Resolution Time!

The Princess and I training for a 5K at the end of March. We started December 1st and have been walking/running a mile 3 times a week. We plan to increase our walking/running a little at a time until we get to 3 miles! We also have decided to add this into our work out routine: 

Click to get your own.

We also spend some time reflecting on 2014. The Princess filled out this sheet for me to put up and save:

We also have set some goals for the new year. We printed this sheet and I helped her to think of goals as well as what to do to get there. We posted this completed sheet on the bulletin board in the school room. 

Happy New Year!

Christmas ornaments

We created several of our own ornaments this year for ourselves and to give to others. We started with plain ornaments like this:

(Click to order your own.)

Then we added all sorts of different things like...

different colored pom pom balls

clear shred

Christmas sprinkles

Here are some ideas for making your own. Click to order your own:

Kindness Elves

Our kindness elf, Evan made his appearance this week. We don't do Santa at our house. I made this decision before my daughter was born because I didn't want her to be distracted from the true meaning of Christmas only. Many of her friends, our friends, still celebrate Santa and that's okay. Some of them have an Elf on the Shelf. The Princess asked if we could have one too. I struggled with this because elves are part of Santa's story. I looked for a way to do something fun with her without bringing Santa into our celebration. The kindness elf was the answer. 

DAY 1:

Evan's purpose is stated in this first letter (typed in tiny font): 

"Hello. I am a kindness elf, a special kind of elf.

It’s my job to spread Christmas love and joy. I need your help. Make a list of all the nicest words you know and post it on the refrigerator for everyone to see."

DAY 2:

"Let’s spread some kindness together.  Make a card for someone you love. Call someone and brighten up their day. Do a good job and we might do something fun tomorrow.

<3 Evan" 


DAY 3: 

"Help your mom with chores today and have a good attitude doing it. Think about the Fruits of the Spirit as you go about your day. Something fun will come later 

<3 Evan"

DAY 4:

"Let’s have a good time baking some brownies for Christmas Eve! Maybe we can even bake a cake for Jesus’s birthday! Be a good helper and get ready to celebrate Jesus!

<3 Evan"

Jesus's birthday cake is our Christmas tradition. We've been doing this since the Princess was little. To keep the focus on the true meaning of Christmas we bake a cake. On Christmas day we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus! 

DAY 5:

Evan wanted The Princess to help with Mom's workout playlist. The Princess loves YouTube so she was great at this job! 

DAY 6:

"Happy Christmas Eve!  Make something nice for Great Nana and get ready to celebrate Jesus!

<3, Evan"

(Snowman project for her great grandmother)

DAY 7:

"Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to Jesus! Remember to think about the real reason for the season. Be thankful for everything that you are blessed with today.  See you next year!

<3, Evan"

Evan was purchased at Hobby Lobby, but here are some of the alternatives to the Elf on the Shelf I've found at Amazon: