Tweaking Traditions...

So we're just kicking into the Christmas Season, and my new Tradition ideas are already getting tweeked about a bit. :p

First, the angel tree. Yeah... no. I couldn't find precut paper angels *anywhere* and foam ones were too pricy for the number I needed, so that got nixed. (no WAY am I cutting them by hand! nu-uh). BUT, I found a better idea!

I bought a wooden advent calender at Target last week, and a bunch of candy to fill it with. My new idea, which I think still captures the spirit of the angel tree idea I had earlier, came, again, from the Friend Magazine. (As a parent, I LOVE this magazine! It's meant for kids, but I've found so many neat ideas inside on how to make the Gospel alive in my home.) I found this Christmas Countdown from the December 2000 Friend:
http://lds.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=lds&cdn=religion&tm=6&gps=480_514_1263_816&f=00&tt=2&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Friend/2000.htm/friend%2520december%25202000.htm/christmas%2520countdown.htm

I printed it out and cut it up, and now each scripture (and the accompanying "What I can do for Jesus today" assignment!) will be taped around the advent candy. I'm going to keep a set of Scriptures next to the calender, so that we can read that day's Scripture while the kids eat their candy. I think it'll be cool. :)

This afternoon I bought some cheap craft paint and some brushes and let the kids go to town painting the salt dough ornaments I made yesturday. The ornaments aren't going to win any prizes for attractiveness, but the kids had an absolute blast painting them, and are begging me to make more. I'd hoped to make some more tonight, but I got side tracked by a new gingerbread cookie recipe. :p Tomorrow afternoon I'll have to deffinately make some.

Tomorrow morning however, I'm wrapping presents! Probably my favorite part of the holiday season. I love seeing big piles of beautifully wrapped presents. I'm picky about my wrapping paper. I love paper that has a bit of shimmer to it, and I have at least two (usually more) types of paper that coordinate with eachother. (not match) There can be no Santas or penguins or snowmen or cartoon characters. This year I have three papers: one is a light brown with different colored Christmas trees (with shimmery accents), another is a bright shimmery green with "Merry Christmas" printed all over it, and the other is a shimmery gold with the music to Joy to the World printed on it, and the words "Joy to the World" written in scrawling letters. Written out it doesn't seem like they'd go together at all, but they really do. I wish I could have gotten the same paper as I had last year (a silvery paper with brightly colored ornaments printed on it) but I haven't found it. :(

So ya, I love wrapping paper. LOL

C'mon December!! :)