Christmas Decorations: In Progress.

First, it was a joy on Thanksgiving night to assemble our small Christmas tree  in all of 5 seconds. There is something to be said for a pre-lit tree!

But on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we ventured to pick up the real live tree for our living room. I love the smell of a live tree!

My three year old was so excited about putting up the tree and making crafts!

Shopping Tips:
1. Don't forget to start Christmas shopping at the Labor Day sales, which has saved me a lot of money.
2. Pick up small items when you see them on sale. Thank you CVS for the free stocking stuffers! ( I have also been picking up various Thirty-one presents as gifts along the way.)
3. Make a budget with your spouse and stick to it!
4. Buy big ticket electronics online on Black Friday.
5. Pick up small items like video games and DVD's in-stores on Black Friday/Thanksgiving.
6. Buy toys about 2 weeks before Christmas.

Things that made life fun:
1. We are having a family party on the Sunday before Christmas with all the cousins and siblings from one side fo the family. We had the cousins draw names for presents. The adults are doing a Christmas Gift Game Exchange.
2. I made a few quick triangle potato stamps, and let the kids decorate some plain wrapping paper.