christmas break days at home

Yesterday was our first day of "Christmas Break" and boy did it feel good to not have an alarm set to wake up to!  I actually woke up worried I had missed my alarm and slept through work...oh my!  NOT a good feeling!

We had a day 100% at home and it felt glorious!  I think Ryder and I both enjoyed our chill day at home together!  He was such a big help around the house...and it's so odd him being so grown up now he doesn't need me to do a lot of things he just needed me to do for him this summer!  It's kinda nice, but it's also kinda sad!!  

 He is Mr. Lego now!  & to think a year and a half ago I "didn't allow legos in my house..." My how mother's eat their words! ;)

He even wanted to help me vacuum!!  Go for it boy!!  

I even talked him into taking a nap with me!  Even though "he wasn't tired".  He was laying there, but wasn't closing his eyes and I said, you have to close your eyes to rest and he said, "But then I'll fall asleep!"  Ha!  That's kinda the point! :P 

He was obviously tired enough to need a two hour nap, even though "he wasn't tired!!"  I don't care how old he gets...I love a sleeping kiddo!

As soon as he woke up, he said "Since I took a good nap, can I go to my KeeKee's house!?"  How sweet is that! 

I found him like this underneath the coffee table with all his tools out "workin"...crackin me up!  

& he was all ready to go to KeeKee & Poppy's house for the night!!  He said, "If I spent the night there tonight, can we still spend the night there on Christmas Eve?"  So sweet!

I've thoroughly enjoyed this semi-chill time at home with him over the last few days.  He is growing up on me too fast, but I'm enjoying every minute of it!

Happy almost Merry Christmas Eve!  =) 

letter to Santa

Ryder hasn't quite every been "old enough" to write a letter to Santa, but boy have things changed this year!  It might have taken us two nights...and a few fights later...but we got it done!  I knew he could do it and I wanted him to do it!

It ended up being three pages long.  He told me what to write out, I wrote it, and then he copied it letter for letter, word for word.

"Dear Santa, I want you to have a good Merry Christmas with your elves.  If you think I've been good, I want..." and then I let him attach his picture! ;)

We folded that baby up and stuffed it in a red envelope and went outside and put it in the mailbox!  I can't wait to compare his letter to Santa next year to this one!

blessing ring [Christmas]

Last night one of our Advent Activities was to look at our Christmas Blessing Ring.  I've shared this with you before, but it's worth a repeat and I am SO thankful I started this 4 years ago and we have all those cards to look at every year now and in the future!

Here is the Jewelry loop I used to get things started!  Just add some cute ribbon and some cards and you are good to go!  Hang it on a lamp or even on a door handle that isn't used often!  You can read exact directions from my past post HERE.  

cinnamon butter [YUMM!]

I tried an easy new recipe that would make a great gift for people you wouldn't normally "buy" a gift for.  I let my family be the testers at Thanksgiving and then they all got a jar to take home with them!  It was a hit for me...and they at least acted like they liked it!  ;)  I made sure and snuck home with all the left over homemade crescent rolls from Nana, so I could eat them with my cinnamon butter!  ENJOY!

Whip ingredients together using a Kitchen Aid, beaters or food processor until whipped.  Can in jars (I just used old ones I've collected over the past year).  You can always double or half the recipe! 

children's Christmas books

Since Ryder was born, I've had my eye out for good quality Christmas books to create a "collection".  I wanted us to have a variety to read during the joyous Christmas season.  Most of these are just fun books to read that have nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas--but we have a few of those as well!  This is not our complete list but I wanted to share some of our favorites with you!

Miracle in a Shoe Box//This goes along with Operation Christmas Child and I wish I would have had it out to read to Ryder before we did our show boxes, but he still enjoyed reading it.  I've had this since my brother and I were little.  Great to help kids understand Operation Christmas Child a little bit better, even though we/they will never truly "get it".

The Elf on the Shelf//The classic book that comes with all Scout Elves!  We read this at our North Pole Breakfast

Can't Wait Till Christmas//I just bought this because of the author, and it was a signed copy! ;)

The Very First Christmas//This is one of Ryder's favorites, because it's a recordable book and we had Papaw record it for us a few years ago.  He says, "This book is dedicated to Kati and her son Ryder, read by your Papaw" and Ryder just thinks that is the coolest thing.  It's not my favorite book of The Christmas Story, but I bought it for the recordable purpose.  

Charlie and the Christmas Kitty//This is written by The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.

Merry Christmas Curious George//We LOVE CG so we had to have this! I think I found this at a local Goodwill!  SCORE!

The Gingerbread Pirates//TJ Maxx score, but haven't read it yet!  I just thought R would like it!

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer//A classic!  Goes along with the movie, a bit long but we like it! 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas//Another classic that goes along with the movie.  A bit long for one setting, but Ryder enjoys it.

Unwrapping the Greatest Gift//This is new to us this year and we will be starting it today.  It's a beautiful illustrated and written book by Ann Voskamp.  I'm doing my own Advent with She Reads Truth, but I wanted something I could do with Ryder and this is what I decided on.  I'll have more to report after Christmas on how it went! =)

Jolly Old Santa Claus//Your regular ole' Santa book--nothing more!  ;)  But we can't forget about him in our book collection!

The Pine Tree Parable//This is another one from my book collection from when I was little.  Great story and lesson in the book.  A great reminder to remember the less fortunate during this exciting time.  

I don't think our collection will ever stop growing.  I try and buy hardbacks so that they will withstand all the years ahead of them.  I hope Ryder will bring his kids back to my house one day and be able to read these same books to them that hold so many memories for him from when he was a kid!  =)

What books do I need to add to our collection?  What books did you read as a kid that are must reads for your kids during the Christmas season?   We still have time to order a few from Amazon! ;)