It's Not Looking at All Like Christmas

We're finally into the Christmas season, and for the first time, Bethie is really aware of what's going on.  It is so exciting!  We have our tree up and a plethora of presents beneath, our stockings are hung over the mantle, and red and green accents are all over the condo.  We have talked endlessly about Santa Claus and Jesus, and while Bethie still sometimes gets confused between Christmas and Santa (she sometimes calls him "Christmas", as in, "Oh, look, Christmas has a red hat!") she seems to understand Jesus with no problem.  In the car the other day after I unwrapped half her candy cane and handed it to her, I could hear her struggling with the rest of the wrapper.  I couldn't help her, but it wasn't long til I heard her say, "Help me with my candy cane, Jesus!"  I love this kid.

There is no snow in the foreseeable future here, but Bethie loves to pick up pine cones.  This week, we're working on pine cone elf ornaments:

We finally have all the pieces created and cut out (salt dough heads, felt clothes, pipe cleaner appendages, and flannel scarves), and tomorrow we're going to start putting everything together.  I'm not sure who is more excited!

A friend of mine started a charitable organization that gives pajamas, books, and toiletries to orphans in Kenya.  It's called the Sweet Dreams Project and was created to give these kids a warm, comforting bedtime routine like we have for our kids.  Bethie chose two pairs of pajamas for kids her age, and she'll be sending her Giving Tree money there this year as well.

This is Bethie's Giving Tree.  I found it online and modified it to be more toddler friendly.  The original one would have had her giving about $40, but that's a little much for a two year old.  This way she will give about $6, and she gets to take the money out of her piggy bank each morning.  She was really excited to put her two nickles in this morning!

1. 5¢ for every hot water tap in your house
2. 10¢ for every vehicle your family owns
3. 10¢ for every pair of jeans you own
4. 25¢ if your family has email
5. 5¢ for every bed in your house
6. 1¢ for every /beauty makeup item Mommy owns
7. 1¢ for every pair of footwear 
8. 5¢ for every light switch in your house
9. 10¢ for every bathtub 10. 10¢ for every toilet
11. 5¢ for each bottle of soap
12. 15¢ if you have dishes to eat off of
13. 15¢ if you have cooking pots in your cupboards
14. 10¢ for every window in your house
15. 10¢ for every outside door
16. 20¢ for every television in your house
17. 10¢ for every magazine subscription
18. 25¢ if your family has more than 25 games
19. 25¢ if you had meat this past week
20. 5¢ for every juice you drank yesterday
21. 10¢ if you have a DVD player
22. 5¢ for every hair care product
23. 15¢ for every bedroom in your house
24. 1¢ for every blanket in your house
25. 1¢ for every gift you received this Christmas

I hope you all have a blessed, joyous Christmas!