Mind Doodles

Help Me Do My Christmas Shopping

I have a dog named Toby who loves stuffed animals.  He loves to rip their faces off and pull out all of the stuffing.  (I'm being serious here).  Well, I know that you parents love to clean out your kids toys right before Christmas and weed through the old toys getting ready for the new loot.  If you come across any stuffed animals, we would love to give them to Toby for Christmas.  

Now, we do have a couple of perimeters

**No animals filled with beads or beans--these are choking hazards to our puppy (okay, not really-- they are just really hard to clean up.)

**No animals larger than a loaf of bread.  (This one is for you Christine.  Some of those large animals you gave me last time made it look like a blizzard in our family room when Toby was through with them!)

Thanks for helping us do our shopping!  Toby will love it.  

More Christmas Traditions

Wow!  Christmas is sneaking up on me and I haven't finished sharing Christmas traditions yet.  Oh my!

Here's one that I didn't start, Grandma did, but that my kids love!

12 Days of Christmas--

We have always done some kind of advent calendar with our girls.  Some of them I made, some we purchased.  Most advent calendars begin at the start of the month and provide an activity, Bible reading or treat for each day.  

Well, years  ago, my mom, Grandma Betty to my kids, decided to kick it up a knotch.  One day a large package arrived in the mail.  Inside, were 24 small packages (12 for each girl).  They were instructed to open one a day for the 12 days preceeding Christmas.  Each package was marked with the correct order in which they were to be opened.  Talk about over the top!  The girls went crazy!  They loved getting to the end of each day and opening a present.  And I must say, I took full advantage of the leverage it gave me as a mom.  "If you don't behave, you won't be able to open your 12 days gift tonight."

Everything was going along quite well until my Uncle Dave and Aunt Liz arrived one Christmas and informed us that the "12 Days of Christmas" actually are the 12 days following Christmas.  Who knew?  I can assure you, that if Uncle Dave said it, it was true.  (He's the smartest person I know--really).  

I believe that was the beginning of the decline of the tradition.  But, every year my kids still ask if they will be getting their 12 days gifts.  

Christmas Mittens

You know how hard it is to find just the right gifts that fit into a Christmas stocking? 

Well, I solved that problem. . . . . .

Christmas Mittens!--They are wider than a stocking and they hold way more!

Parenting Tip--Dealing with Hitters

Recently, I was talking with some moms of young children.  Several of them expressed their frustration with trying to deal with their child's hitting.  Neither of my children were hitters but I did have a biter, so I can sympathize.  I remember feeling so out of control and at a loss as to how to handle this with such a young child.  

I came across this article today and thought I'd share it.  We can all use a parenting tip or two every now and then.  This one came from the National Center for Biblical Parenting.

What to Do When Your Baby Hits

Most babies hit out of frustration, anger, or for mere entertainment. What should a parent do? Sometimes the solution is simply to distract the child with a different activity. But if the problem persists and you feel like discipline is necessary, we recommend that you take consistent, firm action. Keep in mind that a firm approach doesn't require harshness.

Immediately set your child down on the floor, with a firm statement like, "Be gentle" and step back to avoid getting hit again. Don't display anger but be deliberate and firm. Your child needs to learn that hitting doesn't work. She can't stay in your arms or on your lap. If she hits you will remove her from that place immediately.

But that's not the end. The next thing your child does is come to you for a hug. This is the precursor to the Positive Conclusion you will use later. "Are you ready to get up. Come over and give me a hug. Show me what gentle is." Allow the child to give a hug or stroke your arm with her hand in a gentle way. Praise her for her gentleness.

When you set your son down after hitting, he may have a temper tantrum. If you're in a situation that allows, the best thing is to ignore him until he's calmed down and then encourage him to come back for a reuniting time. Immediate, consistent, temporary separation like this followed by a Positive Conclusion will discourage the hitting and replace it with something else. A careful balance is needed here between a firm approach and a loving relationship.

Children who can't yet talk or communicate well, often get frustrated and act out with violence. Don't just ignore it. While you're teaching communication skills, also teach limits on hitting, biting, pushing, and other forms of physical meanness. 

Christmas Cheer

This is thanks to my friend Trevor.  

Anticipation

This is the season for anticipation.  Anticipation= a pleasurable expectation!

Maybe you're anticipating some really great gifts under the tree.  

Maybe you're anticipating some down time with your family.

Maybe you're anticipating the moment someone opens that special gift from you.

You know what I'm anticipating most?

Christmas Eve Service at Crosspointe Church.

I absolutely LOVE our Christmas Eve service.  It is one of my favorite times of the year.  I have been waking up thinking about it.  I love the buzz around the office as we prepare.  I love the way it is planned for the entire family.  There is so much to be excited about:

The music is awesome.

Jonathan's message rocks.

Fabulous media.

And my favorite thing. . .

NICK AND GWENN'S CHRISTMAS STORY FOR KIDS!!!

If you can--be here.  You will not be disappointed.  There are 5 opportunities for you:

Monday night, Dec. 22 at 7:00 p.m. (especially for those of you who are traveling)

Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 1:00, 3:00, 5:00 and 7:00.

Things not to do (but that make you feel better)

Screeching at the top of your lungs at your child.

Enough said.

I'm glad it's a new day.

Christmas Fun

Looking for something fun to do with your family?  (Okay--this only works if you live in the Raleigh area).

Check out Pullen Park.  The park is decorated with thousands of Christmas lights.  (I hear that this year there are more than ever.)  

It costs $5.00 per person, but that includes rides on the Santa Express Train and the carousel--which is also decorated with Christmas lights. You also get to visit Santa's village.  

A fun outing for a (barely) chilly North Carolina December evening.

For more info, check here. 

Thursday night and the "Ahhhhffice"

I love "The Office".  Every episode is full of nuggets like these:

"I've got a black belt in gift wrapping."

"If I can skin a mule deer in less than five minutes then I think I can handle this."

"This isn't your grandma's Christmas party. . .unless of course your grandma is from Morocco."

"I'm not going to judge Phyllis for desecrating Christmas.  But there is one person who is and Phyllis just stuffed him into a drawer."

"Is that Princess Unicorn?  I thought they were all sold out."

"Really Andy, it's Christmas and you're singing about nudity and France."

"It looks like we're going to be here a while so why don't you make everybody a plate of hummus with little triangles of toasted pita. . .and napkins. . .fanned."

"Why aren't you wearing the hairnet?"

"There are several ways to kill a zombie but the most satisfying one is to stab it in the brain with a wooden stick."

The bad part about Thursday nights is that it will be seven more days until we get to see it again.  

Thought for the Day

Today I have been re-reading portions of one of my favorite books, Dangerous Wonder by Mike Yaconelli.  

Here's the thought that stuck with me:

"The critical issue today is dullness.  We have lost our astonishment.  The Good News is no longer good news, it is okay news.  Christianity is no longer life changing it is life enhancing.  Jesus doesn't change people into wild-eyed radicals anymore, He changes them into "nice people".

I'm ready for a Christianity that "ruins" my life, that captures my heart and makes me uncomfortable.  I want to be filled with an astonishment which is so captivating that I am considered wild and unpredictable and . . .well. . .dangerous."

Hmmmm.

Delicious Christmas Treat

Tonight we tried a Christmas treat that our family doesn't usually eat, although it's been associated with Christmas for years.

Gingerbread.

A friend of mine told me that Trader Joe's has a great gingerbread mix.  So, I went and got it. I whipped it up this evening and we loved it.  We had it warm with lemon curd and whipped cream.  Yummy!  Give it a try.  It's only $2.49 a box. It can be your new Christmas favorite, too.

Trader Joe's has a couple of other delightful Christmas treats, too.  

Peppermint Joe Joes.  These are so good!  They are like oreos with crushed peppermints inside.  We usually give a box of these to the girls' teachers each year. Only $2.99 each.

This year they added Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe Joes.  They cost a little more ($3.99) but the extra chocolate is worth it.  The teachers are getting an upgrade this year!

Snowflakes--yogurt covered pretzels.  These come in a really nice tin for $5.99 and they look like snowflakes!

I know I sound like an advertisement for Trader Joe's but I just wanted to share some goodies that I have found with you, my friends!  

Enjoy!