Author name: amy

This year we hosted a Christmas cookie exchange.  I sent out my invitations a month in advance.  This gives everyone plenty of notice.

christmas cookie flyer  Here is the invitation I made.

When everyone arrived, I handed them 4 clothespins and told them whenever they heard the word “Christmas or cookie”  they were able to take the other persons clothespin from who said it.  At the end of the party I gave the woman with the most clothespins a coffee cup and lid filled with peppermint tea bags and mints.  Walmart has a 5 pack for around $3.  They look like the disposable kind but are plastic to reuse. (no pictures sorry)

We prayed and then ate some food.

I made veggie pizza because I had some extra from our church party.

I also made BLT dip. 

This is very good, it tastes just like a BLT sandwich.  Serve it with corn chips.  That seems to be the best flavor.

Pizza bombs were good too.  Saw it on one of those videos on my Twitter feed.

We did a hot chocolate bar.

I filled the crockpot with homemade hot cocoa.  We had marshmallows–gingerbread flavor, peppermint flavor, and regular.  Whipped cream, sprinkles, and candy canes for toppings.

I also made some pink party punch.

For one of the games, I handed them a half sheet of green construction paper and foil sticker stars.

I had them put it behind their backs and without looking, tear out their best Christmas tree.

  They had to decorate it with stickers.  No peeking.

We voted the best and gave a prize.

I bought some Christmas hand soaps and used those as gifts.

The other game was I had bought inexpensive prizes:  body butter lotion, Jelly Belly jelly beans, M&Ms, cookie cutters, hot pads, window clings, $ bills and smaller candies.  I wrapped them in plastic wrap.

I had a huge roll that we used at the Tailgate Market our first summer here.  I periodically tore off the plastic wrap and tapped it.  Otherwise when someone would unroll they could get a bunch of prizes quickly.  I had two balls going and a pair of dice.  The person on the right had to roll a 6 and then they were able to take a turn and unwrap as much of the ball as possible.

We also did an ornament exchange game.

Everyone brought one wrapped ornament.  I printed off and read the LEFT RIGHT Night Before Christmas Story.  Everyone got to go home with a new ornament for their tree.

left right ornament story

We were to bring 60 cookies, so I divided up the number of ladies we had by 60 cookies and we got to take that many of each kind.  We did it around the table and then I had my big roll of plastic wrap to cover them.

My husband lasered me some ornaments to send home with everyone.  It was a nice time and we got a nice arrangement of goodies.

The children were downstairs playing games.  I didn’t get any pictures because I was busy upstairs.  They did the plastic wrap ball game but I filled it with gummy bears, mini cookies, bubbles, chapstick, and slime.—Note to self, no slime next year.  This got on some of their beds and made a mess:)

They did the clothespin game but instead dropped it into a mason jar from a chair.  (Remember doing that as a child?)

They also did the Christmas tree tearing game behind their backs.

I also typed up some Christmas activities and had them play charades.

christmas charades

We also had red pom poms glued to pieces of string.  They had to put the string in their mouths and try and get the pom pom to stick to their nose(which we applied vaseline to).  Sugar was running high and within two hours, they were ready to go:)

Busy time but a good first Christmas cookie exchange here.  We hope to do it every year to make it a tradition.

Have a wonderful day today!

 

Good morning everyone! Hope your having a good start to your day.  At least you are having a start:)  I don’t know how bloggers and youtube people can upload a video everyday—I was aiming to do this every morning and then life happens and it doesn’t get done.

Last week was a busy week.  We had our family up for a visit, which went nice.  Then I had a couple of days rest and had a cookie exchange party on the weekend.  I will do a post for tomorrow.  Then exhaustion set in.  I spent the entire day in my pajamas and Santa stockings—thanks Sybil:)  I did nothing but lay on the couch and go in and out of sleep.  That depended upon which child would ask me a question because when Mom is sleeping, she still will answer questions?!!?!  I pulled out all of the food from the previous day along with the cheesy sausage soup and fed that to my family all day.

Monday morning came along and busyiness set in again:)  My “plan” was to chill for two days but that can’t happen when life happens.  My husband took the week off of work so that he could finish up all of his Christmas orders. In the mornings, I package and ship his stools and drop them at the post office.  Collin bought another car so I went with him to get it.  Then home to finish school and chores.  We are cramming another week of school so that we can just be done this week and enjoy the next two weeks off.  After the holidays we are going to have to revisit fractions and long division?!?!?!

Yesterday was just as busy, I got up and did more packages and then had phone calls to make and a car to plate and tag.  I was scheduled to meet Collin at the bank to sell his old car and of course I had to stop in at Goodwill to do a quick browse.  I came out with 3 new outfits and a couple of miscellaneous toys to add to my Christmas piles.  I am buying Greg a flat screen tv for our room for Christmas and wanted to check on some prices so I did that as well. I also grabbed some makeup while I was at the store.  I am not much of a make up person but as I get older, I see the need:)  I love summer because we live at the lake all the time.  Our skin is tan and there is no need for makeup—besides it would melt off:)  Now that it is cooler, my skin is looking a little pale.  Tammy got me some foundation the other day so I picked up more lipstick (coffee colored), mascara, and some blush.  I do that with eyeliner and call it good.  I love seeing the makeup skilled ladies that can look flawless but I don’t have time for that.  Simple and easy. Foundation was stretching it I thought, but it makes a difference.  I also grabbed a new wallet because I got a new purse for Christmas.  My husband bought me a Michael Kors purse.  It was the only thing I wanted and he let me have it early.  We will get the tv this week when we head out.  After he finishes up his orders we will venture out and get more gifts for the children.  I still need some things for the boys and then he likes to buy one more gift for everyone.

Evan loves to wrap and has done that for the last few years.  This year we put the presents under the tree.  Usually we wait till Christmas morning, but I am tired of a closet I can’t walk into!  I didn’t put their names on the gifts, instead I put the month they were born in on it.  Now the curiosity is coming alive!  But I realized that I have two December birthdays so my boys will be labeled another way:)  It was almost full proof!

Today is a chill day.  I woke up at 4 am and decided to just get out of bed.  We have four more days of school to do and will accomplish much of that today.  Lauren is taking the three girls: Jadyn, Brooklyn, and Autumn out shopping.  They have some money to spend and she can take them to pick out what they want.  I will help Greg get more packages shipped up and get myself a grocery list together for next week.  We have friends coming from Michigan for a few days and then it will be Christmas.

I was able to finally put together a video of the girls in the Christmas drama.

Hope you have a blessed day today. Focus on accomplishing one goal today.  Don’t overload yourself with lists.  Just pick one or two things and do that.  Enjoy and don’t forget to smile!