The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas Day - 23

Today for our special thing we got biscuits and apple pie for breakfast. We also made snowflakes, made sugar cookies and decorated them, made brownies, fudge and Rice Krispies Treats. We read and talked and just enjoyed our day. The kids did try to talk me into opening one gift today, but I stuck with one for tomorrow. 

The book in our bag today was Silver Packages - An Appalachian Christmas Story by Cynthia Rylant. This was a really good book and we all enjoyed it. It has been kind of fun to have these bags this year and open one every single day - a surprise book inside. We read a lot anyway, but the kids do like the surprise of these bags. I'm glad I bought these for them to paint and then put books in for each day leading up to Christmas. I think we will do this again next year. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas Day - 22

Today our special thing was to get Chick-Fil-A for dinner. May not sound like much, but it was the kids that voted to do that and they absolutely love Chick-Fil-A. So, I ran and got it and they were thrilled. It was an easy thing and since I had a fairly busy day it was nice. 

We started our new chapter book today - December Secrets by Patricia Giff. This is a very short book so will be a quick read. The book from our bag today was actually two books - The Carpenter's Gift by David Rubel and The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden. They liked both books and could not seem to decide which one they liked best. 

We are winding down our twenty-four day countdown. It has seemed a little easier this year as we are home much more than usual - though I have had a few days I didn't know if I would think of something to do. The kids have enjoyed doing this no matter how small our special thing. Every single day someone is asking what our special thing will be. This is something they will not want to give up for a long time - though I do have a hard time thinking up new things to do. We do quite a bit of repeating - like new jammies and new socks and, of course, Christmas movies. Some things we will probably always do and hopefully I will be able to think of a few new things each year. All the kids love to look back and see what they did last year and the year before that. Piper and Tess especially love to look back and remember their first Christmas here and so do I. It is a blessing to be able to do this with my kids. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 21

Today for our special thing we walked and looked at Christmas lights at a local school. They did a nice job of decorating and the kids really enjoyed walking around and looking at everything. It was something we actually haven't done before - other than walking our neighborhood to look at lights. We went while it was still fairly light and stayed till dark. It was a hit with the kids and they got to run around and get some energy out. 

Today our book from our bag was One Splendid Tree by Marilyn Helmer and everyone enjoyed it. We pretty much enjoy all of our Christmas books, but some a little more than others. We do have a few that are really special to us. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 20

Today our special thing was that the kids took Happy Meals to their nieces and nephews. They thought it would be fun to take them something special and then after we were done I got the kids ice cream sundaes to take home. It was easy but fun and hopefully made some little kids happy. 

We finished our chapter book yesterday - The Special Guest: A Christmas Story. Everyone absolutely loved the book. I had already read it and loved it, but wasn't sure if the kids would. Several of them took the book after I finished reading it to them to read again. I think that certainly means they liked it. We actually did not start a new chapter book today, but will tomorrow. The book from our bag to read today was Miracle in a Shoebox by Franklin Graham. The kids enjoyed it and led them to talk about the shoeboxes we did this year and wondering who had gotten them. It was a nice book. 

The kids sent their Christmas cards to church today and their teachers sent home all kinds of stuff for them. They were absolutely thrilled. They do miss their teachers so much. It was an early Christmas for the kids today.  

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 19

Today our special thing was very small. I made hot chocolate for the kids and gave them their new Christmas puzzle. They do love to work a new puzzle every Christmas and have already started their new one. I, again, got busy and didn't get this posted until after midnight so it has the wrong date on it again. I was trying to catch up on wrapping and forgot all about getting this up on the right day. I feel like I have been wrapping gifts for months and months - probably because I have. It was a good day. The kids are getting more and more excited and tell me every single morning how many days left till Christmas Eve. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 18

Our special thing for today was to decorate the dollhouse which the kids have done for the past couple of years. They always enjoy doing it and it does make their room nice with a Christmas tree and a lit up dollhouse. I think all the lights is one reason the girls like decorating it. I think it turned out nice and they were all happy with it. 

They also put some more pictures in their scrapbook today - probably about 8 or 9. It is starting to look pretty good and filling up fast.  It will be a nice book for them when Christmas is over. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 17

Today our special thing was to make gingerbread houses. We do this every year but usually much earlier. They had fun and we have a lot of gingerbread houses - most of them decorated. Claire ate most of her candy and only has a few pieces on her house so it basically doesn't even look like she decorated it. We usually have a house full of kids when we do this, but this year we just did it alone since we are not supposed to have any gatherings with more than 10 people. It was sad to not have all of our family and friends, but the kids still had a great time and it was definitely less hectic! 

We finished our chapter book and started a new one - The Special Guest-A Christmas Story by Lee and Donna Allen. This book is a little different than most we read - mainly as it is not geared towards kids - but, I think they are going to like it. We actually had two books in our canvas bag today to read - Christmas Magic by Michael Garland and Alabaster's Song by Max Lucado. Both were loved.