I am doing Project Life 365...you can check out my photos at www.scrappygirlsdailylife.blogspot.com!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Christmas In July Blog Party!


Welcome to my blog and official Christmas in July Blog Party post! Grab some hot chocolate and make yourself comfortable on the sofa...I want to share a few of our holiday traditions with ya!

The Christmas season begins for our family as soon as Thanksgiving dinner is cleaned up and the Thankful leaves are read. The ladies all get out there copy of the local paper and begin to look through the Black Friday ads...we always have a very strategic plan and usually walk away with every item on our list...we have gone to extremes...last year I sat on top of two trampoline boxes! The man behind me got his stolen by someone else...I wasn't taking any chances!

After that crazy day of shopping I usually meet my mom in Charleston, WV for a 2 day spending spree the first week of December...complete with overnight stay at the Town Center Marriott. I cherish this time with my mom.


Oops I forgot to start the chocolate advent calendar! The girls did such a good job sharing.

The shopping trip with my mom usually puts me headfirst into the Christmas spirit. So the first weekend in December we pop in a holiday CD and put up our tree while singing...this is our puny pitiful $15 tree Dr. Hubby and I bought our first Christmas together. I am such a sentimental mushy romantic that I could not part with it...until last year...part of it fell off.

Buzz Lightyear (Christmas edition) guards our presents every year...or at least every year since I got him FREE at KB Toys for spending a hideous amount of money!
Why yes they are...
in the doorway between our dining room and family room...even Annie Louise has one!
After trimming the tree we sit down to watch our favorite holiday movie...our favorite part?..."Does somebody need a hug?"...we never get tired of seeing that raccoon jump on him!
Before any presents can be wrapped the 3 girls must pick out their special wrapping paper. This makes finding each person's presents so much easier.
Last year I dreamed of taking a cute picture of the 3 girls for a photo Christmas card...I failed and we didn't even send cards...I know I know...so shameful...
maybe I'll try again this year!
Our 2 little ones still believe in Santa and they think that the deer that come in my parents' yard are Santa's reindeer...they give them treats...so they think they are getting up close and personal with the reindeer all year long...so cute!
On Christmas Eve a man from our community comes to our home dressed as Santa...the 2 little ones bring tears to my eyes...so innocent and cute.
The rest of the holiday is spent juggling presents and food from one house to the other...lots of holiday family time! It isn't a successful holiday until we are all over stuffed with turkey sitting with family playing with new toys and goodies!


Be sure to click on the big invitation at the top of my blog and go visit the other parties...just don't eat the fruitcake! Thanks for visiting...come back soon!

Leave me a comment to win 5 handmade Christmas cards w/ envelopes!

46 comments:

debra@dustjacket said...

Merry Christmas in JULY

Thanks for sharing your family photo's, just gorgeous. Love the idea about the wrapping paper too.

xxx DJ

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas in July!!! Terrific pictures, thank you for sharing :-)

Jocelyn said...

Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing all the great pics....is it not the best time of the year!!!! :)

Hit 40 said...

My husband and I are getting grinchy. We are both tired of getting out the christmas boxes!!!

Kara said...

Merry Christmas in July!

Winchester Manor said...

Merry Christmas in July!

Enjoyed all of your photos!!

xoxo
Karyn

tammy said...

This was so fun to see. And now you have me thinking about Christmas. It will be here before we know it!

laterg8r said...

love that you sat on the trampolines so they couldn't get away! LOL I would have too! your buzz guardian cracks me up! merry christmas in july!

The Wallace Family said...

Happy Christmas in July! I love the photos of your family. Looks like you all really enjoy Christmas each year!

Tammy said...

The picture of your daughter sacke dout in tfront of the tree is too sweet for words. That's what it's all about! I also love the reindeer story! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Aww, thank you for sharing your christmas traditions, with a wee bit of humor too (stocking hung, lol) - my family MAKES me wait until Thanksgiving night to start dragging out boxes and boxes of decorations, but I am racing around at 11pm giddy as a schoolgirl, trying things out here and there!

I think you have a lovely thing going on here, I'll be back to visit!
Merrrryyyyyy Christmas!!
xoxoxox rhonda roo

coreymom40 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Redhead Riter said...

Sending blog ♥

Maggi said...

HO HO HO!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I came in from the warm and sun,
To find that Christmas has begun!

What beautiful girls you have! Those Christmas card pics were cracking me up!!! lol I love seeing your pictures and reading about your traditions! How fun to have Christmas spirit all December long! I love that you take a big shopping trip with your Mom!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Rest of Your Year!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas in July! Just stopping by from Maggi's. I love the picture of your daughter sleeping in a pile of wrapping paper - reminds me of myself when I was younger! :)

<3 Gina

Unknown said...

Those photos are absolutely adorable! I love the attempt at the Christmas cards!!! Thanks for sharing those lovely photos!

mo

Molly Anne said...

Merry Christmas in July!

I know that take-photos-and-send cards plan that never works out! I do it almost every year!

Thanks for inviting us in for cocoa and memories!

Angela said...

I LOVE the comic about the stockings very funny. Thanks for sharing with us!

Daniella said...

What a great party!! Merry christmas!!

Jackie said...

I love your blog, Merry Christmas in July :)

JennyMac said...

The pics are just adorable. Your girls are SO cute. And love that cartoon..I heard the stockings were hung. LOL!

Richard Lawry said...

Sounds like the Christmas season is a very busy one for you. Last year we made no Christmas preparations, and went on a cruise instead. My wife says never again.

An Arkies Musings

rychelle said...

that buzz lightyear is so cool! to awesomeness, and beyond.

Eileen said...

Love your pics! That's so cute about the kids and the "reindeer," too. Merry Christmas in July!
~Bella (Beauty Does Matter)

Pam said...

It looks like Christmas is so much fun at your house.
Since my kids don't believe in Santa anymore, it's not as much fun, but it sure is easier!
I loved the picture of your daughters that you were trying to take for your Christmas Card.

Printersdevil said...

Wonderful CIJ party. I am finally getting to make the rounds. I did a quick check on my party and visited with guests there, so please excuse me if I missed you. I will be back home later to mingle some more. Right now, I am trying to fit in all the blog parties. This is such fun!!!!!

Merry Christmas in July from Texas!

Thanks for sharing your personal Christmas memories with us. My DD, and sisters and I do the marathon Black Friday shopping too. I can really relate to your story. We always get our items too, due to strategy----not shoving and pushing. LOL

Cherish your special weekend with your Mom. That memory will be with you forever.

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

What beautiful girls...I had the best timer getting to know a little about your Christmas traditions.Love Buzz guarding your Tree...Merry Christmas in July...Marie Antionette

CB said...

This is a cute idea. It is fun to look at everyone's Christmas decor and traditons!

Bananastamper said...

Thanks for sharing all your fun photos!

Have a holly jolly Christmas!

Shanna

Marie said...

Merry Christmas, love the deer photos!

Michelle said...

What a fun Christmas your family has every year....and your girls are JUST adorable!

Merry, merry Christmas in July!!

Michelle :)

CreativeMish said...

There is alot of Holiday Spirit going one here!!! It makes me want to start shopping and start making my Christmas Cards! It really isn't a bad idea!

That Crazy Ajumma said...

Ok, the picture with the kiddos crying,I would have totally sent that out as my Christmas cards.
Maybe I'm weird,thats my humor.
Lots of great pictures!
Merry Christmas!

yyam said...

Merry X'mas to you! Thanks for sharing your family photos. You have a beautiful family.:)

GypsyFox said...

WOW what a great post & I love the picking their own wrapping paper idea, will use that this year! thanks & Merry Christmas in July!

hayleycreates said...

Loved reading your post. Your humour...very funny. Loved the "stockings were hung" cartoon... (also, thanks for the New Moon Widget! I've been looking for one.)

I'm looking forward to coming back to read more!

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

I'm getting all Christmasy from visiting everyone's Christmas in July posts. Loved hearing about your family traditions. I've only been out early on black Friday once. It was fun, but too much craziness for me. Thanks for sharing your stories & photos.

Laura Evangeline said...

Who doesn't love Christmas?!

Kim and Dennis said...

What a great blog idea! I like the Christmas in July theme. All the photos were great!
I look forward to Christmas every year but I am so RELIEVED when New Year's Day finally rolls around.

Lola said...

Dear Scrappy Girl!
First of all, I hope you’ve had a great Christmas in July! Secondly, thanks so much for your lovely comment and to let you know you are included in the random draw on July 31st for the coveted (*wink* *wink*!) Christmas in July giveaway!!

Have enjoyed my visit to your gorgeous site -loved the family photos! Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend and be sure to check back at my place next Saturday to find out if YOU are the lucky winner!!!

xxLOL LOLA:)

Signing Out said...

This was so sweet! You're girls are so adorable. Thanks for sharing your family holiday memories.

Jane

Alicia said...

i looooooved the pics!! and i about died when i saw that buzz lightyear. you don't understand how OBSESSED my kids are with toy story. we watch it every. single. day. no joke.

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Mele Kalikimaka! Maligayang Pasko!

(still getting around to visit the Christmas parties…since this was our daughter’s last weekend home before flying back to college today!)

haha...way to go on holding on to the trampoline finds!

love that you and your mom were able to spend time together (miss my mom and just being able to hear her voice.)

such cute girls!!! and love that Buzz helps celebrate. what a great idea to pick out their special paper!!! so smart!

...my one and only, usually reliable time to send out family updates are our Christmas photo cards and update... I missed last yr too (in the midst of my last yr in school and our older daughters preparations for her Dec 31st wedding...excuses, excuses! ....my hubby gave up asking if the cards would be our after new year updates, Easter updates?, what about summer updates?...hey it's almost Christmas update time again!

Blessings & Aloha!
Thank you for stopping by my family’s Christmas memory party :o)

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Hi, I had a really enjoyable time at your party. I have a cheap blue Angel tree topper that my hubby & I bought our first Christmas , I still use it on my familyroom tree. (that was 37 yrs ago).Your girls are so pretty. I have three granddaughters 8-).Thanks for stopping by my party & leaving the sweet comments. Merry Christmas in July!
~Myrna

Jane In The Jungle said...

Oh I so wish my computer had been back from the doc in time to join this!!! We are absolutely Christmas Crazy around here!!! My Favorite time hands down!!
Great traditions you have and love seeing Santa's reindeer!!

Rita Barakat said...

Your little ones are SOOOO cute! great pics!