Count Down...5,4,3,2,1!

     Yes I'm still here.  Yes, I've given up on the weekly menu.  I realized as much as I want to be organized, there are other things that keep fighting me on it (time, energy, husband, etc.)  You get the idea.  I guess my husband was right "Why try to fix something that wasn't broken?!"  So, I've given up on the weekly menu, but I am still grocery shopping and cooking some of the meals.  I guess it's called a compromise.
     Awhile ago, I was on a blog (Oopsey Daisy) and saw their awesome idea of an Advent Calendar.  We usually do a calendar with candy or little trinkets.  You know, the ones you buy at the store.  This year I was looking for one and couldn't find ANY!  My kids were extremely disappointed.  They love the little surprises and it gives them something to look forward to.
     Since I couldn't find any, I decided to make my own.  NO, I didn't make any chocolate, my mad cooking skills aren't that great.  NO, I didn't go to the store and buy 25 little gifts.  I decided to use what I had on hand and what the local library had on hand!  No buying involved.  yeah!!

     Since I'm a former teacher, I have like a bajillion (totally made up!) books in my house and in the garage.  Almost enough to open my own library.  I found a bunch of Christmas/holiday books and went to the library to get a few more.  I then wrapped up each book and labeled it with a number, 1-25.  Each night before bed, we open a book and get a little bedtime story.  Andrew decided that he would open the odd numbered books, since he's the oldest!  And that left Chloe with the even numbered books.  They both decided that Lily was too little and shouldn't open any!  Ahhh, the Christmas spirit is alive in our house!

Here's a list of this year's books:

Max's Christmas~  Rosemary Wells
Shine~  Karen & Jonathon Langley
The Polar Express (family favorite!)~  Chris Van Allsburg
Olive the Other Reindeer~  J. Otto Seibold & Vivian Walsh
The Christmas Magic~  Lauren Thompson
The Christmas Baby~  Marion Done Bauer
The Littlest Angel~  Charles Tazewell
Grandfather's Christmas Camp~  Marc McCutcheon
A Creature Was Stirring:  One Boy's Night Before Christmas~  Carter Goodrich
The Story of Santa Claus~  Tom Paxton
Care Bears' Christmas Surprise~  Jenny McPherson
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Clifford's Christmas~  Norman Bridwell
Jingle Bells~  Diane Muldrow
Merry Christmas Stinky Face (a family favorite!)!  Lisa McCourt
Dear Santa Claus (one of Chloe's favorites)~  Alan Durant
The Christmas Story ~  Jane Werner
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Dream Snow (another family favorite)~  Eric Carle
Annabelle's Wish~  Susan Korman
A Frosty Day~  Andrea Posner
The Nutcracker~  Gaby Goldsack
Rudolph- Oh Nose!~  Dennis Shealy
The Night Before Christmas~  Clement C Moore
Snow Day~  Larraine Winter

I got the cute little countdown cards from Skip To My Lou blog.  She has a free download!