It is beginning to look at lot like a home-made Christmas. Part II
October 22nd, 2007
OK - so I have taken your thoughtful comments to mind and have been inspired.
Of course I will be purchasing books. I consider those “hand-made”. It is like buying an author’s art and as I said before I am “down” with that. I am purchasing the Tales of the Kingdom Trilogy. Holy Moley you need to read these with your kids if you follow Jesus and love allegorical tales plus some Christmas classics like, The Other Wise Man and The First Christmas Tree.
For Jackson, I will be making a quiver and new bows for his authentic bow that came from Peru. It only had 2 arrows and one of them was broken by his little brother. One arrow is a bunch of work so we need a few more and a quiver to hold them all. And I think a target too. I am not sure how to pull that off, but I will think on it.
I will get Chloe a full size tea set. It is store bought because making one from scratch would be crazy expensive and time consuming. The idea being that she and I will make and have tea together with special guests. That to me is where I am at with gifts. I strive to make things experiential so this qualifies.
For Hudson I will purchase him a small starter set of real tools. I know I am not making them, but we will make things together. He is forever pulling out Daddy’s tools to work with. I think I will make a small work bench for him with screws and things he can work with. I had a small tool set with a had crank drill when I was his age and I still remember how much I loved it and how much I worked with it.
Then if I have time and am adventurous enough I will make them all swords, shields and capes. We have been learning the Armor of God and of course reading the 50 Famous Stories so we fight many battles around the home. I may regret it, but I thought it would be fun….. if I can get them to not whack each other with them. Hmmmmm, I will have to think of soft sword material.
They will have plenty of “store bought things” from extended family, so the store bought toy thing will be met there and I can start making the toys that we will enjoy and then in time when they grow past them I will keep them for the grand kids. (OK - now I am thinking too much but we are creating a legacy right?:-) These are hand made wooden items people. If I am spending the time to do it I am making them to last! Or at least I hope I am but you never know with our youngest.)
I was thinking that on Christmas morning we could have a scavenger hunt with clues to find their gifts. My mom did that one year and my brother and I had a blast, so I thought it would make a nice memory. For advent we will beginning reading out loud together each evening and working on delivering gifts to friends and neighbors. We like to put the tree and decorations up Thanksgiving day after we eat. This year we may even put lights on the house - heaven help us all.
OK~ now sound off people! What say ye?
Entry Filed under: kiddie fun, mommy stuff, Life
6 Comments
Add your own1. southerngirlmusings | October 22nd, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Sounds like a great plan!!!
2. amanda | October 23rd, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Ooo, we just gave a couple wonderful tea sets to the thrift store. Had we known, we would have sent them your way. Tea time is so fun!
amanda
3. Heather | October 23rd, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Sounds like great plans. One thought: if you hope to have them not whack each other, I would hold off on the sword and shield thing. Getting a sword, shield and cape from mom and dad is definitely seen as an encouragement to start whacking. ; )
Do you know what you are giving neighbors? We have taken small gifts to our neighbors since moving here four years ago, and usually end up going to about 12 households. I am looking for new bright ideas this year that, of course, are not too expensive! What I’ve done so far: hot chocolate mix in mason jars, small loaves of homemade bread and jars of my sister-in-law’s jam, and a spicy snack mix, also in jars. We like to give things that don’t require the recipient to add anything (like some of these soup in a jar mixes). I’m not married to giving food items, either, but am not crafty at all. Any ideas are appreciated!
4. admin | October 23rd, 2007 at 5:37 pm
AMANDA - never I repeat never give anything away to good will before clearing it with your blogshpere buddies:-) I will pray I find one for a good deal. We love tea time too. It is so sweet. I want to remember it always:-)
Heather, I am dong the pastry bag thing for our neighbors. It is cute and cost effective. The link is in the original post a few days ago. Email me if you can’t find it and I will email you back with the link:-)
5. Carolyn | October 24th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
How about capes, shields and squirt guns? Less medieval, yes, but much more refreshing.
A target for Jackson: a couple of stacked hay bales with a large paper target clothespinned to them. Yes? We used to use a large refrigerator box to shoot at.
I LOVE the tools and workbench idea! Love it.
6. admin | October 25th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Oh yes that squirt guns sound interesting. A little bit old school and little bit funky new school.
I am not sure where to store “hay bales” in our town home? Plus I went to buy one for a harvest party I did for my studio a few years ago and they cost $75 smackers. Whoa - Nellie, it is like the livestock eat golden hay or something.
I like the refrigerator box. That sounds promising… and free:-) I could paint the target on it and it could break down. Did the arrow have a significant point on it to actually go through the cardboard? I was going to keep them quite dull.
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