Walmart has the Playskool Busy Ball Popper on sale for just $10 (normally found at between $20 and $30). Use the $5 off 1 coupon here to get this cool baby/toddler toy for just $5.
The Playskool Busy Ball Popper has been the hands down, absolute, most well received gift we’ve ever gotten one of our kids. Actually, it was my sister who got Matthew, 1 1/2 at the time, the original Busy Ball Popper for Christmas. His reaction was like nothing I’d ever seen up until then and since.
It took years but we eventually lost the balls to it, so I was on the lookout for another for Jesse’s first birthday next week. I was quite pleased with Target’s deal at $17 because the $5 coupon would bring it down to a nice $12. But that couldn’t beat he deal I found at Walmart yesterday. They had big stacks of them in the center isle when I was there last night, so you shouldn’t have a problem snagging one.
If you have a baby or toddler, know a baby or toddler, or think you may meet one someday, you’ll want to pick up one of these toys. Save yourself some money and pick it up now.
Technically Christmas is over.
Ben (4) has been reminding me all day that “we gotta take the Christmas tree down”. He was also the one, 4 weeks ago, who got in much trouble for his very persistent, “we gotta decorate the Christmas tree right now“.
So starts the short list.
Gotta take down the tree. Gotta carefully pack up each Christmas ornament and remember how the puzzle of ornament boxes went so I can fit them all back in the Christmas box. I need to take down the lights from outside and wind them up just so.
Gotta get ready for the 3 birthdays we have in January. One turns 1, one turns 5, one turns 15.
Have you any idea what the birth of Christ means? Think on it.
Can you comprehend it? What this one baby’s birth has done?
It’s just so…
Big.
Huge.
Just think about it.
My finger nails are painted red. I’ve eaten so much fudge and chocolate that I’m literally rolling around to get from room to room. We watched Attack of the Puppet People. We’ve had 2 broken ornaments, 3 broken toys, a few tears, and a daddy who’s got a knack for saving the day. The kitchen needs to be cleaned and the laundry needs to get done. I’m uncomfortably close to pudgy, sticky, desert covered fingers. I see chocolate covered mustaches everywhere.
I was gonna continue to give you guys 12 days/ways to have fun with your kids.
But I stopped blogging for a few days to have fun with my kids.
I was gonna blog about how Jesse started pulling up on stuff, cruising, and standing on his own.
But I was too busy watching him grow, learn, do new things, and playing with him.
I was gonna blog about these cute penguins that I wanted to make out of soda bottles with the kids.
But I was too busy making penguins out of soda bottles with the kids.
I was gonna blog about how I’ve started couponing again.
But I was too busy snagging some awesome deals.
We’ve had a fun couple of days. I’ve got a video to post and some pictures, too.
I talked about de-stressing your holiday a little yesterday when I started the 12 days & 12 ways to have fun with your kids during the insanity of the Christmas season.
But there are other benefits in finding simple ways to delight your children.
They’ll remember your traditions.
And when they’re old they’ll come to YOUR house for the holidays.
At least that’s the goal.
So, day 2:
Wait until it’s time for bed – or anytime really. I just prefer to make as big a memory impact as possible and after I’ve sent my kids to bed is the perfect time to surprise them with a little more stayin’ up.
While they’re hiding away somewhere, make all your kids a nice hot cup of cocoa with tons of marshmallows. Make a big one for yourself, too.
It doesn’t have to be in the biggest mug you have in the cupboard. You don’t even have to fill the mug up to the top. Although, a neat idea might be to pick up new $1 mugs at the dollar store. But this isn’t necessary.
The best way to celebrate National Cocoa day is to make a big batch of hot cocoa for everybody. We took crockpot hot cocoa to church today and it was a big hit.
Here is that recipe.
1 & 1/2 cups sugar
1 & 1/4 cups cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 gallon of milk (just pour until the crockpot is full)
Wisk ingredients together well and turn your crockpot on high. It will take about 1 1/2 hour for the hot chocolate to be ready to drink. Serve with marshmallows and candy canes, or mint candies. I’ve also heard that a little peppermint extract is yummy, though I’ve never tried it.
This recipe served more than 20 people at church today. It was gone quickly.
If you only have a couple of people drinking you can just cut the recipe in half.
Having fun during the holidays can be difficult at times, what with heavy stress, unreal expectations, strong tempers, and short fuses. All to often the Christmas season gets completely lost in the ridiculous tradition of going insane. However, there are great ways to ease stress and enjoy time with your family. Ways you have maybe not ever thought about.
I’m going to give you 12 days and 12 ways to ease stress and build fun memories with your kids. These tasks are simple and most of them don’t take long to accomplish. The goal isn’t to spend a long time planning and spending much money, but instead to find simple ways to delight your children, and yourself at the same time.
Day 1.
M&M right at ya.
What I did:
I called Matthew(6) into the living room. When he came in I threw an M&M at him. He had no idea it was coming and it took him completely off guard. It took him about 3 M&Ms before he realized that I was tossing candy coated chocolate at him. He was not upset. It also only took about 3 M&Ms before the rest of the kids’ candy radars zoned in.
The 5 oldest were in the living room trying to catch M&Ms (little ones were sleeping). It isn’t as easy as you would think and took about 10 minutes before all of them had caught one.
Each child who caught an M&M was rewarded with 10. Ben and Matthew (4 & 6) caught them by mouth because they just couldn’t get them with their hands.
The game brought about giggles, and a little tackling as they dove for the mid-air candies.
Tips -
Be prepared for the 5 second rule. Your kids aren’t likely to let an M&M go uneaten. Even if it sat on the floor for a second.
Have two of the BIG bags for this event. One for you, one to throw at the kids.
Don’t tell your kids about it ahead of time. In fact, don’t tell them about any of these ideas ahead of time. That way if something doesn’t work out or has to be postponed they won’t be disappointed. Also, surprises make bigger impressions.
Some M&Ms may end up under the couch. This is fine. The candy shell acts as an excellent preservative.
On second thought, you may just want to avoid tossing them in the direction of the couch.
Don’t be afraid of looking silly. Being afraid of looking silly looks sillier than actually looking silly.
Don’t be surprised if your teenager gets involved. As a matter of fact, expect it.
Have you ever received a gift from somebody that you didn’t really know what to do with? Have you ever received two of the same items or gotten something you already owned?
Well, then. It would appear that National Re-gifting day is for you!
We no longer need to feel guilty about re-gifting! Now that it has it’s own day we can celebrate it, not hide in shame about it.
National Re-Gifting Day is December 18th. Even if you don’t have any gifts that fall into the above categories you can still have an enjoyable time this re-gifting day. It’s always fun to give, so use December 18th as another excuse to give your heart out.
There are two types of re-gifting. There’s the “upper crust” re-gifting. Then there is the redneck re-gifting. Either one is suitable for December 18th. Because it is a nation wide holiday all rules are off – sorta like a re-gifting open season, if you will.
Here’s what ya do to make the most of this day if you’re an upper crust re-gifter.
Look around your house for something in giftable condition. Although the gift being re’d shouldn’t be something dusty, a gently used gift might be acceptable – use good judgement, remembering that your a higher class re-gifter. It is always preferable, however, if the gift is new and unopened. Keep in mind that it would be a gross injustice to purchase something new just for this occassion.
Inspect the gift for cleanliness. If it needs a dusting or cleaning it isn’t re-giftable – don’t even try to pull that one off if your an upper crust re-gifter.
Choose the person you’ll be re-gifting this year. You’ll want to do your best to re-gift to a person who will appreciate the re-gifted item. Though you’ll want to be extra careful not to re-gift back to the person who originally gave you the gift. That would be what we call not good.
Carefully wrap the gift. New wrapping paper is nice, or a recycled gift bag in good condition is acceptable. You may want to purchase a new card or tag for the gift.
Deliver the re-gift to the recipient. If you’re participating in re-gifting day it is okay if the recipient knows it’s a re-gift. That’s all in the spirit of the day.
Now, if you want to go redneck re-gifting (more fun in my opinion, and definitely way more interesting)…
Choose a gift from any shelf, corner, under the bed, that you think you won’t miss later. That old frying pan you burnt this morning making grits may be perfect for Memaw since her failing eye sight may have her fooled into thinking the black coating on the bottom is just non-stick residue.
Clean the gift a little – or at least gift it a good puff of air to get any loose dust off.
Wrapping the gift in an old Walmart plastic bag is popular. Use duct tape to seal it up if you’re plum out of scotch. Newspaper works good, too. There is also that stack of blue hospital bed pads that you came home with after a hospital stay. Ahem. Don’t ask.
Remember to take the gift along with you when you go over to watch WWF on the big screen at Bubba’s house. You’ll be sure to run into your gift recipient there.
Remember, Folks, National Re-gifting day only comes once a year. Make the most of it!
