Feathers in Our Nest

Simple Christmas Memories (Less is More!)

December 15, 2016 by Aliesha

I can’t quite explain it, but this Christmas season has felt very different than Christmases past. Maybe I’ve been sleep deprived or pregnant or both (ha!) almost every Christmas we’ve been married until now, so my memory of what those years entailed has faded. (Yep, just did the math and this is the first Christmas since we’ve been married that I have not had a little baby or been expecting a baby.)

Anyway, this year has felt different because my ideas, goals, and expectations have changed.

We’re doing less, but also more.

Less decorating… more memory making. I have barely decorated the house this year, except for the tree and the mantel. The kids don’t seem to mind. (I will get our stockings hung soon!) We’ve instead spent our time making crafts, cookies, and memories.

Less hustle… more snuggles.

We’re staying in lots. And drinking more hot chocolate than is probably healthy.We’re snuggling up with Christmas books before bed.

We’re lingering on the couch in the mornings before breakfast.

Less “have to’s”… more “get to’s.”

I’m taking things off my (mental) must-do list and making them purely optional. We don’t have to decorate cookies, but we get to. We don’t have to go to that event, but we can choose to if we want to! It’s making such a difference in my heart this season to view all of these activities, traditions, and events as optional fun things we can do. I feel like a tremendous weight of obligation has been lifted this year!

Less perfection… more fun.

I don’t know if you can tell, but the kids decorated this little tree all by themselves one morning!

Less (no) school… more unschooling. We are crafting more, practicing our scissor skills, and even writing a short story (Vera).

We’re also practicing our climbing skills (Theodore). Insert gasping emoji face here.

Less busyness… more time for Jesus.

We’re doing Advent every morning right after breakfast. We read the Bible and a story from The Jesus Story Book Bible with Tad, then we work on memorizing Luke 2:1-20. (If you’d like to memorize it with your family as well, I created a free printable… NKJV… for you, which you can download for free here.)

I’m thankful for all of the Christmas memories we’re making as a family this year. Less is more, and that’s perfect for us.

I’m treasuring my little ones and the gift it is to share Christ with them at Christmas!

Ultimate List of Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids of All Ages!

December 13, 2016 by Aliesha

Stockings! One of the highlights of Christmas morning for the kiddos, yet also one of the things that can send parents out shopping on Christmas Eve! Today I’ve compiled a BIG list of the best stocking stuffer ideas for kids of all ages.

Hopefully if you shop now, you won’t have to make any Christmas Eve runs for more stocking stuffers!

Ultimate List of Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids of All Ages

For the littlest ones

It can be hard to know what to put in the stocking for the baby (especially babies under 1), but I’ve found some fun options!

I got one of these Indestructibles books for Theodore for Christmas. You can try to rip it, crumple it up, chew on it, whatever… and it’s indestructible! Perfect for car trips and play time! (Other titles here.)

These pull-back cars are adorable! I found some similar ones for Teddy’s stocking. Who doesn’t love cars?

This puzzle (made of recycled materials) would be a cute addition to a stocking for a little one! There are a few other designs (go here to see).

Teethers are a great stocking stuffer for babies! Our two favorites are this one (great for cutting those first few front teeth) and this one (perfect for cutting back teeth). Sounds silly, but sometimes practical gifts are the best gifts! Ha!

I’ve heard great things about the Wubbanub, so we ordered this one for Teddy. I’m curious to see if he likes it! There are lots of animals to pick from here.

Art supplies & activities

Our kids are REALLY into arts and crafts, so I’ve gotten a lot of art supplies for their stockings this year!

These waterbrush pens are not marketed to kids, but I think they would be really helpful for beginner watercolor artists! I have a set that I use regularly! You fill the barrel of the pen with water and then dip it into your watercolors (even an inexpensive pan set works). They are a lot of fun!

I couldn’t pass up these cute crayon rocks! I’m putting them in the girls’ stockings this year.

Ditto to the scented markers. They’ve never had scented markers before, so I think they’ll be surprised by these!

This scissor skills pad is great for having fun while learning! One of my girls is getting it in her stocking.

We have had this tape activity book for a while. I removed the spiral binding at the top and separated the pages so all of my kids could play with it at once. The tape that came with it is long gone, but we use our own washi tape now! You can reuse the pad by easily peeling off the tape!

Speaking of washi tape… I have this set of skinny tape and I love it. (Side note: I know lots of adults who would love this tape in their stockings… it’s great for calendars, planners, & more!)

These twig pencils are just too cute! I may have to order a set.

We used some watercolor crayons at an event recently, and our kids LOVED them! The colors are really vibrant, and you just paint over them with a water brush to get a watercolor effect. Adding this set to some stockings!

I thought these looked like a lot of fun (and educational too!) for long car rides, waiting rooms, etc., so I ordered a set to split up among my older kids.

We use this coloring book in our homeschool, and our kids really like learning about the countries in it!

Games

There are a ton of fun games to pick from for stockings (I like to grab classics like Go Fish and Old Maid when I see them at the Target dollar spot), but here are a few we like!

This is hands-down my favorite card game. Our girls aren’t quite old enough for it yet, but it is SO much fun!

I really like Quiddler too! It’s a bit like Phase 10 meets Scrabble. Good for older kids, teens, and adults!

I love Words with Friends and Fast Scrabble, so I think Scrabble Twist looks like fun too!

It’s been forever since I’ve played Skip-Bo. We may need to add this to our game collection!

Playables

Rather than just pick up cheap toys at the Dollar Tree that may be broken in a week, this year I’ve decided to spend a tiny bit more on toys for the kids’ stockings, so that the toys will actually last!

I know a little boy who would LOVE to find a big set of Hot Wheels in his stocking!

Small Lego kits are great stocking stuffers! I ordered this one.

This set looks fun too!

I know… technically this won’t fit in a stocking. But you can always use more Lego baseplates, right?

This is a nice set of small Play-Doh containers. You can also get the large containers for under $1 at big box stores. If you’re really on a budget, make some homemade Play-Doh and dye it several colors!

I got these construction vehicles for Jude’s stocking. You can also get a small Rubbermaid container and some aquarium rocks to make a “construction zone” of sorts for the vehicles to use! Hours of creative play!

Wearables

Obvious stocking stuffers include socks, fun underwear (licensed characters, etc.), hair accessories, hats, gloves, etc. I personally LOVE getting socks in my stocking!

I just love these animal face socks! I picked up a couple of pairs for the girls’ stockings.

Aren’t these monster socks fun too??

These bows! You guys, these are a STEAL!! You get TWENTY bows for this price and these are the NICE, four inch, clip on the back bows that are like $4-5 EACH at kid’s clothing stores. If you want to have two of each color (for pigtails), buy two sets, because this set includes twenty different colors.

Books

Small books make great stocking stuffers! Here are a few of our favorites.

This is a classic, and I can’t even tell you how many times we’ve read it. Fun for lots of ages!

My mom gave us these Daddy/Mommy books when Vera was little, and we’ve also read these dozens (hundreds?) of times. The illustrations are beautiful!

We don’t actually have this one, but we have checked it out from the library several times. I’ve recommended it to lots of friends, and they all loved it too! I don’t get tired of reading it.

Of course Little Golden Book classics like this one make great stocking additions! We have lots of these books!

Other

Other good stocking stuffers include seasonal candy, favorite snacks, breakfast cereal, mini flashlights, batteries, rolls of quarters, and small gift cards (i.e., $5).

Glow sticks are always a hit! We got this set to hand out on Halloween, and I saved a few to tuck into the kids’ stockings.

I just ordered these granola bars. I know that might sound like a weird thing to put in my kids’ stockings, but they typically eat whatever food is in their stocking on Christmas morning before breakfast. May as well make it healthy! Ha! These are allergen-friendly, which is awesome!

We have really enjoyed this CD! It makes cleaning up the house more fun!

And, finally, don’t forget to put a clementine in the toe!

What are your favorite stocking stuffer ideas for kids?

Aliesha Caldwell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

My House is Your House

December 9, 2016 by Aliesha

Certainly one of my goals in hospitality is to communicate to our guests: Mi casa es tu casa, or “my house is your house.” I want our guests to feel welcomed, loved, and comfortable, which is why I greet them warmly, light candles, and cook food I hope they will enjoy.

I was thinking about this phrase as it relates to my children. Do I really display this same attitude of hospitality towards them? Do I live like I think that my house is their house? Do I invite them to spread their toys out all over the living room and sprawl on the kitchen floor to play? Or do I act like my house is a pristine museum (the term “pristine” used very, very loosely)?

Before this realization, I used to find myself scrolling through my Instagram feed at lunch rather than engaging my children in meaningful conversation, something I would never do with guests around my table. I wouldn’t so much as glance at my phone during a dinner party.

I have found myself at the dinner table, instead of lingering around our table and drawing out my children’s hearts, rushing to clear the table, put away the food, and hurry everyone along towards bedtime. Would I rush my guests that way? Or would I intentionally sit and listen, letting the dishes wait for a few minutes (or hours)? I would assure my guests that the dishes can wait. I’d tackle them at 10PM before I would think of shooing anyone away from our table.

As I’ve been contemplating this, I’ve realized that for me hospitality towards my children at this particular season looks a lot like playing “fabric store” on Tuesday. Lighting candles at dinner time, and baking cookies for no reason on Thursday. Saying “yes” to Play-Doh even though it makes a royal mess. Decorating their rooms in colors that make them smile, and looking at them in the eyes during lunch while listening to their stories. It means loving them in all the ways I know how, and giving the best of myself to my children, rather than just saving the best for company.

Consider this post merely an “in progress” shot. This isn’t the “after;” this is the messy middle. An honest confession in the midst of my imperfect parenting as I strive towards this goal that Christ’s heart of hospitality would permeate every part of my being.

May God develop in me a true heart of hospitality, and let it begin first and foremost with my own family!

For more posts I’ve written on hospitality, click here.

Simple Christmas Memories (Less is More!)

Ultimate List of Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids of All Ages!