDskLyNdYYjc2YswKIOa0LvfEq

Quick Christmas Gift

In case you are pressed for time and need an idea for a gift and don't want to hit the stores, here is a video to help you out!  A quick, darling scarf made from a t-shirt or fabric remnant.  Merry Christmas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-phZlrUpEc&feature=colike

The Joy of School Programs

School programs.  Joy or Duty?  I love a good program and love the Christmas sing, but there is a level of stress that accompanies such things.  I feel it almost every time.  Am I sitting on the right side?  Or are they going to come out and be clear across the gym from where I am?  Will they see me?  Do they know I am here?  Can I see?  Am I where my wiggly kids aren't going to bother those around me?  Am I in someone's way?  Oh, then there is the following....  My sweet friend just emailed me her experience.  One of her first Christmas sing-a-longs.  She wrote her experience so well, I can feel that lump in my stomach I get at programs, just from her eloquent writing.  She gave me permission to share.  Well done Shannon Peterson.  I am so glad you survived!

Barrett’s Jingle Jam was this morning.

Each grade sings two songs…..super cute. You know, uplifting Christmas music stuff.

And I really do love Christmas music. Still love that.

So by the time I got there today, no seats were really available except for the back row. And since I am totally short (as a matter of fact, I am aware of this), I didn’t want to sit because I can’t usually see when I do that. Instead of sitting I just decided to stand in the back of the room kind of in the middle so I could see Barrett when their grade came out.

Our school doesn’t do all the grades in order. So they started with resource and then 6^th grade, which was great. Then it was the 4^th graders……and now the story begins.

One particular parent of a 4^th grader really wanted pictures of her kid (well lots of parents did this, but there was one special parent). Even though the kids are singing, and moving, and not really in their best picture perfect moment. And even though we were clear at the back of the room. Okay. Fine. Whatever. But she came and stood, oh yeah, right in front of my face. Literally. MY ONLY LINE OF SITE WAS HER BACK. Awesome. To top it off, she smelled like cigarette smoke, and it was just too much. So I tapped her and said, “Excuse me, can you please move over, you just stood right in front of my face.”

 And she said, “Oh, sorry. You could stand on a chair. That’s what I’d do if I were you.”

 Okey Dokey.

 I just kind of laughed. But then she said it again. For Real. FOR REAL. “There’s a chair right there – you can just stand on it.” And I just looked at her kind of, and said, “I’m not going to stand on the chair.” (NOTE: Said chair actually was a person’s chair that they were using, and had gold fish crackers all over it. Also, um….I’m not standing on chairs at my kid’s recital….weird). And then…..yeah…..she said “Okay, but that’s what I’d do if I were you.”

 I didn’t make a new friend.

 She did move. Slightly.

 Life was better. Slightly.

 For a minute.

 So then after the 4^th grade it was the 2^nd grade.

Well, said special parent didn’t leave (guess she had a 2^nd grader too). And so, to my great displeasure, yet ANOTHER parent came and nudged right into the other side of my space (where there really was no room, but okey doke), and she kind of leaned forward to record her kid. FUN-NESS.

So I’ve got 1^st parent to the right-front of me, and 2^nd parent to the left-front of me. And I am literally looking out of a triangle space that I have been totally boxed into.

It was not awesome. But I didn’t say anything because I could actually see the stage and I have a kid too…..and when you need a picture, you need a picture. So whatever.

After the 2^nd grade, the 3^rd grade came up. My line of site was ROSES again. Totally happy…..feeling the relief.

But then after the 3^rd grade – it was the 1^st grade.

My kid is in 1^st grade. So I really cared about this one.

I didn’t bring my camera because there is no way I would have been able to get even a semi-decent picture from where I was (I suck at photography….so anything I took would have been a disaster).

 But…..lots of parents didn’t agree with this logic. Which is fine! I support picture taking. Just not in front of my face.

 By this time, I had found Barrett on stage. We were waving. We were happy…….and THEN

 It happened again

 3 or 4 people came up and stood – oh yes- DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME.

 So I sort of lost it.

 After I could see they were permanently there to stay, I said, “REALLY?????” (just pretend like you’re listening to me say really, but in a really annoyed voice with a face to match).

 And then I said: “We all have kids.”

 A couple people kind of smirked.

 But the ones in my way did clear out. A few said sort of sorry. One guy said too many people were trying to get through and that’s why he had to stand right in front of me…..

 So, I’m the crazy parent who had the jingle jam melt down. Crazy jingle jam lady. Yeah, that’s me.

 But I did get to CLEARLY see the entire 1^st grade performance. Which I liked. Totally cute. Waved to Barrett the whole time.

 The end.

Christmas Tradition - Truth About Santa

Please don't let your kids read over your shoulder on this post!

I have been reading some great posts on Facebook about different Christmas traditions.  I will try a few new ones, but wanted to share something I talk about every year.  Many years ago I was at a Relief Society activity where my kids' preschool teacher was a guest speaker.  She shared some traditions and ideas.  One was the way in which they "break the news" about Santa to their children.  A letter.  From Santa.  On the tree, Christmas morning.  She talked a little about what the letter contained.  I was so intrigued, I called her up the next day and asked if she would mind sharing a copy of her letter.  She is so kind and agreed.  Every year since, it has come up in conversation.  I just called her and asked permission to post, and SHE AGREED!  So, Miss Debbie Hansen, on behalf of my friends and I, THANK YOU!  for helping us and blessing us with your talents so we can bless our children!  Here it is....

Dear _____________,

I understand you have been wondering about Santa Claus.  Whether or not I am real. Now that you are ten, I thought I'd write this letter to explain.

First of all, you must read this letter privately.  This is only between you and me.  I am taking you into my confidence and I expect you to keep the secret of Santa.

Many, many years ago, there was a very poor village with many children.  Christmas, way back then was celebrated only by exchanging gifts with each other.  Just some small token in remembrance of the gifts brought to the Christ Child by the shepherds and the wise men.  But this village was so poor that they had nothing to exchange.

In this village there lived a very kind gentlemen who loved the people in his village, especially the children.  As winter drew near, he worried about the children and decided to do what he could for them.  He gathered clothing and carved small toys and trinkets for each child in the village.

In those days, the children left their shoes outside the door to keep their houses cleaner.  On Christmas Eve, the kind, old, gentleman put on his warm mittens, big black boots and big red fur cape and quietly went through the village putting a few gifts and some goodies in each shoe.  When the families awoke the next morning, what a glorious surprise!  It was a miracle!  The miracle of Christmas!  The children were delighted and the parents were touched that someone would do such a wonderful thing for their children.  It brought such a feeling of happiness and love to the village.  You see, it takes someone totally unselfish to do such a service.  The old gentleman received nothing in return for his kindness.  No one even knew it was him.  But he felt such a warmth in his heart when he heard the squeals of delight and saw the smiles on the faces of those sweet children, he decided to do this every year.

Over the years, the parents in the village found out what was happening and wanted to thank their "Father Christmas".  He told them that he needed their help.  Word had spread and more and more children wished for "Kris Kringle", "Pere Noel", or whatever their language called "Santa Claus".

The kind gentleman asked the parents in the village to help him keep the Spirit of Christmas alive.  They began to give many of the gifts themselves because he couldn't serve all the children.  But only those who could give with love and unselfishness were allowed to help.  Those who told the secret or who couldn't believe in the Spirit of Christmas received no help.  If you stop believing in Santa Claus, you lose the spirit of loving and giving that the gift means.  So then, the gift is not important.

You see, it is not the gift that makes Christmas.  It doesn't matter who brings the gift.  It is the love with which the gift is given that is important.  THAT is the spirit and true meaning of Christmas.

Part of the magic of Christmas is the sparkle in the eyes of the children as they open their packages.  It is the wonder the feel, knowing that there is someone who loves them enough to make their wishes come true.  Is there someone around you today that loves you and wants you to be happy?  Do you have a "Santa Claus" in your life?  I think you can probably figure out who that is.  Once you do, then you become part of the magic.  You must help carry the secret.  And when you grow up and have children of your own, you will feel that same love for them and want their Christmas to be as wonderful as yours have been.

I know this letter is a little long, but it is important that you know that we don't talk about it.  If too many people start talking, the secret will be out and Christmas will be ruined.  So if people ask you if you believe in Santa Claus, you just smile and say, "of course I do".

I love you.  Be good.

Love, Santa Claus

Phew!  What a relief to have a solution to that old nagging feeling of "how am I going to "break the news"?!

This is the original letter with her child's name taken out.  My husband and I edited it a bit to go with our family beliefs and talked to each child about the correlation between the initials SC between Santa Claus and the Spirit of Christmas.  We took out the italicized part and signed it SC.

We put the letter in the middle of the Christmas tree with their name on it the Christmas they were/are ten.  When they find it, we just whisper to open it in their room later, when they are alone.  When we notice them escape, we wait and go in to have a follow up conversation and see if they have any questions and just hug them for a long time.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Follow-up....there has been a very interesting thread on my Facebook group about this topic. If interested, check it out http://www.facebook.com/groups/259558987411627/

Also, this link was posted on that thread and I really liked what she did.
http://www.cozi.com/live-simply/truth-about-santa