We give FOUR presents for Christmas

Gifts can be a tricky subject.

First of all, NO JUDGEMENT.  Do Christmas gifts  in prayerful consideration of what works for your family. This is a non-essential people.  Do not shame others.

Our Christmas Present Policy was born after a Christmas when I witnessed my 3 1/2 year old twin boys rip through every present in 2 seconds, then throw it aside and exclaim "What else did I get?!?!"  Yes, I know they were only 3 years old, but it is never too early to teach gratitude. 

For several years, our gift policy was three presents each, since that was how many Jesus received.  It was simple for their preschool minds to understand.

We also focused on GIFT MANNERS:

1. Before opening a gift, find out who it is from.
2. Thank the giver for buying  you a gift, before opening.
3. After opening, thank the giver again for that specific. Use eye contact. 

 As my kids have gotten a little older, around 1st grade, we moved into a more refined present policy of Four Presents:

Something you want 

Something you need 

Something you can wear

Something you can read

1.  Something you want
  I want them to open one gift that makes their heart race on Christmas Morning.  It is not a cliche to have your heart race with the gift of Jesus, so why not give our children that experience in a  tangible way they can understand?

This is where your child's "wish list" comes into play. If you are on a budget, you may need to supervise your child's list making process. I personally don't believe it is good for children , especially elementary and preteen, to be taught that Christmas is an excuse to become irresponsible with the money God has given us. Don't be afraid to share that you using a  budget with your children. You can make this kid friendly teaching moment about living within our means.  I supervise my kids putting 2 to 3 items on a list. If they are using store ads (we don't get these, but my mother in law always give them these to pick their presents when at her house), then I make sure they are putting items on the list that are in our budget.

A great story was last year when my 4th grader only wanted ONE thing, but it was $40 over our budget for all his presents combined.  I told him he needed to add a few more items to his list, and he added at least 3 more items that were well within our budget.  PRAISE THE LORD I found the gift he had originally wanted on Ebay for $20 under budget!!! The memory of his face when he opened it is one of my favorite Mommy moments ever!!!!

2.  Something you need
This is the practical, but still fun, gift.  It can be anything from a new comforter for their bed, a new bookbag for school, or even a a keyboard for piano lessons. It can also be as simple as new socks and undies. I do recommended if you go the undies or socks route, splurge and  get the "cool" character ones. It is Christmas after all!

3.  Something you can wear
Pretty self explanatory. I like using this category to support a small business if possible, by ordering handmade hats from a local mom.

4.  Something you can read
Again, kind of self explanatory. We kept it inexpensive when the boys were preschoolers by stocking up on books from the local library sale. If your kids are into series, you can add to their collections through this gift.

Since are the stereotypical homeschool family, I tend toward educational books. We have been been adding to their Imagination Station book series for the past 2 years.  Now they are getting a little older, we are also planning on buying them more of the I Survived Collection.

If you would like a spiritual gift, buy a devotional or prayer journal. We really enjoyed My Big Book of 5-minute Devotions when my boys were in Preschool-2nd grade.   If you have a boy in your life, I highly highly recommend  The Action Bible. My in-laws bought these for my boys when they were baptized, and they literally spend hours reading them.

To download Free Christmas Tag Printable, click here.

OTHER POSTS THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU:

• Christmas Gift Planning Printable
• Handmade Gift Tutorials 

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Bread Dipping Seasoning Recipe

I love practical homemade gifts.  I include this yummy seasoning goes well when included with olive oil, bread plate, and Olive Oil dispenser. 

Or give a whole meal  with  Meal In A Basket gift, including a Dry Soup mix.

Bread Dipping Seasoning Recipe

• 1 tsp Rosemary
• 2 tsp Dried Minced Garlic
• 1 tsp Dried Red Peppers Flakes
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano
• 1 tsp Dried Basil
• 1 tsp Dried Parsley
• 1/2 tsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Dried Thyme

Gift Tag for Dipping Seasoning:
Combine 1/2 tsp of seasoning with 2 oz. of olive oil. Allow to stand a few minutes for olive oil to infuse.

Dip Crusty Bread and Enjoy!

Variation: Add one clove of fresh Minced Garlic to oil before adding seasoning.

Italian Tomato & Pasta Soup- Mason Jar Soup MIx

Practical and consumable gifts are always appreciated at my house. I usually have at least four of these in my pantry for quick gifts, or for when I need a quick meal for my own family!

To make a big basket of handmade & consumable gifts ,you can include a few other homemade food-in-a-jar mixes, like homemade apple butter or bread dipping seasoning with loaf of fresh crusty bread. 

How to Assemble Italian Tomato and Pasta Soup 

• 2 1/2 cups Bow Tie pasta 
• 2  tbsp dried vegetable flakes (you can find at Whole Foods, I buy them at my local health food store- Garden Patch Market)
• 1 tbsp dried minced onion flakes
• 1/4 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp chicken bouillon granules 
• 1  tsp dried minced garlic
• 1  tsp Italian herb seasoning
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

1. Place pasta in clean airtight food storage jar (mason jar, ziploc bag). Use funnel for easier preparation.
2.  Add vegetable flakes, onion, sugar, bouillon granules, Italian seasoning, garlic, and pepper. Close jar or bag.
3. Cover top of jar with fabric; attach gift tag with yarn or ribbon.

Tip for presentation: Include 1 can (14.5) of Crushed Tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese,  and a small bag of Real Bacon Bits in a bag.

Italian Tomato & Pasta Soup 

• 1 Jar of Italian Tomato and Pasta Soup mix
• 5 cups of water
• 1 can (14.5 oz) of crushed tomatoes
•  2 to 3 cups chopped fresh spinach (will cook down)
•  1/4  cup  crumbled bacon  (4 to 6 slices)
•  1/2 cup of grated Parmesan Cheese

1. Combine water, Jar mix in large saucepan.Bring to boil for 10 to 12 minutes.
2. Stir in tomatoes, spinach, and bacon.Reduce heat &simmer for 10 to 12 more minutes or until pasta is tender.
3.  Serve topped with Parmesan Cheese.

Variations:

 *Substitute fresh spinach for 1/2 package (10oz.) of  frozen spinach, thawed and drained.

*Add or Sub for Bacon – 1 Can (14-16 oz) of  Pinto Beans , rinsed and drained.

Gift Tag for Soup Mix: 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Christmas Planning Printable

Christmas is always a big expense, and planning  ahead is the best thing you can do for your family budget & and for your sanity.  No more wondering if you bought everyone a present, or wondering what you spent overall. 

I print 4 copies of these Budget Planning worksheets every year:

1. For my side of the family
2. My husband's side of the family
3. Our immediate family 
4. Misc people who we give gifts to, like co-workers & church friends 

CLICK HERE
For Christmas Gift Planning Printable ,
Portrait Orientation

CLICK HERE
For Gift Budget Planning Printable,
 Landscape Orientation 

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Lego Movie Birthday

My 7 year year twin boys were kind of obsessed with Lego Movie this summer, so naturally it was the theme of their birthday.  Our theory of birthdays is low key/low cost with a fun DIY cake and a simple playdate at the park.

Easy Lego Brownies
We served these and  bottled water at a park play-date. And when I say play date, I mean just that.  I didn't plan games, have to clean my house, or bring decorations.  I told a whole bunch of friends when we would be at the park 3 blocks from our house, and brought brownies and water.  It was awesome...and cost about $10.

Sorry for fuzzy pictures, I forget my camera and the humidity messed with my phone camera.

Ingredients 

• Brownie Mix from store (jealous of my baking skills???)
• White icing
• Food coloring
• Bag of m&m's
• toothpicks
• Elmer's glue
• Lego Movie Cupcake topper Printables

1.  Bake a pan of brownies.  Allow to cool. Cut into small squares or rectangles.
2. While brownies cook, divide m&M's by color.
3. Ice with primary colors and apply m&m's to coordinating color.
3.  Top with cupcake toppers or candles.

Easy Lego Cake
We have a few Summer birthdays in our extended family, so we had Lego cake and Frozen cupcakes.  For Frozen Cupcakes, get Frozen printables here and dye your white icing blue with food coloring.  Easy Peasy.

• Two Cake mixes from store 
• White icing
• Food coloring
• toothpicks
• Elmer's glue
• Lego Movie Cupcake topper Printables

1.  Bake a pan of cupcakes according to directions. Allow to cool.
2.  Bake a 8x11 or 9x9 cake according to direction.  Cool.
3.  Cut off tops of cupcakes and place in lego shape on cake.  Optional- take cake out of pan and flatten on serving plate.
4.  Stick Cupcake bottoms to cake using icing.  Icing entire thing.  After doing this I think I should have iced the cupcake bottoms BEFORE placing on cake for smoother finish.
5. Ice everything in favorite color-  primary colors look best.
6. Add Cupcake toppers

 

Tree Study. Balloon Trees

Main Science Objective

*Trees are useful in our everyday life.
*Many items we use everyday are made from trees or tree by products, including rubber.
*Rubber trees gives a sap called latex and latex is used to make balloons.

Book

 Balloon Trees by Danna Smith

Activity

For preschoolers
Balloon Play:
Materials:

• balloons
• fast paced music

 Blow up enough balloons for each child to have their own. Play fast paced music while the kids keep the balloons from touching the floor.  When the music stops, they grab their balloons and yell "We love Balloon Trees!"  in unison. 

For Kindergarten-3rd gradeBalloon tennis
Materials:

• balloons
• 4 fly swatters
• masking tape

Make a line on ground with masking tape.  Divide into teams of two.  Use fly swatters as racket and baloon as ball.

Here are some other balloons games you can play .