Christmas Books

I mentioned last year that one of our favorite Christmas traditions is wrapping 25 Christmas books and then opening one each night in December. We just got started this year and I thought I would share some of our favorite Christmas books.

The Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco
This is probably my favorite Christmas book. This book wonderfully captures that holiday feeling of people coming together regardless of what faith they are to help each other. Reid and I both cry everytime we read it and while our kids are not quite old enough to understand it yet, Brooke still listened and seemed to like it. It is an amazing story, about a Jewish couple that lost each other during World War II and how a Preacher and his son helped to reunite them one Christmas in Detroit. Oh, I am getting teary just writing about it. I love Patricia Polacco's books and this is definitely one of my favorites. I also like The Tree of the Dancing Goats by her for Christmas.

Christmas Oranges by Linda Bethers and Ben Sowards
This is a classic Christmas story and I am sure most of you have heard it, but the illustrations really get me with this one. It is a beautiful book with a wonderful message of giving.

Pippin the Christmas Pig by Jean Little
I don't have many Nativity stories so I really like this one. It is about a pig who feels left out because he didn't have a part in the first Christmas but through his kindness all the animals in the barn are able to see what Christmas really is about.

Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson
This is one of Brooke's favorites. It is a fun story about a bear who is trying to stay awake to celebrate Christmas with his friends. I like the message of friendship and sharing and Brooke loves identifying all the animals.

Bless You, Santa by Julie Sykes
We have a lot of these simple little Santa stories by Julie Sykes and Brooke loves each and everyone. This is a fun one about Santa having a cold and how it affects Christmas Eve.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
I honestly had never read The Polar Express until I was in college and I fell in love. I get chills everytime I read it. It so perfectly catches the magic and wonder of Christmas.

So what about you guys? What are some of your favorite Christmas books? I'd love to know as I am always on the lookout to add to our collection!

Obsessed

These are some of our new and long standing obsessions.


We're obsessed with art projects! A friend sent me a link to this website www.notimeforflashcards.com
and I am seriously obsessed. This lady has such great art project ideas. As a mom my idea of art time has been to give Brooke a coloring book and a couple crayons and hope that will entertain her for a few minutes, and it usually doesn't. Anyways this site has a lot of really simple, fun art projects and activities. I was really surprised how much Brooke could actually do on her own and how excited she was to actually do a "real" art project. The other thing that I LOVE about this site is that she always lists childrens books to go along with the art project. I've also been surprised at how quick and simple these art projects are. We've really gotten into art this past week and have had a blast!





We're obsessed with Harry Potter! I've read all the Harry Potter books several times before, but after seeing the first movie I just never really got into the movies. Well my sweet husband FINALLY decided he would read the books and we've been busy reading the books and watching the movies as we go. It really has been funny to watch my husband, who is not exactly an avid reader zoom through these books.

We're obsessed with good deals! How cute are these pants (not to mention the adorable baby wearing them!)? $1.75 at Old Navy on clearance!


We're obsessed with yoga! I mentioned earlier that we got Brooke some yoga videos for her birthday. Well, she had been driving me nuts always wanting to do the one yoga video we had an extremely boring pregnancy yoga video that I thought we would get her some yoga kid videos and see what she thought. She loves them! She does them at least once a day. I think it is a great way for her to use some energy, especially when it is raining outside, and it is also a pretty good workout for me. So I know it is a little weird that our three year old does yoga, but she loves it, what are you going to do!




We're obsessed with summer fun! I'm so glad the weather has been so nice. We've been having a blast exploring the new parks in the area and going swimming with friends!



We're obsessed with rolling over! Owen has really gotten into this whole rolling thing, we can hardly keep track of him anymore. Brooke has been so proud of his new trick and likes to join him to show him how it is done!



We're obsessed (okay just I am) with hair. First of all, can I just say how happy I am that Brooke FINALLY has enough hair for ponytails. I just love it, I think she looks so cute and grown up. Also, Owen's hair is starting to grow back in, of course our son would have plenty of hair! Finally, I mentioned previously that I was concerned all of my hair was going to fall out after I had Owen, and I feel that I am well on my way. I sometimes have to forego the daily ponytail just to make sure that I still have hair it is falling out so rapidly. I keep thinking that I should just cut it short, but as hard as my hair is to grow I know once I cut it I'm not going to grow it out again, and I'm not ready to never have long hair again. So yesterday I broke down and got salon products (60% off) that are supposed to make your hair grown in thicker and stronger. So fingers crossed that I don't lose all my hair, as I really don't think I have the head shape for it! And if anyone has any tips for helping your hair to not all fall out let me know!


Anyways, thanks for bearing with us through this long post and here is to hoping you have fun things you can be obsessed with too!

Thank You Dolly!

One of my favorite things about living in East Tennessee is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. It is a foundation that Dolly Parton set up that sends one free book a month to every kid under 5 (so Owen because I started him as soon as he was born will get 60 free books!). Brooke loves getting her books in the mail and I've been impressed by the book choices, they are age appropriate, good books. Loving books as much as I do it makes me so happy to get these books and not have to feel bad about not buying them more books. I know they have this in other areas but this is the first place that I've lived that has it and I just love it!


Also, thanks to my mom who is like my own personal Dolly Parton. She has sent me two boxes of books in the last few months. I just love it when I always have a new book to read!