So, how is your Advent going? Ours has been very difficult and challenging… First it was colds and poison oak (the poison oak on our oldest daughter’s face is finally healing), followed by a snowstorm that kept us home for days, heartbreaking news from one of our favorite priests who is being treated unjustly and will no longer be offering the Friday masses our boys have been blessed to serve since they were 5 and 6 years old, and then frozen pipes due to abnormally low temperatures for here which resulted in our well pump burning up and no water in the house for a total of 6 days (originally just 1 day and then again for 5 days). I think God might be trying to teach me something this Advent… and my husband says it is time to move!
During these last days before Christmas I am going to try and let go of any unnecessary activities or plans of mine, simplify in all areas, and just focus on prayer (both personal and family), re-creating a peaceful (and clean) home, and catching up the laundry now that we have water again! Deo Gratias!
My computer time has been extremely limited (everything seemed to take 10x’s as long to complete when the water had to be hauled from the neighbors and heated on the stove for washing dishes and counters!) and I’m falling further and further behind with emails. (In fact, at this point I have only been able to respond to a handful of urgent emails.) As much as I wish it was possible, I just won’t be able to respond to the rest anytime soon, if at all… I will try to address some of the questions I’ve been recieving here on the blog when time allows. One of the most frequent requests I’ve been getting this past month has been for a peek at my children’s Christmas gift list for this year. I’m spending a little time this evening checking over my list and thought this would be a good time to share it with you all! (Now to make sure I keep the kids off of my blog until after Christmas! It’s getting harder and harder to share these sorts of things online as our kids get older!)
Anyways, In last year’s “Checking it Twice” post I explained that our children usually receive “three” gifts each on Christmas morning from their Dad and I, recalling the three gifts Christ was given, plus they wake up to discover their stockings filled as well. Depending on the gifts (and our budget), some years I have combined multiple items into “one” gift package (i.e. clothing, shoes, etc, or various toys). You can see some examples in a past Christmas Morning post. You can also find my 2009 list here: Shh! Don’t tell them….
This year, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, we are doing something a little different and breaking our children’s gifts into three categories: something fun, something faith based, and something to read. (Most of these gifts will be multiple items wrapped together into one themed gift.)
Christmas gifts for seven children (plus Christmas Eve pajamas, plus stockings, plus St. Nicholas Day, plus gifts for relatives and godchildren, etc…) adds up quickly! I have found that I have to be really creative in order to purchase quality gifts. I purchase gifts throughout the year, usually on sale or clearance, and also take advantage of the sales following Thanksgiving. I also will sometimes save samples and review items I have been given to give to the children as well, and my Amazon affiliate commissions help purchase the rest! Once again, thank you to each and every one of you who use my affiliate links! It is truly a blessing!
Something Fun
(These gifts are either something they have been wishing for or something I know they will love.)
Right now “Fun” equals “Legos” for my oldest three boys! This gift will consist of a few lego sets for each of the older boys and a castle for Bud. The girls will all be receiving American Girl doll accessories. (Note: A number of the items have gone up in price due to high demand or limited stock, and a few items have been discontinued and are no longer available.)
- Captain (13) will be receiving this, this, and this. Captain will also be receiving a Perplexus from a certain person! 🙂
- Rascal (11) will be recieving this, this, and this.
- Twinkle Toes (10) will be receiving this, this, and this.
- Chiquita (8) will be receiving this, this, and this.
- Snuggles (6) will be receiving this, this, and this.
- Rose (4) will be receiving this, this, and this.
- Bud (2) will be receiving this.
Something Faith Based
(This gift is something that we’d like them to have to help enhance our beautiful Catholic Faith.)
- Captain will be receiving a cassock and surplice for serving our bi-monthly Latin Masses and two Catholic books: The Gate and Twenty Tales of Irish Saints.
- Rascal will also be be receiving a cassock and surplice for serving our bi-monthly Latin Masses and two Catholic books: The Haunted Cathedral and The Fire of Eden.
- Twinkle Toes will a St. Catherine Doll and one of these two audiobooks.
- Chiquita will be receiving a subscription to St. Mary’s Messenger and a couple Holy Heroes CDs.
- Snuggles will be receiving a Baptism Set, Vestments (made by a friend) and St. Michael the Archangel Pillowcase.
- Rose will be receiving a set of Pink Rosary Roses and St. Therese Pillowcase.
- Bud will be receiving Noah’s Ark Figurines and an adorable Noah’s Ark Board Book.
Something to Read
(This will be a stack of books wrapped for each child – I collect books year round, some I purchase either used or on sale/clearance, some I’ve been given to review, and some have even been wonderful finds through Paperback Swap. Note: I’m saving most of the Catholic titles I have from Neumann Press and Tan Books for next year’s Easter Baskets.)
- Captain will be receiving the basic Kindle e-reader (ad-free version, purchased on sale), this cover, and The Invaders: Brotherband Chronicles #2.
- Rascal will also be receiving the basic Kindle e-reader (ad-free version, purchased on sale), this cover, and The Royal Ranger.
- Twinkle Toes will be receiving the Samantha Books Set, Samantha Just for Fun, Pink Ponies Cookbook, Tasha Tudor Cookbook, Inside the Secret Garden (illustrated by Tasha Tudor – she received The Secret Garden also illustrated by Tasha Tudor for her birthday), Mandy, and Strawberry Hill.
- Chiquita will be receiving Addy Book Set, Rebecca Just for Fun, The Little House Cookbook, The Secret Garden (illustrated by Inga Moore), King Oberon’s Forest, Ballet Shoes, and Sweet Little Ladies and the Secret at Berry Creek.
- Snuggles will be receiving Saint Felix and the Spider, Cranberry Christmas, Peter Pan, Sir Cumference and the Off-the-Charts Desserts, Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon, The Adventures of Sir Givret the Short, See Inside Trains.
- Rose will be receiving Pride & Prejudice: BabyLit Counting Primer.
- Bud will be receiving these Castle Blocks.
(Note: I do want to remind you all that I haven’t read most of these books yet. I made my decision to purchase most of them based on recommendations, reviews, publishers, and the past work of some of the authors/illustrators.)
Stocking Stuffers
Boys
- Metal Earth 3D Models (Captain and Rascal)
- Colored Pencils
- Small Lego Sets (Captain, Rascal, and Snuggles)
- Toy Swiss Army Knife (Snuggles)
- Holy Heroes CDs
- Farkle Score Sheets (Captain)
- Gloves and/or Socks
- Christmas Candy
Girls
- Calico Critter Twins
- Wooden Doll Clothes Hangers (with clips and without)
- Little Books of…
- Holy Heroes CDs
- Shining Light Doll (Rose)
- Felt Food (Rose)
- My Little Book of Prayers (Rose)
- A New Bonnet (Chiquita)
- Yellow Dwarf Hood (Twinkle Toes)
- Christmas Candy
I’m also really excited about a few of Bud’s (2nd) birthday gifts, particularly this Tree Finger Puppet Play House! It is SO cute.. So much cuter than the pictures online! I can’t wait to give it to him tomorrow, with the cute little deer peeking out. He is going to love it! He will also receive My Wonderful Christmas Tree, Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek, a Woodland Wooden Puzzle, a Forest Friends Block Puzzle, and (just to through you all off from figuring out the theme!) a Melissa & Doug Car Carrier! I’ll be sure to post pictures after his birthday!
I know I have been hosting a lot of giveaways this fall and winter, but I do have just one more for you all this year… and one more over at Catholic Cuisine! 🙂
Catholic Embroidery has graciously offered to giveaway a set of their beautiful new St. Therese Notecards to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses! I have ordered many items from Catholic Embroidery in the past, for myself, my family, and to give as gifts, and everything is so lovely! Be sure to remember them for any last minute Christmas shopping you still have to complete. If you’d like to be entered in the giveaway please use the Rafflecopter box below by December 25th. God bless!
What beautiful Cards! Jessica, Thanks you so much. Shower of Roses is so much fun to look at. It is just about the only blog I read. God bless you and your family always.
I did most of my Christmas shopping intentionally clicking through your links. I truly value what you share here!
I'm praying for your dear Priest, and that even though Advent has been difficult your Christmas season will bring peace & joy to you and your family!
Gorgeous cards! Thanks for the chance to win!
And thanks for including that prayer for priest. Our priests need our prayers and support so much!
You are just incredible! Here is an extra prayer from my heart to your family.
You know we are praying for our favorite priest.
We are also praying for you guys and so grateful that you have water again!
I'm so sorry to hear about your priest and the subsequent loss of your Friday Masses! Such devastating news. You have indeed be given many trials this Advent. May God reward you for your faithfulness.
Your gift lists look wonderful! Hope your family enjoys Saint Felix. Blessings to all of you in these final days of Advent.
PS Thank you again for recommending Come, Lord Jesus! We have been enjoying it so very much and it has been a great blessing to us all – I read it aloud to the family after our evening Jesse Tree readings and singing. Thank you!!
Praying for your Fr Carmelo! Sometimes life is so very, very hard. Praying if it's God's will your husband will find work closer to Latin Masses. Do go easy on yourself, enjoy Bud's birthday tomorrow{{}}
I will keep your priest in my prayers.
My husband has been telling me about Metal Earth models for the last couple of years. He sees them at a toy store near his office. One night, he came home and I said, "Oh, you need to see this neat metal model that Jessica shared on her blog." He replied, "Dear, that's what I have been telling you about and wanting to buy for Brendan for the last two years." What can I say visuals help.
I hope your house problems are resolved soon.
Love that you added a prayer for priests! How difficult that you'll be moving. Is he looking out of state?
Beautiful prayer, where did you find it? If you really are moving, your NJ welcome wagon is ready and waiting…hehehe! But really, that would be amazing!
Do you get credit if we purchase something else after clicking your links or only if we purchase that exact item?
And I would love to see how you store all these toys! I have trouble staying organized with only 3 kids' worth!
Yes, I receive affiliate commissions on any purchases that are made after someone clicks over to Amazon after visiting my blog, unless the items were already in your cart. It does not have to be the exact item I link to. 🙂
I have posted pictures of how the boys store all their legos here. (Though I've been meaning to post what we came up with for their mini figures… hopefully in the next couple months I can get to that.) After Christmas I will try and post a little more about how the girls store their dolls/accessories. They also have a few closet maid bins in their room for small toys, calico critters, etc. The Playmobil toys, blocks, basket of puppets, and Lincoln Logs, are in the little boys room. And Rose has all the kitchen toys, the bin of paly silks, and the castle the girls passed down to her in her room. I have a game closet that stores our games and puzzles. When it gets too full I pull some out to give away. I do have under bed boxes in a couple of the rooms for dress up clothes and additional toys. I think that is it… I've been wrapping their gifts today and it all seems like so much more when it is listed out in the blog post. When I look at the stacks for each child, it doesn't seem like nearly as much.
In fact, in our home, storing books is so much harder than storing toys… 🙂
Thank you so much, Kathy! 🙂
Thank you! The prayers are greatly appreciated!
I'm so glad you have been enjoying Come, Lord Jesus! I haven't been able to read much of it, but what I have read has been excellent! Next year I might have to try reading it aloud, what an excellent idea!
I'm also so excited about the Saint Felix book! I've ordered a few copies for godchildren as well. The illustrations are beautiful!
Thank you, Erin!
Hahaha! That is so funny! They really are neat models! 🙂
I couldn't resist adding the prayer for priests, when I was "adding my own options" to the giveaway! As much as I love getting comments here, I thought the "Pray for Priests" was a much better use of my visitors time, and so very needed in the Church today.
I appreciate that some of you left comments, even though it wasn't required for the giveaway. Thank you! 🙂 And, yes, my husband has been looking out of state. He has been looking for a good transfer (preferably near an FSSP parish) since we were first married though, and God seems to want to keep us here. We will just keep praying!
You know, I actually had that prayer here on my blog from a post asking for prayers for priests, especially one of my husband's brothers, last year. I can't remember where I found it originally. After this past month, I'm not sure I'd be up to moving somewhere as cold as NJ! lol
I know you are… Thank you Amy!
You're welcome! 🙂 It's a beautiful prayer. I need to print it out and put it somewhere I can see/pray it often.
The cards are lovely! And thank you for the kind comment!
Did I win?? Lol I'm Monica R.!! Is it me??
Yes! 🙂 I sent you an email this morning – maybe check your spam folder if it didn't come through – and please email me back with your mailing address! Merry Christmas!
It was in the spam folder! I'm sooooo excited and grateful thank you thank you!!! Merry Christmas!!!!