Holiday Season 2012

Holiday Season is quickly approaching. If you're like me, you have found yourself wondering how in the world this season has managed to sneak itself up on you so fast? Last year, I was completely unprepared for Christmas. I am making it my goal to be more prepared this year. Along with being prepared for the Holidays, I have also decided to start a few new Christmas Traditions for Gabe.

I found these ideas on Pinterest and absolutely loved them! Our First NEW tradition is this: On each day leading up to Christmas, aka: The 25 days of Christmas, Gabe will receive one book to open. Each book will be wrapped or sent from Santa... and whichever book he opens that day will be the book that we read that night. On Christmas Eve, the book that he will open will be "The Night Before Christmas!" 

Our second NEW tradition is this: On Christmas Eve, Gabe will receive a "basket of goodies" to be used that night. The basket will include: popcorn, candy, hot chocolate, marshmallows, a toy, and a movie. The movie will be watched as a family that night while we enjoy some nice, warm hot chocolate. Most likely, we will be watching a Disney movie! I just haven't decided which one yet. 

Now, on to another idea that we have decided for Christmas. As you will see in the picture below, Gabe has too many toys. Literally, he has so many that he doesn't know what to do with them. So, in order to save some money and to avoid spoiling our child any more than he already is... we have decided to do this:: We are only going to buy Gabe 1 Brand NEW toy this Christmas, as well as some new clothes. All of his other "new" toys will be bought in the weeks leading up to Christmas from Goodwill. I must also mention that most of his books will also be purchased from Goodwill. However, all of his "goodies" for his stocking will be brand new items. 

Let me explain our Goodwill shopping idea. It's no secret to anyone how much I love shopping at Goodwill. I've been sooooo lucky to have found so many great deals on things, especially toys for Gabe. The best part about this is that all of the toys that I have gotten for Gabe from Goodwill so far have been in practically new condition. Can't beat that, right? And since toys are so expensive these days, you just can't beat the prices. Not to mention the books... I've found several books in like new condition for Gabe at Goodwill and the most I've ever spent on just one has been $1.00. Seriously, you can't beat these prices! (See the pics below of some of the toys I've gotten Gabe at Goodwill.) 

Along with these new traditions and ideas for the Holiday Season, we have also decided that we are going to take part in some sort of charity this holiday season. Whether it be buying for a participant in the Angel Tree program or taking part in Operation Shoebox at our church, I assure you that we will be doing something to give back. 

So, there you have it friends. Our plans for this upcoming Holiday Season. 

Pop up Toy- $2.00

All of these were $1.00 each

$1.00

My mom got this for Gabe- it was only $1.00!!

$2.00