Merry Christmas

Love,

The Baileys

Brian, Kathi, Kylie, Korinne, Connor, TJ, Wesley, Benjamin, Judah, Zach, and Baby Miriam

stocking stuffers

Brian and I are heading to Barnes and Noble this evening. We're going to get coffees, share a dessert, he'll grab his magazine, and I'll grab mine. Then I'll spend just a little bit of time browsing the Children's Books section. My favorite. I've tried and tried to branch out into books for grown women, I'm a few chapters into the first Mitford book, but I just don't enjoy it like I enjoy my Children's Lit. (I have this on my Amazon Wish List, maybe it'll do the trick.)

Our main goal, though, this evening, is to complete our Christmas shopping. We have a few things we need at Kohl's (including black Nike socks), but the most important thing is the stuffings for eight stockings.

Here are our usuals:

Spangler's Peppermint Stick
Brach's or Russel Stover's Marshmallow Santa
Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Tree
Red Apple
Orange
Underwear
Socks
Chapstick/Nail Polish
Toothbrush

 :: happy friday, hope you're almost through Christmas shopping too! ::

what Christmas is all about

Our Christmas Tree has been up for almost two weeks now. We went against my better judgement to hold off until December 10th, in order to save the tree from little boys and drying out.

It's still there ... giving the family room a Christmas-y glow, cheering us up when the afternoons get tiresome, and reminding us that this time of year is special.

However, I'm fairly certain that it will resemble Charlie's Brown's Christmas Tree by Christmas Morning. Which is perfectly fine with me.

"'And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'"

"...And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus, A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Goat and Two Chickens, Please! (a guest post by our daughter, Korinne)

As I look through the World Vision gift catalog, my heart breaks, and I get tears in my eyes. There are children with no food, or shelter, or clothes, or drinking water, and many other things. Hundreds of kids die every day from not having these things.

 

As I look through the catalog my parents encourage me to raise money to get something. I decided on a goat and 2 chickens.

 

Goat milk has protein which helps a child grow. They can sell extra milk,
yogurt and cheese for other things like medicine or clothes.


Two chickens provide eggs. Extra eggs can be sold for other needs. And soon
more chickens will hatch which means more eggs!

Please help me raise $100. I already have $3.72, so I only need to raise $96.28 more by December 17.

 

Thank you.

Love, Korinne

"for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave
Me drink..." - Matthew 25:3

christmas book basket

The Christmas Story

by Jane Werner, illustrated by Eloise Wilkin

The story of Jesus' birth, from Gabriel's appearance to Mary, to Jesus growing strong in spirit and full of wisdom. The text and illustrations are both beautiful!

The Night Before Christmas

by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Corinne Malvern (We have Brian's edition, priced at 69 cents. Little Golden has updated their illustrations to this...we prefer the vintage-style one by Miss Malvern)

Connor giggled this evening, as he read aloud to TJ,

"He was chubby and plump,

a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him,

in spite of myself;"

 

The Animals' Christmas Eve

by Gale Wiersum, illustrated by ? (We also have Brian's edition of this one, priced at 49 cents. I gave my copy to my sister for her boys. Little Golden has also updated the illustrations to this classic, but with the same rhyme. Again, we prefer the old one...if you know the illustrator, please share.)

"In the barn on Christmas Eve,

After all the people leave,

The animals, in voices low,

Remember Christmas long ago..."

A sweet rhyming and counting story. A group of animals remember the events surrounding Jesus' birth in the manger, and the parts some of their ancestors played in it.

 

 

As I checked for our stories on Golden Book's website, I discovered that you can get all three of these wonderful Christmas books in one mini-treasury!

 

(They just won't be 32-ish years old, or have your mother-in-law's inscription on the inside cover, the pages won't be torn and worn, I'm sure they'll be a little more than 49 cents...oh, and the illustrations won't be near as beautiful! Let it be a lesson to all us Mommas, who will one day be Grandmas!)

:: Happy Christmas Reading! ::

I Saw Three Ships