Last month I ordered a sweet little Christkindl ornament on ebay (like this one – thank you Cheryl for the suggestion!) and placed her in the middle of a bowl with everyones names listed on a piece of paper.
I folded Snuggles and Roses’ names slightly different and they conveniently choose each other, and Bud will help me! Sean* & I and the four oldest children all drew each others names and everyone is dying to find out who has who! It was so fun to watch everyone’s reactions!
(*Sean used his real name in the comments of his Twenty Favorite Movies post, so does that mean I can now too? I’ll have to ask him! 😉 I’ve always felt funny calling him “Hubby” and he hasn’t liked it either, but it’s hard to change nicknames on blogs… just ask Snuggles! Speaking of him, maybe Slugger would be a good alternative as he gets older, and not so snuggly! lol)
When Snuggles asked his Dad to read his to him (Sean will help Snuggles and I will help Rose) his reaction was hysterical! He said “NOOO!! NO! NO! NOOO!!!!” before covering his mouth and dropping to the floor. Sean later figured out that he thought his NAME CHANGED to that persons for all of Advent and that HE HAD TO BE THEM until Christmas.. No, Snuggles, you just have to pray and do nice things for that person – which will be just as hard, considering that person is “sweet” little Rose! lol
After we drew names, we went back to the living room to open up the new Advent gifts for this year! Isn’t the apron gorgeous!? I {big puffy heart} love it! I’m headed to the kitchen now to put it on and bake some St. Nicholas Cookies with the kids, using the recipe in the back of The Baker’s Dozen, while we listen to our new favorite Advent CD.
Anyways, as I was taking this picture, Sean snuck up behind me and gave me a hug… The kids all immediately yelled “DAD HAS MOM!!! DAD HAS MOM!!!” Hmmm? Maybe he does have me?! (Snuggles yelled “Dad’s MOM!! DAD IS MOM!!!” He still doesn’t quite get it! 😉
I’m also really impressed with the progress that has been made on the new puzzle this year. I might have to take it apart when they are finished and start over so that I can have a chance to work on some of it! 🙂
That is sooo funny–the part with Snuggles!
We should have done it that way, having the 2 youngest get eachother's names…we didn't include Simeon and only the children exchanged, not Tom and I….that would be more fun to include us….We're changing it next year.
Maybe I'll get to be someone else til Christmas then.
Snuggles is soo funny!!!! I like the idea of Slugger when he's older 🙂 I think we might start this tradition in a year or two.
My 5 year old doesn't quite get it yet – but he is trying to figure out all this Christkindl stuff. It is our first year to draw names for a kiddo off in college BUT will be home in 2 weeks (this Mamma's ready). So we are acting in his place until he is here. I know people say all the time they grow up so fast – but.they.do. Next year 2 will be gone! I love the ornament and may just snatch that idea up to add to our own collection!
Thanks for all the great posts and ideas! I hope your family has a very blessed Advent!
When my children were little we quickly discovered that keeping the secret of whose name they had for all of Advent was too much of a burden so every Sunday when we lit another candle on the Advent wreath we also re-drew names. Worked for us.
We paired up for our Christkindls….My husband, my oldest child, and myself each paired up with a younger child, and we drew in pairs. The younger kids are 2, 4, and 8..the 8yo is autistic and so still needs help with these things. the only one left out is the 6 month old. Anyway…I'm interested to hear what kinds of things your kids do for each other…we have a hard time finding ideas sometimes…
Oh I love this. I wonder if it is too late for us. Being sick has really thrown us back!
I know what you mean about the Hubby thing too. I finally just started calling Tony, Tony instead. I was always unsure about it. But there you go, lol.