Stocking Themes for 2011

I kept with the tradition of doing themes for the kids' stockings.  Last years themes got expensive because they were licensed themes, so this year I tried to go with a cheaper option.  I realized (too late) that all themes are expensive.  But I had fun and the kids liked everything.

I decided to go with their flavors/scents for their themes this year.  After I bought everything, I realized it was a whole ton of sugar.  Oh well, no one complained and no one asked for the chocolates in my stocking so I'm happy.  It was much harder than I thought to find the right flavors and make sure everyone got similar items.  They each got: a soda, a "main" gift, a scented pen, 3 smaller candies, a lollipop and a lip balm.  

Nathan = root beer

root beer soda, root beer float fudge, root beer scented pen, root beer candy canes, root beer jelly beans, root beer hard candies, root beer lollipop, and root beer lip balm.

Michael = sour

lemon Gatorade, sour patch kids and war heads, lemon scented pen, war head spray, raspberry lemonade, sour apple juice pop, lemon lollipop and lemon head lip balm.

Katie = chocolate

chocolate soda (that I ordered on the internet), box of chocolates, choclate cookie dough scented pen, Twix, Kit Kat, chocolate santa, cookie dough lollipop, chocolate lip gloss.

Anna = bubble gum

bubble gum soda (yes, I found bubble gum soda!!  I found it online and it was actually really yummy, even though it doesn't sound like it), bubble gum machine, bubble gum scented pen, big pack of bubble gum, ice cubes bubble gum, another pack of bubble gum, bubble gum lollipop, and bubble gum lip gloss.

Lydia = vanilla

vanilla cream soda, vanilla ice cream cones, vanilla scented pen, vanilla Ghiradelli squares, vanilla tootsie rolls, vanilla pudding, cherry vanilla lollipop, vanilla lip gloss.  I had a HARD time finding vanilla stuff for her theme.

Elizabeth = chocolate

(I tried to be original with each kid, but Katie and Elizabeth both adore chocolate.  I couldn't give one girl chocolate and not the other.)

chocolate soda, box of chocolates, mint chocolate scented pen, Dove, 3 Musketeers, chocolate Santa,mint chocolate lollipop, mint chocolate lip gloss.

Caleb = orange

(I have to say his was hard too because I had to find nut-free things.  I even ordered him some orange chocolates from a nut-free company online and spent a fortune on shipping.)

orange soda, orange chocolates, orange scented pencil (couldn't find a pen anywhere, luckily he didn't notice or care), orange jelly beans, orange gum drops, orange tic tacs, orange lollipop, and I couldn't/didn't even try to find orange lip balm.  Again, he didn't notice or care - thank goodness.

The "Kid" Tree

We have an old 6 foot Christmas tree (used it back in when we were in college and had no room) that we keep for some unknown reason.  I told the kids they could put it in their room and make decorations for it.  They were way more excited than I thought they'd be.  They had big plans of making all sorts of ornaments, but December got really busy as it always does.  They did paint some ornaments and had a lot of fun.  They want to make bead ornaments next year and some other creation that Lydia is dreaming up.  We'll see what Miss Creativity comes up with.  For now, painted ornaments:

I think they like it, what do you think?!

Lights on the Tree

So we bought lights!    I looked all over trying to find some similar to our old ones.  I loved our old ones - they blinked in like 10 different patterns.  I found some that have 15 patterns and while I love the patterns, I don't love the colors.  But I didn't figure that out till they were on the tree.  We left them for this year, but now I'm on the lookout for the perfect lights for next year.  Now for the fun part of the tree.

Look how happy my boy is!

Quick, look!  Teenagers... getting along... and smiling... in the same room... at the same time... while around one another!!  (And you can see Nathan finally woke up.)

Elizabeth remembering her Dora ornaments.  I love the history/nostalgia part of putting up ornaments.

Dad always gets to put the tree on the top.  Speaking of history/nostalgia: this is the same star ornament we've had since we first got married and were starving students.  That is a star ornament from when I was a kid.  It had no special meaning then.  My mom handed down a few ornaments when we got married so we could have something to put on our tree. There was no way we could afford to buy a star for our tree so we tied the ornament up there.  We put it up every year and have for the last 19 years and tell that story and remember how far we've come and how blessed we truly are.

I don't quite know what they're doing here - just being silly I guess.

We put up stockings too.  Lydia and her ever-thinking mind decided to wear her stocking.  She cracks me up!

Let the Christmas Season begin!  I LOVE this time of year!!!

Decorating the Tree

Caleb thought the branches were meant for sword fighting with Michael.

We decorated our tree on Sunday afternoon and woke Nathan up from his Sunday afternoon nap.  He was a good sport about waking up, but was in quite a daze.  He sat like this on the couch - not moving, just staring for a long time.  Poor Nathan.  But he does get credit for attempting to be there.

This looks like a grumpy face from Michael, but he wasn't grumpy.  He volunteered to be "in charge" of the tree last year and we gladly passed the torch.  I love it that he wants to be involved and is old enough and big enough to do it.  I just take pictures and put up the lights now and watch the fun!

Lydia - thinking out of the box as usual.  ;)  She's so creative!

Elizabeth joins the creativity.

This series of pictures cracks me up.  Is it possible to hear a laugh with pictures?  I think these pics prove that it is.  Caleb kept trying to sword fight Michael with a duster and thought it was the most hilarious thing ever.

More creativity from Lydia... jingle bell earrings.

Santa hats

And of course Lydia has to wear it her own way ... "Look mom, I'm SantaPhant!"  (Santa the Elephant)

Almost done...

And then we put up 3 of the 4 strands of lights and realized that the last strand didn't work (even though we tested it - it didn't work on the tree).  

So we took down all the lights and waited till the next day to buy new lights.  We did, however, have some eggnog since it's tradition.

I love this picture!