Christmas 2005 Season

Today is the day I put the rest of the decorations away.  I have most of the trees down, with the exception of the Nativity (memory) tree that is in the dining room because I still need to take some more pictures of it.

I will have the children help me bring down the boxes from the attic and begin unpacking the non-Christmas items and replacing it in the boxes with the Christmas items. 

This process hopefully will only take about an hour or two.

Then I will go and take down the outside lights and greenery.  It will be in the upper 50's here today.

Back to work for me . .. 

Krisann
The Christmas Coach 

Well as you might know from earlier blog entries I am traveling this season.  I will be gone for about 12 nights total and of that 9 nights will be in a hotel room.  I knew I would feel lost without a tree so we are traveling with our very own!  I took one of our smaller trees (2 feet) along with lights and non-breakable ornaments.  As we drive I sit it in the seat beside me - up so other travelers can see it also and then take it into the hotel room when we arrive.  It has really proved to be a great take-a-long.

I saw a similar idea at Hallmark - but it was a tree in a tube that could be mailed to someone.  I thought this was really a cute idea but at $30 plus postage -- it was out of my price range!  But this might be a great thing to buy items for after christmas for next year!

Krisann
The Christmas Coach

Well for the first time in over 14 years I am at my grandmother's for Christmas Eve.  As a little girl my mother brought me to my grandmother's house every Christmas eve.  Then we went home to celebrate Christmas day at our home then I would fly out to see my father the day after Christmas (sometimes on Christmas night).  So traveling at Christmas is something I am used to.  This is the biggest side of my family that I purchase gifts for.  Here is who I am giving to:

Grandmother

     Breadmaker (joint gift with my aunt)
     Washclothes
     Kitchen Spoons
     Yeast and flour to go with breadmaker
     Stocking filled with items
     A framed picture of her as a teenager
     Hand towels with embrodiery

Aunt D.
      Frog items (2 gifts)
Aunt E.
      Tupperware items (2 gifts)
Uncle J.
      Aftershave
      Belt
Uncle R.
      Stocking (8 gifts inside)
Uncle G.
     Set of travel mugs you can plug into car to keep warm
Cousin J.
     Belt
Cousin M.
     Belt
Cousin B.
      Belt
Cousin P.
      Belt
Cousin M.
      (need to find something - last gift to buy)
Cousin J.
     Belt
Cousin D.D.
      Totebag with bath stuff
Cousin M. fiance'
      Totebag with bath stuff
Cousin M (girl - 12)
      Totebag with tween stuff
       Game
Counsin P. child (boy 2 years)
      Little People toy
      Scarf with his name
      Blues Clue feeding bowl
Cousin P child (girl 8 months)     
      3 Outfits
      Rattle
Cousin P wife or girlfriend (do not know which will show up - long story - there is always some weird thing at Christmas)
      Make-up set
Great Aunt and Uncle
      Blenko glass with candies


I think that is it!  That is 42 gifts for this one place!   I may have missed something - will let you know later if I did.  I will also report back and let everyone know how much I spent on all of this.  If you have a guess - leave a comment with the amount you think I spent - I will be honest and I will send the person closest to the correct amount a Christmas Organizing packet!

Oh and I already know what I am giving everyone next year - Scarves with embordiery on them!  Read about that in the another post - under the Christmas 2006 section of my blog later on.
     
    

Well I am now on a quest to find more informaiton.  This year because of the home tour for the first time my house was accented all around with fresh greenery.  I love the look BUT it dies too quickly.  The fresh items are all free items out of my yard - including magnolia branches - so changing them out weekly is not a matter of money but of time and hassle.  Today I am going through the house and pulling down all the fresh greenery. 

My goal is to find information on how to prolong the life of fresh greenery so it will last longer next year.

I loved the look and smell of the fresh items and I am thinking that I will try to find artificial greenery and add the real into it so the main base is artificial accented with live items instead of it all being live.

Off to gather information . ..

Krisann
the Christmas Coach

My Last Minute Gifts

Well the time is ticking down and I just like everyone else still have some last minute gifts to come up with.  I have gifts for my children's classes and teachers to come up with by Thursday.  I will be going through my gift closet for little gifts to give everyone.  Since this will need to be 40 gifts I am thinking about having the children help make the applesauce ornaments.  I saw on the Carol Duvall show to use puffy paint for "icing" on the ornaments.  I think this is a good option for the kids and I to do.

Now for the teachers I think I will make chex mix bags and homemade bread.  I have this pan from pampered cheff that allows me to do four loaves at once - exactly how many I need!  I will also give them an ornament that the kids made.  I think this will work great for the teachers and it is stuff I already have at home! 

Remember to look into your cabinets for ingredients to make items to give.  Many people love homemade goodies - even slice and bake cookies are usally a welcome treat (and many times they have not idea you did not make them from scratch!)

Krisann
the Christmas Coach

Here is my evaluation and notes about the Sunday School Christmas party that was held at my house.

Activity:  Sunday School Christmas Party

Place:  My House

Number of people who attended:  5 adults and 5 children

5 Things I liked:

1. Purchased a pre-cooked spiral sliced ham
2. Had others bringing side dishes and desserts
3. Used crockpot to keep food warm while I worked on table (I used my one with a divider so I could do 2 foods in it)
4. Utlized the the kitchen table for the kids to sit at and gave them paper plates
5. Fixed the kids plates before we sat down

5 Changes to Make

1. Double check who is bringing what - we had double of 2 things
2. Buy extra ice
3. Be finished cooking in the oven before guests arrive so I can place their dishes in it till time to eat
4. Have a movie going for the kids
5. Have the oldest child responsible for helping little ones get more drinks.

The party was fun - we only had 3 families from our Sunday School class but it was a wonderful time and I enjoyed visiting with those who attended. 

Krisann
Christmas Coach

We are going to be traveling some during the holiday's.  I am working on scheduling oil changes for the cars plus getting them looked at for the road trips.  The last thing I want to do is get stranded in the cold weather some place.  I guess I also need to do an emergency kit for the road - just in case . . .

Krisann
Christmas Coach

Well I am almost done with our Christmas cards for this year - I did not get them done before Thanksgiving because of the Home Tour but I am excited that I am actually getting them done this year. 

Yes believe it or not I do not get everything done on my list from year to year - but I keep on trying and Christmas cards are one of those things I keep working at year after year and it has been a few years now since I have sent out cards.  So I am really excited that everything is coming together for this year.

Krisann
Christmas Coach

During the holiday season one of the things we do is exchange gifts on each of the Sunday's of Advent.  After dinner and an Advent devotion, lighting of the advent wreath we exchange a gift that is part of our preparation for Christmas.  One Sunday is either a new nativity piece (I am working on the Fontani set), nativity ornament (I collect these from all over), or a new nativity set (also collect these - all sizes).  The children normally get one new piece for their nativity set (Fontani) (this is so when they leave home they will have a nativity set for their new home).

Anyway, this year my husband got me a WONDERFUL nativity set!  It is the Willow Tree Nativity set - I fell in love with it when I saw it in an article in our local paper and he got it for me!!!!

It is absolutely beautiful and it will be displayed in a very prominent place in the house - all year round!

This will give me a large set to put out each year as my Fontani set is used in the memory tree.

Krisann Blair
Christmas Coach