Setting Traps

No, we're not Irish, but my oldest has been talking up leprechauns this year. So, I might have to work with them tonight to fashion a leprechaun trap.

Don't these traps from Disney look adorable?


Do you set leprechaun traps? Do the leprechauns leave something if they can't be caught? We've never, heck, I've never done this before...ever.


Your tips and advice are appreciated.


Enjoy... below is my favorite Leprechaun.


Cheers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

We drummed our way into Twenty-Ten

With Chinese Hot Pot



Chocolate Fondue


Bubbly


Candyland & Ryan Seacrest


and... K-I-S-S-I-N-G


CHEERS!!!

12 Days of Christmas Books part III

Tomorrow night we'll read Christmas Tapestry, (thanks to friend suggestions via Facebook) by Patricia Polacco - it's a new addition to the Christmas library. We'll also tell the Christmas story, the one about Christ's birth, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men. We'll also be having a family slumber party, recreating the polar express train/cocoa party...and opening up some new pajamas. And the girls will be looking for Elfie Star... their Elf on the Shelf that my fabulous friend Sally gave the girls this year. It's been fun finding where Elfie Star (named by the girls) appears each morning.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing what we've been reading over the 12 days of Christmas books. If you have any suggestions we should add-in for next year, I'd love it. (please leave a comment to share)


12. Mr. Finnegan's Giving Chest, by Dan Farr

This book is a "Christmas spirit" story. I think we were given this book, not sure I would've actually purchased this on my own. It comes with a CD read by Dick Van Dyke. We've listened to the CD before, but I like to read it to my girls. It's fun imagining hearing his voice in my head as I read.


11. On the Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman



I added this into our Christmas book rotation because we celebrate the birth of Christ. I figured it was appropriate to also highlight their births. That their birth was significant for me. I just like the way Tillman's writing sounds when I read it aloud.


10. The Tale of the Three Trees retold by Angela Elwell Hunt, illustrations by Tim Jonke


I love this folktale. Ours is a board book given to us when the girls were much younger.


9. Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick



It's fun doing different voices for the various animals. I also love the photography illustrating the story.

12 Days of Christmas Books part II

8. The Polar Express, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg
A classic. I think next year I'm going to try to remember to get tickets to our local Polar Express adventure. I love the book so much more than I do the movie. I feel the same way about the Grinch - I prefer the book Whos...not the movie Whos.


7. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, Illustrated by Susan Jeffers


I have always loved the somber, stillness of this poem. The vast white of snow everywhere fits perfectly. The illustrations are lovely. The girls like to find the forest animals.


6. One Snowy Night, by M. Christina Butler, Illustrated by Tina McNaughton


He's just a cute little hedgehog. The girls have loved this one for a while now...and it reminds me when they were so little they'd love the texture of the hat.


5. When Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem, paintings by Joseph Brickey

We enjoy the beautiful artwork. When the girls were younger I'd just talk about the paintings we would look at. Now that they're older I can read more of the text and talk to them about the events that occurred all those years ago.


4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May, Illustrated by David Wentzel

Love the illustrations in this book. Santa does seem all jolly and he fills up a room with that bowl full of jelly.

12 Days of Christmas Books

A couple years ago my friend Carrie mentioned her tradition of wrapping up Christmas books they had, and adding a few each year, for the 12 days of Christmas. I loved this idea, so we've been doing it ever since.

As there are only two kids in our family, we let one pick out the wrapped book from under the tree, and then the other one gets to open the book. Then we trade off night-after-night. It makes reading time before bed, during Christmas, extra-special. I don't put any markings on the wrapping paper, so I never know what book will pop up next.

Seeing as I've wrapped up the books...and can't remember what I wrapped up. I'll be sharing the titles, bit-by-bit. In addition, I'm soliciting your Christmas book titles that you love reading to your kids...because, I can never have too many books.

...I love to read to my girls. I love how they cuddle up close to me, I love how focused on the story they are. I love reading with meaning, inflection, voices...and pauses. I hope one day to be the library story-time lady.

Without further adieu, HAPPY 3rd day of Christmas Book Reading.

3. The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman

I love the illustrations in this book. I love the prose. I love the meaning of Christmas...and that in the end... well... I won't spoil it for you. Go get it!


2. The Night Before Christmas: The Anniversary Edition by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Christian Birmingham


I have always loved the rhythm of this story. The anniversary edition illustrations are simply gorgeous. I'm really glad I have this in my collection.


1. Drummer Boy by Loren Long

I love that Loren Long both wrote and illustrated this book. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is precious. My girls love the rhythm of the drum...and it adds depth to the story.

ps. I'm a fan of hardcover books when it comes to special Christmas ones.
WHAT Christmas books are you reading to your kids??? Please share!