To me, it's not Christmas until...

At this house there are a million things that helps Christmas come, however because of this blog and focusing on the holidays we are going to talk about the craft section and things we actually do.

On the first day of Christmas, we make a chain, but not just any chain a countdown chain. This chain is made up of green a red construction papers, very much like they do at school. The difference is each chain has a set of instructions on them. For instance, one might say string popcorn or string berries while another will say read or watch a Christmas story. You get the idea right? Now you just do it yourself and make up one for your family.

Christmas isn't something you should stress about, to me it's all about the kids and without them I think I would lose the magic of the season. Every year my house gets extremely messy the day of Christmas but leading up to it is the most fun I have all year...well besides Halloween.

What are some things that makes Christmas real to you? Is it the parties? The family coming to visit? Christmas movies? Stories? Christmas shopping, akkk, I hate that part.

This blog is part of a carnival held by Katelyn over at Free Holiday Ideas, the title is: To me, it's not Christmas until..., now you write it up and give a shout out to her to let her know you participated. Or go to Momgadget and tell her in the forum there. Don't forget to look over Katelyn's site for more ideas to add to your list of fun things to do for Christmas.

Tags: Christmas, crafts, Christmas Crafts

Black Friday Carnival: What's your Experience?

This week over at MomGadget forum we were writing about Black friday, any experiences you've had, if you went out and just about anything on it. Know great deals? Let us know, etc. You get the drift.

Now, I'll share a bit about myself dealing with black friday, I never heard about it until my second child was 3 months old and I went to Ohio to visit family. My relatives were all getting up around midnight to stand in line, I couldn't understand why. I stayed at their house that year not wanting to go out and wait in freezing temperatures, that is until they came back home around noon. I went back home to my husband telling him how much I wanted to do it the following year. We did, with the kids in tow. That wasn't a great idea, you must worry about them getting trampled or a toy following on top of their head as someone is crawling on top of one of the aisles to get those last bob the builder toys (it was the year they came out with the talking ones). We agreed never to take them out.

Here are some experiences of the other MomGadget ladies:

There were a few brave souls that ventured out to do some Black friday shopping. Shelly over at Soup and Nuts went out at 4:30 a.m. to hit up those deals and got lucky. Granted she wasn't lucky enough to get one of those 1st 100 in the door to get the gift certificates but she did get some great bargains.

Gayla over at SuperNanny Rules remembers a time when she was younger and went black friday shopping with her aunt and mom. She was 12 and didn't walk away with the treasured Cabbage Patch but she did walk away with a black eye. This is one of the reasons I will not take my children out shopping with me on this day. I did it once, never again. She's like to know if you are ga-ga over the new TMX Elmo doll or playstation 3.

Kristi over at Momma's So called Life decided to shop online for those Black Friday sales, especially since she would have to brave the world with her two boys. Do ya blame her?

Char at Casual Keystrokes admits to not wanting to shop on this crazy Black Friday. She says, "I am more likely to log on to my trusty computer, coffee in one hand and a mouse in the other and do my shopping that way." I'm right with her on that one.

Denise at A Writer's Journey, would rather go get a root canal than to shop on Black friday, ouch that's one way of looking at it. She reflects last week when the playstation 3 was released and only 5 in each store and people were lined up outside and barely anyone walked away with one. I know that one, we were one of those idiots. lol.

There you have it, stories, deals and the meaning of black friday. If you have any stories comment below or send me an email and I'll link it here.

Tags: Black Friday, Cyber Black Friday, deals

Black Friday Online Shopping...

As many of you have already heard, you can actually shop Black Friday deals online at many of the stores you would normally wait in line for hours on this day. Why wait when you can let your fingers do the searching? At least this way you don't end up smooshed at the bottom of a mad rush in the stores.

Due to having Black Friday online, many of the stores are having trouble with loading the pages. Could too many people be accessing these stores? Were they not ready for us? Should we have been out in the cold since 11 p.m. last night to get those Playstation 3?

Walmart.com has been experiencing difficulties on and off all morning. So don't think you are going to get those huge televisions before they are gone. If you do you are lucky. Calling customer service may take you just as long as it would to drive down and get in line. Don't try it, not to mention it won't matter as they don't take orders over the phone. You kidding, if they did everyone would be doing it.

ToysRUs is currently up with sales as well. Hurry up and head to your favorite online stores and see what they have in store for you.

Black Friday Sales....

If you are wondering what sales are out there, this is the perfect site for you. Black Friday Sales

Kmart
Walmart
KBToys online (yes you can even shop online, no more fighting crowds)
Best Buy
Toys R Us
Toys R Us online
Office Max

These are just a few big stores you might want to hit up, and if you are lucky enough you'll probably have many local stores doing the same thing. They know a good thing when they see it.

You'll have items such as the Xbox 360 premiun for around $400, coffee makers for as low as $5, Ice Age meltdown $9, Littlest Pet Shop $4 and many, many more items.

Another forum that'll have great deals for today is Black Friday Deals and Discussions

Tags: Black Friday, Day After Thanksgiving Sales, deals

Black Friday...Day After Thanksgiving Sale

The day after Thanksgiving means sales galore. Are you ready for them?

Using the exact definition from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)

Black Friday (also called Blitz Day)- the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is historically one of the busiest retail shopping days of the year. Many consider it the "official" beginning to the Christmas shopping season. The "black" in the name comes from the standard accounting practice of using red ink to denote negative values (i.e., losses) and black ink to denote positive values (profits).

As you can tell it mean Christmas shopping made cheap. Maybe you've heard of it and maybe you haven't. Chances are if you've ever went shopping early the morning after Thanksgiving you have, you just didn't know it had a special name.

Keep in mind that many of these sales have already been going on since 5 a.m., so if you aren't an early bird I hope you set that alarm. Just imagine shopping has been going on now for an hour. It was a mad rush the minute those doors opened especially for those very popular holiday items. The sales normally go from 5a.m. until noon so if you didn't get up in time you can still make it.

Tags: Black Friday, Day After Thanksgiving Sales, deals

Top 10 Toy list....

Around this time we are all gearing up to finish our Christmas shopping or if you are like me to begin it. Now the only question is what to get, well ToysRUs and a few other places online have made shopping a little bit easier. I've got a quick top 10 list of toys for girls and boys you might like. Take a peek, but don't let those little eyes see or you may end up with a much bigger list than you started off with.





Big Girl Items





Remember, when you look at the Polly Pocket items, there has been a recall due to the tiny magnets.

Boy Stuff

Tags: Toy List, wish list, Christmas

Happy 231st Birthday Marine Corps!!

Being part of a Marine Corps Family this is a very important day for us, a day we all celebrate the creation of the Marine Corps. It all began back in Philadelphia on November 10, 1775 when congrss met and agreed that the Marines were needed. To me this is a day with lots of history and value, but I can't help but think of those that are celebrating in foreign lands and knowing they are thinking of us.

The military schools also celebrate this great day by letting the kids out of school, however the week of the 10th they have all types of fun, which we know it by spirit week. Funky hair day, red, white and blue day, voting day and of course Marine day, which is when everyone dresses like a Marine. This is the cutest time to see these little kids, all decked out like their military parents. It's kind of like Halloween all over again. On the 9th, the children will be inviting to the cafeteria to cut a cake of their own with a few high class Marines and yes the cake is cut with a sword. Woo hoo! See, we like our children to know a lot about history and have just as much fun as the parents do.

Depending on the state you live, your child may actually get to attend his/her own Marine Corps Mini Ball. My kids always loved this when we lived in Arizona, there was a cake walk, the cake cutting, prizes and lots of dancing. In other states, only the Young Marines are able to attend, check to make sure first.



One way you'll see many of the Marines actually celebrating is by going out to "The Ball." The ball is when all the Marines dress in their famous "Dress Blues," and go dancing. Women will wear fancy ball gowns, now if you happen to be a female in the military their is an outfit just for her as well, not as fancy as Dress Blues though. The ball is where they do everything traditional from the cutting the cake to the beginning where they walk through history in various uniforms, it's really amazing to watch. You'll feel like a big part of history. Besides these, there are cocktails, dancing (of course), dinner and a guest speaker.

Be on the look out for those "Dress Blues" this year, there might be a few more left going to the ball. Now, for those of you not in the military, not all the balls will be tonight. They've been having them since the beginning of the month. We can't all fit in one building.

Once again, Happy Birthday Marine Corps!!!

Coloring Sheets:
http://www.usmchangout.com/coloringpages.htm

Other fun things to do with your kids:
rent a bunch of movies on the night before to spend some quality time with them
bake a batch of cookies or make a cake to have your own ceremony
get them a small book on the military or about being a marine.

A few Halloween Memories

Over at a blogger forum, we've been discussing Halloween. Of course when the subject came up of Halloween Memories and who would host it I jumped at the chance. Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, as a child it was all about candy, a teen it became a time of hanging out with each other and as a mother and adult it is so much more. Watching your children grow each passing year and of course the changing of the season, the beauty of the leaves falling down and everything. Now that you know a little about me and my reasons, lets go trick-or-treating!

This blog carnival is for, "What is Your Favorite Halloween Memory and why?"

For myself I must say one memory I still have is more when I was a teen and had a major crush on this kid. He knew and asked if I wanted to go trick-or-treating with him, I hadn't realized then that he actually needed chaperones. UGH! Either way the whole group had a ball, no we didn't egg houses that Halloween, but it was great dressing up and hanging out.

As the years passed I have fond memories of the ones with my children. When my daughter was two years old I decided I wanted to sew. This wasn't something I'd EVER done before, in fact in high school I actually failed sewing class. However the dress (she was a maiden) turned out beautiful, if I dig it up I'll post it here. The memory of picking the costume patterns and making them that year will last forever, the following years that's all my kids wanted...me to make them not buy them. One year I told my son I just didn't have time, it had snuck up on us. His response was, "But mom you said you made them with love. Do you not love us anymore?" Yep you know it, I made costumes that year too. Quick ones, but I made them.

My kids have a tradition...kind of. They go about two blocks and beg to go back home, they hate trick-or-treating but they love giving out the candy. It's strange for me because as a child I loved to go out. Course now my son reminds me, "Mom, don't you say not to take things from strangers?"

These are a few of my Halloween memories, let's go in search of some more. Open up those bags and get ready for the goodies.

Gayla over at Gayla's Place remembers when her twins had just learned the meaning of the phrase "Trick-or-treat" and went to Grandma's house. Only Grandma had her own surprise for the two tots.

Shelly at Soup and Nuts remembers laying on the floor sorting candy. Oh, that is a memory I'll always cherish, my sister always got the hard candy but I wanted those Butterfingers.

Sneak on over to Eve Lester's and read all about her Almost First Halloween Party.

Join Char as she walks us through her last child's Halloween at preschool. It is always great to have memories but they sure are hard to have when it is your last child.

Please do not worry, if this actually works I'll be happy. I'll be updating all day long, so if you have a halloween memory and write it up on your blog post me and I'll link ya.

To all those trick-or-treaters out there, have a safe and HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Tags: Halloween, Halloween Memories, costumes, MomGadget

Are your gearing up for Halloween? How about a little fun?

Now, I've been searching the web for some fun you might have to help you count down the days until Halloween. Here is a fun one, you get to decorate your own little character. You try it and send a link back to me I'd love to see everyone's little people.

This isn't my credit alone, I found this through my friend Carson's blog, "Content Done Better."

A Holiday Meal Menu...

Have you ever made a menu? I'm not talking about you deciding what's for dinner but an actual menu. Have you? Every year, especially Halloween I make a Holiday Menu, this not only gives my kids the chance to see what is in store for them but the neighbors as well. See, two years ago I moved to my little street and around Halloween everyone heard I ate brains and puss and kitty litter. No, I don't eat that! Not really anways, but those were the names I placed on the meals I served the kids on Halloween. I know you're thinking that's disgusting but what is that holiday? It's suppose to be fun, scary, gross and disgusting!

Okay, all you need to do is think that for Halloween and make a holiday menu. What will you serve up for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Can you think of some strange names that'll make your kids howl or laugh up a storm?


My Halloween Menu for 2005
Breakfast:
Brains & Puss

Lunch:
Eyeballs & squiggly worms
or
cooked cow & maggots

Dinner:
Worms in Blood Sauce

Dessert:
Turds in Kitty Litter

Yes, I know how this sounds but it is all fun and games, nothing is really disgusting but the names. The reality is:

Breakfast, we have scrambled eggs with a drop of red food coloring to make it look like brains. The puss is only oatmeal. For lunch we might have hamburger meat and rice, oh and of course it's colored a light yellow. Dinner is spaghetti and sauce and for dessert well I can't give you the family recipe but it is a candy (not poop) on top of grape nuts cereal. So, do you think you can make your own Halloween Menu? If you can send me the link and I'll post it here, or just drop it by in the comments section.

I can't wait to see what you scare up. Oh and once we get closer to Halloween I'll post this years Menu. :)

Intro on the Holiday Mom

I'm what you would call the Hoiday Mom, we celebrate everything, that means the Leprechaun comes to our house in March, Cupid strikes his arrow, the kids will get a gift on the 1st day of school, Halloween and of course Santa comes.

Every month has some holiday in it and I love teaching my kids that. Up until last year, we homeschooled our children and the teaching in me has yet to leave. Maybe here I can teach a few others about the holidays or some holiday fun, either way, always feel free to leave me comments and tell me about a holiday I may have forgotten. We do crafts, games and our meals are holiday themed.

I'm a military wife and a WAHM of three, oh and currently pregnant with number 4. I'm no longer a military wife as we got out in December 2007. But I am a wife and mother to four very active children.

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