"Getting Ready for Christmas" Day 2008

Last weekend, after being a tremendous help for a week, my mom returned to Chicago. So in an attempt to keep Ty in his routine and at the same time allow me some time to rest and recover, we kept Tyler in school this week even though I was home. Well, as the week went on, the drop-offs at school became increasingly difficult and teary and I began to feel increasingly guilty that I wasn't spending the time I could with Tyler.

In an effort to make the rest of the drop-offs easier for Jeff and to assuage my guilt, I announced to Ty on Tuesday that on Thursday he would be staying home with me and we would have a "Getting Ready for Christmas" day. This was in part inspired by one of my friends from work whose family celebrates the "The Days Before Christmas" with a special activity each day. Although we started small this year, I'd love to expand it next year.

Here's how our day went...

(Oh, and by the way, one of the rules of "Getting Ready for Christmas" day is that you can stay in your pajamas all day.)

Activity #1: Making the dough for the gingerbread cookies (one of Ty's favorites)

Activity #1b: Megan entertaining herself looking at the hippo on her bouncy seat (yes, there are a lot of patterns going on in this picture)

Activity #2: Decorating Christmas gifts with paint and cookie cutters

Activity #3: Decorating gingerbread cookies (you can almost see how vigorously Ty is shaking the sugar/sprinkle container--needless to say this activity was a little messy)

It was a great day that we will repeat (and hopefully expand) next year.

We wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday season!