Must Be Santa Monday

Stocking Stuffers!

Anna loves gum! I thought this would be the perfect piece for her stocking. I got hers at Toys R Us but I couldn't find a picture of it. She is in here with me so I can't pull hers out to get a picture lol. I also have some chapsticks (or lips as Anna calls them). Some little Santa chocolates. I bought some mini playdoh cups and a little brush. I will also put in some suckers cause my girl loves a sucker lol. I think that will have it pretty full. If not I will add some other odds and ends like nail polish or cookies or something like that.

What are you doing for your stockings? Maybe you can give me some neat ideas!!! For more Santa Monday go HERE!

Must Be Santa Monday

So we know we are going to give her the Jump-o-lene that I mentioned before. That will be her Santa gift. Now we are trying to decide what we are going to give her. Here is what I am thinking and you guys can help me figure it out lol.



1) Tinker Toys - they are aged 3-7 or something and she loves to build with her blocks. I think she would really enjoy them. Maybe not at first but she would definitely be able to grow into it.





2) An inexpensive baby (cause that s all she is asking Santa for!) and then wood blocks.

3) Any other suggestions are welcome! We need to stay around $30.



For more Christmas ideas go to Be Jolly By Golly!

The joys of Christmas!

The joys are getting in the way of all the work I need to do lol. I have so much to do and I thought I would spread it out over the course of the week and here it is Thursday and I haven't hardly made a dent in the real work! I have however managed to bake cookies, go Christmas shopping and I have worked on my Christmas presents that I am making at home. So know I have all the yucky stuff and not so much fun stuff. What was I thinking?

The other day I had to go get Anna's baby from Santa because they were almost out of the particular doll she wants. I had very few options one being to go to Wal-mart after my hubby got home from work and shop with the other 10,000 people that have waited until the last minute. Or I could go with Anna and try to figure out a way to sneak it past her ha ha. She might be JUST 2 years old but she is one of the smartest 2 year old I have ever known :D So I went to the Christmas section and found a large gift bag figuring I could figure something out with that to hide it in. I wondered down to the toy section and saw an elf (a walmart worker) and begged, crawling on my knees (nah just kidding) asked very nicely if she would sneak to the back and get one of the dolls and put it in the bag. She smiled and looked over at Anna that was studying a stuffed kitty at the moment and said sure I will. So shew that part was easier than I thought it would be. Then we had the next obstacle of the check out. I found the nicest one that I could and waited in line for oh about 30 minutes and that is not an exaggeration. Then just as I am about to move up they send me to another line thankfully with no waiting. I kept Anna pushed back looking at the wonderful chocolate delights and asked the lady quietly if she would scan the objects in the gift bag where my daughter couldn't see them. She was very accommodating and did it with no other questions. So to my walmart elves and all the other retail elves that help Moms like me THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

So over the next 2 days here is what I need to accomplish. Hopefully it will go quickly and smoothly.

1. laundry/pack
2. clean out fridge
3. clean fish tank
4. take ornaments off tree and lights too if I can manage
5. clean house
6. finish up my gifts for all
7. make ornaments out of applesauce and cinnamon (if I have time lol)
8. wash the dog
9. go to a party tonight

Boy that list looks fun huh. I am sure we will work our way through it. If only I had a housekeeper *sigh*!!!

Santa getting a bad "w"rap?

** Don't let your child read this!!!**

I have been so upset to discover that Santa is being banished from more and more homes! I don't get it, really I don't. I am a Christian, Southern Baptist to be exact and I know that Christmas is about the birth of Christ and that should be our main focus at this miraculous time of year. However, I don't see the harm in the magic of Santa. The wonder and amazement that he can bring to a child. I remember sneaking to the living room when I was little and trying to stay awake so I could see him come down the chimney. Or laying in bed with my brother and him (he already knew the truth) going oh do I hear a sleigh, did you hear that I bet it is Santa and so on and so on. Waking up at 4 in the morning feeling utter excitement cause I just knew that Santa had been to see us. I would have to wake up the adults before we could go in the living room so I would stand in the hall shouting at the top of my lungs. When I questioned my parents about the validity of Santa they told me as long as I believe he would come see me so to this day I still believe lol. Seriously though I still do believe in the spirit of Santa! I like to think that Santa represents the spirit of giving, the spirit of laughter and the spirit of joy. These are all qualities that God wants us to have and if we use Santa to help spread that what is the harm.

One argument I have heard is that you are lying to your child if you buy into the whole Santa theory. I have to say that I believe that is a bunch of whoey! If you pretend to eat something your child pretended to cook are you lying to your child? NO you are pretending, make believe whatever you want to call it. If you read a fairy tale to your child like Cinderella or watch a cartoon even do you sit there and tell them it is all made up and a bunch of lies. I hope not, imagination is already missing in a lot of children today because they watch tv or play games more than anything. I am afraid if we take away all make believe and pretend aspects out of life imagination is going to go out the door! I never felt like I was lied to or damaged in anyway because Santa came to see me. In fact I had 2 cousins that were told from the beginning that Santa wasn't real and I always felt bad for them. That they didn't have Santa come see them and that they missed out on all the magic and wonder. Not to mention they tried to spoil it for us a few times. Although, I never believed them.

I hope I didn't offend or upset anyone that is not doing Santa. That was not my intent I just really don't get it so I had to vent. Anna is already into the magic of Santa and it is exciting to see. I hate that anyone would have to miss out on that either child or the parent! Feel free to leave me comments going either way!