This year we decided to have a homemade Christmas so that we could help encourage our girls focus on putting themselves into a gift for someone they loved. Getting a three year old to keep a secret was not something I thought was possible, but Kate surprised me by only letting a few clues slip here and there.
Jeana helped Kate and Audrey work separately on gifts for each other. What the girls didn’t know was that they were making the same thing for each other. I don’t think it mattered because they were each so excited to give the other what they were making that they lost thought about a gift for themselves. The girls made jewelry boxes for each other. Of course, the boxes turned out containing all sorts of toys, not just necklaces and bracelets, but that’s not important.
We made some fancy calendars for our parents with pictures of our family throughout the 2008 year. Without Jeana knowing, I printed out calendars for 2009 and had the girls provide the artwork for each month. Each day that I worked at home, I would have the girls come and color something. Jeana’s calendar is graced with lollipops basking in the sun, flowers, a mouse and rat (Jeana hates these rodents – I think the inclusion of the picture on the calendar is funny), names, butterflies, a basketball, houses, the numbers of the years from 2001 to 2010 (although 2010 is actually 20010), and more.
I knew that Jeana was helping the girls with making jewelry boxes. I cheated with the whole “box” idea and figured since the girls were already in the mode of painting boxes, they would be warmed up and know just what to do if they were encouraged to do another one. I was worried that the girls would slip and tell each other about the jewelry boxes, but they didn’t divulge anything! Audrey brainstormed some tasks she was willing to perform for Jeana and wrote them on a piece of paper. I helped Kate write some for herself. Then, we cut up the tasks and taped them to mini Snickers candy bars, Jeana’s favorite. We stuffed all the tasks and candy bars into the “service box” and painted it. Audrey and Kate were anxious to give the gift to Jeana and we talked about the “service box” from time to time leading up to Christmas day. I loved seeing their excitement to do something so kind and giving for Jeana.
Jeana asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told her I wanted a pencil can. Jeana told me that one year when she was little she made a pencil can for someone in her family, so I was confident that she could deliver on my request. The truth is, I love having pictures of my family in my office (when I am actually in the office) to take my mind of work when I need a break. I figured a pencil can would be a great gift to ask for. Jeana helped the girls deliver and then some! I got my much desired, homemade pencil can. It was mod podged with pictures of our family throughout the year doing the activities we love most, like camping, hiking, and racing. They also made a bunch of custom magnets with pictures of hobbies, sports, and activities I love most – for use on my whiteboard in the office.
Jeana and I wanted to make aprons for the girls long before Jodi made and sent aprons. One can never have too many aprons right? Besides, one of Audrey’s service tasks in the “service box” was to make dinner so she needed an apron. Oh, and if you know our children, you know that there is a spill with every meal, so they often eat in aprons (much like glorified bibs). I sewed the neck and waist strings on the aprons and Jeana provided the artwork.
I was really excited to make Jeana’s gift. For quite some time she has wanted to decorate a room with all her race bibs she has collected over the years. Using a cold mount adhesive technique and skill acquired long ago as a framer, I mounted the race bibs to foam core and cut them to size. The foam core gives the element of dimension to the bibs. Now we just need to paint a wall and hang them up!
Would I think of doing a homemade Christmas again? You bet! I did learn some lessons though, like: start much earlier on the gifts and do NOT attempt to sew pajamas for your spouse the day of Christmas eve.
