Christmas Books

A few years ago, our family started this tradition that I heard about from the Family Fun magazine. It has truly become a beloved tradition in our home. Each December, I wrap up 25 children's Christmas books and the kids take turns picking one book each night for their bedtime story. If you don't have enough Christmas books, pick some up at the library. There are so many great Christmas books for children, this is a great way to read some of them during the Christmas season.

 Here's our list for this year (a star indicates a family favorite):

*The Little Drummer Mouse - Mercer Mayer

Arthur's Christmas - Marc Brown

*Dream Snow - Eric Carle

There was no snow on Christmas Eve - Pam Munoz Ryan

The Steadfast Tin Soldier - Hans Christian Andersen Retold by Tor Seidler

Angelina's Christmas - Katharine Holabird

Wake Up Bear..... It's Christmas! - Stephen Gammell

Chita's Christmas Tree - Elizabeth Fitzgerald howard

The Christmas Train - Ivan Gantschev

Joy to the World! The Story of Christmas Retold by dina Anastasio

Stop! It's Christmas - Mary Manz Simon

*Father and Son - Geraldine Mccaughrean and Fabian Negrin

*The Grinch Who Stole Christmas - Dr. Seuss

The Nutcracker Retold by Stephanie Spinner

One Snowy Night - M. Christina Butler

*The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Barbara Robinson

The Legend of St. Nicholas - Dandi Daley Mackall

When Christmas Came - Eileen Spinelli

Room for a Little One - Marin Waddell

The Crippled Lamb - Max Lucado

The Very First Christmas - Paul L. Maier

Lily, The Lost and Found Lamb - Lydia Salazar Martinez

The Silver Christmas Tree - Pat Hutchins

The Christmas Star - Marcus Pfister

Christmas Countdown & Activity List

Have you seen this adorable idea for a Christmas countdown over at Just Something I Made? SO cute! And she is even kind enough to share the printable labels.

Here's my version:

How perfect is this spool holder? My mom picked it up at a second hand store for me. Isn't she sweet?

Here's the list of Christmas activities I included on our countdown:

1- Make a Christmas craft

2- Decorate living room window with nativity window stickers
3- Prepare and mail a Christmas care package for soldiers

4- Get hot cocoa and go to a living nativity at a local church

5- Go to hometown family Christmas Celebrations
6- Watch a Christmas movie

7- Make a Christmas craft

8- Surprise other families with anonymous gifts on their doorsteps

9- Make a Christmas craft

10- Family Game Night!

11- Learn about Hanukkah & go to Hanukkah celebration with homeschool group

12- Make a gingerbread house

13- Decorate gift wrap & wrap gifts for siblings
14- Sing Christmas Carols

15- Bake bread & deliver it to the neighbors

16- Have a picnic dinner in front of the Christmas tree

17- Make Christmas gifts for grandparents

18- Make homemade Christmas cards

19- Bake cookies and deliver them to families from church

20- Drive around and look at Christmas lights

21- Take homemade Christmas cards to a nursing home

22- Make a Christmas craft

23- Go to grandparents house for Christmas celebrations
24- Watch a Christmas movie

25- Celebrate Jesus’ birthday with family

I hope that you're all able to take some time to make special family memories this holiday season!

I'm back with a little crafty project

Has it really been over a month since my last blog post?! Things have been busy around here and I've been anxious to get back into the habit of blogging. Thanks for your patience and for all your wonderful comments. I love reading your comments, they just make my day!

Here's a little project my boys and I did a few weeks ago. My boys were given these tins at a garage sale. 

I didn't like the tins, but they thought the window on the lid was pretty cool. So, we cut up small strips of some camouflage fabric that I had on hand and we covered the tins with the fabric, using Mod Podge.

They turned out to be the perfect size for storing all their little Army guys.

What are some things that you have re-invented using Mod Podge?

One Lovely Blog Award

What a fun surprise I got this morning! Mama Mel honored me with the "One Lovely Blog" award.

 ((Thank you!))

I am going to pass this award along to some wonderful blogs that I highly recommend you all check out! 

Lil Blue Boo

Has great projects and tutorials. I can't wait to make some of these flaming pants for my boys

Pink Picket Fence 

Has wonderful projects and beautiful pictures! Check out her Tulle Skirt, it's AMAZING!

Obsessively Stitching 

Always has fantastic sewing projects and great tutorials. I'm already setting aside baby clothes to turn into doll clothes using her tutorial.

Pink and Green Mama 

Has so many fun and creative ideas, especially for little ones. Her Family Shape puzzle would make a great gift!

~Ruffles And Stuff~

Has some of the cutest ideas I've seen, especially for quick and easy sewing projects

Robot Tooth Pillow

I have had this great tutorial from goody-goody bookmarked for quite some time and finally got around to making a robot tooth pillow for my 6 year old. Mine didn't turn out anywhere near as cute as the one in the tutorial, but I think my son will like it just the same.

Now, we just have to wait for him to start loosing teeth so he can use it.

Book Pocket for Bed or Armchair

Wow! I've let quite a bit of time get away before getting this tutorial together. Thanks for being patient with me! I made this book pocket for my mom's birthday and wanted to share with you how I made it. Sorry there aren't more pictures.

**This tutorial is for personal and gifting use, please don't sell your finished products**

You will need:

Medium or heavy weight fusible Interfacing (1: 25"x12" piece and 1: 12"x11" piece)

2/3 yard fabric 

(you might need slightly more if your fabric isn't a full 42"wide or more)

How to make it:

1. Cut your fabric:

2 pieces: 25"x12"

2 pieces: 12"x11"

2 pieces: 6.5"x7.5"

2. Pin and sew the 2- 6.5"x7.5" pieces, right sides together. Remember to leave an opening on the bottom so you can turn it right side out! Clip corners, turn right side out and press.

3. Iron interfacing onto one 25"x12" piece and one 12"x11" piece.

4. Pin the small rectangle from step 2 to the front of 12"x11" piece from step 3. This will make the small pocket on the front. It should be 2" from the top, 2 3/4" from sides, and 3" from the bottom. Topstitch this pocket on, sewing both sides and bottom. Be sure to catch the raw edges from the opening you used to turn small pocket piece right side out.

5. Next, Pin and sew the two 12"x11" pieces, right sides together. Remember to leave an opening on the bottom so you can turn it right side out! Clip corners, turn right side out and press.

6. Pin and sew the two 25"x12" pieces, right sides together. Leave top end open so you can turn it right side out. Clip corners, turn right side out and press.

7. Pin the 12"x11" piece to the 25"x12" pieces, with the small pocket facing in. Sew around the sides and bottom of smaller rectangle. Be sure to catch the raw edges from the opening you used to turn right side out. Turn right side out.

8. Press, folding in raw edges at top. Topstitch top edge to close. This is the part that will either be between a mattress and box spring, or under an armchair cushion.

Viola! You're finished! Wasn't that easy?

If you make one, please send me a message, I would love to see pictures!

T-Shirt Refashion ~ Dress for Baby

There are SO MANY super cute ideas for refashioning t-shirts into dresses for little girls and I've been anxious to try my hand at one. Here's the dress I just made for my baby girl from a women's shirt found at Goodwill. (Can you believe I forgot to take a picture of the shirt before I cut it apart?!)