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Our Christmas

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Our Christmas was so much fun.  In the past I've been ready well before Christmas, with present wrapped at the end of October.  Not so for this year.  I was shopping for presents the Saturday before Christmas.  And, after going out there in the masses ... I will not do that again next year!  Traditionally, our children have stocking stuffers and presents from us.  We don't do the Santa thing.  Just haven't ever wanted to.  Also traditionally, all of our children get similar items.  Most of the time it's because they all want what each other wants.  But, sometimes it's not the case.  This year, they all got lapdesks to use for school when we do our science or history in the living room.  (Of course, they each got their assigned color as well.)




Traditionally, we all get toothbrushes in our stockings.  This year I got them all battery-powered toothbrushes.  I've never seen so many children get excited over a toothbrush for a present as I did when they all opened their toothbrushes.



In my stocking Jon put the pendant necklace that I told him about.  The picture doesn't show it very well.  It is a sewing machine with a heart on it.  I love it!



I put Phase 10 in Jon's stocking.  He'd been wanting to play the game a few weeks before Christmas, but we've lost a lot of the cards because the children play with them all the time.  So, I got him a deck of his own so we can play whenever we want.



Another tradition we have is books.  Our children draw names for their Christmas exchange, and then they get each other books.  Adam gave Andrew Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.  Andrew was so excited, he gave Adam a huge impromptu hug. 



Kate's book was The Boxcar Children.  She had to read one of the books in this series for Language Arts this year, and loved it!  I have a hard time finding books that she likes, so when she liked the first book of the series, I strongly suggested her sibling pick out books 2-4 for Kate.  She loves them!


The other picture above shows the skirt I made for Kate for Christmas.  One of the very few projects I completed.



Eliza received the second Harry Potter book.  I haven't let her read the Harry Potter series yet; she had to wait until she was 11 before she could begin the series, and I told her she would read one book per year. Since she'll be turning 12 soon, she needed the second book!




She also got her "toesy" socks that she requested, and a skirt that I made for her.  I love her skirt ... the fabric is so cute!



Our princess Maryanne.  She got dress up clothes instead of a scooter or ripstick like the older children.




And, Jon surprised me with a guitar.  He was so thoughtful.  We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve this year so the children could ride their scooters/ripstick.  That morning, he woke up and took all of the children to a guitar store and bought me a guitar for Christmas.  All I gave him was a year of dates!




Of course, I share the guitar with him!  Neither of us knows how to play the guitar, but we are learning!


And, that was our Christmas of traditions!  Next year, I plan on adding some more service to our Christmas season.  And, I will totally simplify everything so I don't feel so frantic and can really enjoy the love surrounding the season.
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Lynette said…
I love your Christmas!!! How thoughtful...Kind...Simple...We are striving for those things as well, with our children. I don't like getting caught up in too many toys and things that the kids outgrow too quickly...You've given me some great ideas that are totally doable -- so thank you! I envy the lapdesks -- we could really use them, but we have limited space to store them...Maybe in our next house? :)

Marisa, I just want you to know how much I appreciate your friendship and being able to talk homeschool with you via the internet. I really do owe you a phone call to just talk. It will happen!!
January 26, 2012
Aubrey A said…
I'm like Lynette! I love your Christmas. For years I have hated Santa & wanted to do away with him. To be honest, we didn't do Santa until Evan was 4, and the only reason we started doing it was because Evan refused to believe (and I really mean this. . . not making it up) that he wasn't real! We told him and everything! It was very frustrating!!! I'm hoping that this is our last "Santa" year, they were asking a lot of questions about Santa & I'm hoping they'll figure it out. . .or at least get close enough that it won't upset them to find out (and by them I mean Evan and Hayden). My favorite part of Christmas is always the service aspect of it. Our kids look forward to it more than anything else. I can't wait until they get just a little bit bigger so that we can do the "big" service projects that I'm just dying to do.

Oh, and I feel like an awful Mom. Evan started reading Harry Potter when he was 5. Don't think badly of me ok. :)
January 27, 2012
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