November is my favorite month of the year, so it was a God wink when my daughter was born at exactly 12am on Nov 1st!!! We literally kick off the month with her birthday, followed by our wedding anniversary, followed by our home anniversary (we moved in on 11/14!) and then my son's birthday the week before Thanksgiving!! I love this time of year, and while it involves a lot of planning, it is such a magical season these next two months! So excited for the new Thomas family traditions this year!!! xo
Thanks for getting me excited for the Christmas season ahead! :) I love the advice of clearing surfaces/clutter that doesn't need to be out, such a practical tip that keeps giving all December long! I also have to tell you I was inspired by your Purl Soho Advent Calendar Kit and received one myself several years ago. I was so delightful to make over a few years and it has been so special to pull out now at Christmas time! :)
So appreciate this article giving me a chance to think about Christmas with some practical angles. My kiddos are 8 and 9 this year, so it's a valuable opportunity for me to weave some traditions and values through the experiences we offer.
Three main constraints will shape this Christmas season for us:
- Life in the southern hemisphere means end of the academic year, on top of all the rest of it!
- We'll be on the road for the entire second half of December, changing locations every 2-3 days. This is a gift, but it'll be a suitcase Christmas for sure. (Plus, cleaning house, and packing both need to happen in December also!)
- Finally, where we live now has its own sweet limits - heat, humidity, restricted shopping, and a general lower level of predictability and life efficiency.
I'm working on how to balance the digital world, which we DO have access to, with analog experiences...
Anyone have suggestions for:
- advent calendar based on Christmas Carols?
- craft tools/supplies that are suitable for making gifts while on the road? (ie, small, don't make too much mess), but also don't take up too much space/weight in a suitcase? Have been wondering about wood-burning for my son?
- I'm wondering if we get Christmas PJs, instead of "decorations"...Is this a wild idea? (Again, summer in the southern hemisphere, and we've NEVER done this before!) Anything else that would be practical, but take up no more space or energy than "Ordinary" items?? I'd love to focus on the Spiritual values associated with Christmas, rather than the "commercial" side.
Hi Sarah! I can tell you're thinking about this season with much thoughtfulness - I know it will be special! A few thoughts:
-- Love the idea of pajamas - a festive element that can travel with you wherever you go!
-- June loves her Rainbow Loom and friendship bracelet kits, both very portable. An Emily Lex or Brighter Day Press watercolor workbook + travel watercolor set could be fun, too. Or air dry clay - very light, no need to bake!
-- I've never heard of an Advent calendar based on Christmas carols but it sounds so fun. I think you should make one!! Even just little slips of paper you choose from each day to sing a new song together - so sweet! I highly recommend this little songbook with words: https://amzn.to/488sqBc
This has inspired me to get serious about my own holiday preparations! This season always seems to snowball for me (pun intended) so this was a good reminder to get started early. I live on a sailboat in the Caribbean so I really have to think ahead with shopping for gifts and the ingredients we need to make the foods we want to eat. Do you have a non-instagram picture or post of your kids’ book ornaments?
That ornament is ADORABLE. What book will you feature this year? If I were to make my kids book ornaments, this year’s would feature Dog Man and Elephant and Piggie ♥️
Thank you for your reply, and I totally get it! I just selfishly want to learn as much as I can from moms that think similarly that are a little further down the road haha. I know about your blog and LOVE it. I think that’s how I found your Substack. Thank you for writing—I always find it inspiring.
Hi Christina! I understand - I, too, wish I could read all of my favorite writers for free! But of course, I also know that it takes time (hours and hours) to create the thoughtful writing I find valuable. I know you have been a paid subscriber to TCF in the past and I am so thankful! And I'm glad you're here either way :) (Also, I have 15+ years of free posts on my personal blog, Em for Marvelous, in case you haven't yet made it over that way! https://emformarvelous.com/)
Love this!! I’m in Payroll so year end is insane for us at work. Every year I try to relax and enjoy the season but somehow it always ends up feeling frantic and stressful. I feel like having this plan up my sleeve might finally do the trick this year! 💕
Wow, that Pressley girl sounds really smart 😉 loved this one!
She is really smart! That's my friend!!
November is my favorite month of the year, so it was a God wink when my daughter was born at exactly 12am on Nov 1st!!! We literally kick off the month with her birthday, followed by our wedding anniversary, followed by our home anniversary (we moved in on 11/14!) and then my son's birthday the week before Thanksgiving!! I love this time of year, and while it involves a lot of planning, it is such a magical season these next two months! So excited for the new Thomas family traditions this year!!! xo
Brookie kicking the month off right!
Thanks for getting me excited for the Christmas season ahead! :) I love the advice of clearing surfaces/clutter that doesn't need to be out, such a practical tip that keeps giving all December long! I also have to tell you I was inspired by your Purl Soho Advent Calendar Kit and received one myself several years ago. I was so delightful to make over a few years and it has been so special to pull out now at Christmas time! :)
Oh this makes me so happy!! Can't wait to pull ours out!
So appreciate this article giving me a chance to think about Christmas with some practical angles. My kiddos are 8 and 9 this year, so it's a valuable opportunity for me to weave some traditions and values through the experiences we offer.
Three main constraints will shape this Christmas season for us:
- Life in the southern hemisphere means end of the academic year, on top of all the rest of it!
- We'll be on the road for the entire second half of December, changing locations every 2-3 days. This is a gift, but it'll be a suitcase Christmas for sure. (Plus, cleaning house, and packing both need to happen in December also!)
- Finally, where we live now has its own sweet limits - heat, humidity, restricted shopping, and a general lower level of predictability and life efficiency.
I'm working on how to balance the digital world, which we DO have access to, with analog experiences...
Anyone have suggestions for:
- advent calendar based on Christmas Carols?
- craft tools/supplies that are suitable for making gifts while on the road? (ie, small, don't make too much mess), but also don't take up too much space/weight in a suitcase? Have been wondering about wood-burning for my son?
- I'm wondering if we get Christmas PJs, instead of "decorations"...Is this a wild idea? (Again, summer in the southern hemisphere, and we've NEVER done this before!) Anything else that would be practical, but take up no more space or energy than "Ordinary" items?? I'd love to focus on the Spiritual values associated with Christmas, rather than the "commercial" side.
Hi Sarah! I can tell you're thinking about this season with much thoughtfulness - I know it will be special! A few thoughts:
-- Love the idea of pajamas - a festive element that can travel with you wherever you go!
-- June loves her Rainbow Loom and friendship bracelet kits, both very portable. An Emily Lex or Brighter Day Press watercolor workbook + travel watercolor set could be fun, too. Or air dry clay - very light, no need to bake!
-- I've never heard of an Advent calendar based on Christmas carols but it sounds so fun. I think you should make one!! Even just little slips of paper you choose from each day to sing a new song together - so sweet! I highly recommend this little songbook with words: https://amzn.to/488sqBc
This has inspired me to get serious about my own holiday preparations! This season always seems to snowball for me (pun intended) so this was a good reminder to get started early. I live on a sailboat in the Caribbean so I really have to think ahead with shopping for gifts and the ingredients we need to make the foods we want to eat. Do you have a non-instagram picture or post of your kids’ book ornaments?
Erin! What a fabulous life you are living!! I just shared a pic of one of the book ornaments here on Notes ❤️ https://substack.com/@theconnectedfamily/note/c-174634665
That ornament is ADORABLE. What book will you feature this year? If I were to make my kids book ornaments, this year’s would feature Dog Man and Elephant and Piggie ♥️
June is getting Anne of Green Gables, Shep is getting The Wild Robot, and Annie is getting Frog & Toad!
Excellent! We are big Frog and Toad fans in our family.
I see some similarities between our readying for the season, Em! Ready to write them down!❤️
Yay! Love your writing and desperately wish more of it was available for free! Thank you!!
Thank you for your reply, and I totally get it! I just selfishly want to learn as much as I can from moms that think similarly that are a little further down the road haha. I know about your blog and LOVE it. I think that’s how I found your Substack. Thank you for writing—I always find it inspiring.
Hi Christina! I understand - I, too, wish I could read all of my favorite writers for free! But of course, I also know that it takes time (hours and hours) to create the thoughtful writing I find valuable. I know you have been a paid subscriber to TCF in the past and I am so thankful! And I'm glad you're here either way :) (Also, I have 15+ years of free posts on my personal blog, Em for Marvelous, in case you haven't yet made it over that way! https://emformarvelous.com/)
You linked to instagram and I have my brick on😝😝
You're doing it right!!
💖💖💖
Love this!! I’m in Payroll so year end is insane for us at work. Every year I try to relax and enjoy the season but somehow it always ends up feeling frantic and stressful. I feel like having this plan up my sleeve might finally do the trick this year! 💕