Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post # 9 Wardrobe Check

          We're not a family who go to fancy parties. The fanciest it gets is my work Christmas party. But like many we have some events that require a wardrobe check. We usually worry about Pj's, New Years Eve attire (which has been the same thing more than once) and this year, I want to find festive matching tops for the boys. Typically that last one would be special for a trip to see Santa. Unfortunately I think we'll have to forget that one this year.

          The last 2 Christmases, we have taken a picture around the tree with our Pj' on. When it comes to wardrobe check, well Brock has never had a Christmas wardrobe, and Jake was wearing 18 months still last year (he's 3t now). Also Cale's red pj pants met their end this year. 

           So yesterday Brock and I ventured out and covered the wardrobe aspect of our holidays. We will also be doing my nephew's Christmas eve box this year and so I picked out a pair for him too. He and Brock are in a unique situation, this will be both of their first Christmas, and as such trying to figure out what size they will wear at Christmas. They both got 2 pairs of pj's. My brother and sister in law will be doing my boys Christmas Eve boxes, and odds are my two will end up in their pj's from that...but I generally have Jake wearing Christmas pj's starting pretty early, so we needed some on hand lol.

          K, Luv ya, Bye

          Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Ps...Has anyone seen poppies anywhere? I have been looking for them 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post ##8 , Start shopping

         

Truth be told, I already had a couple of things. I ordered something for Brock back in March...5 months before he was born. Over the weekend I completed the main gift part of the boys gifts. I just need to finish stocking staffers. I have my nephew's mapped out, I have a couple ideas for Cale, and my in-laws. As always our siblings are the hardest to shop for. 

           I feel like this year, it's going to be even more important to shop early than ever before. Ordering online is already going the speed it would at Christmas, this is what I have been told by friends who are postal workers. It begs the question, what will  it be like when Christmas actually arrives. And stores? Them being crowded will not be good during covid, not to mention most stores are counting the number of people going in, so lines outside are likely going to be bigger. I do these things, and posts, to make things less stressful. Think how much better you'll enjoy your day, when you can bypass the insanity.

           K, Luv Ya, Bye!

           Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post #7 Inventory/Plan Decorations

           This one is a favorite for me because it is legit Christmassy, not just something for organizing. I go through my decorations every year and make a list...ok 3 lists, wall, surface and other. It refreshes my memory of what I'm working with. Then I make a rough plan of how I want to decorate. It makes things easier when the time comes to put everything out. What's more, I will have a very hands on helper this year. 

           Honestly if I wanted to be super efficient, I could make a spreadsheet and just add new items every year...but truth be told I enjoy digging through the totes. 

           Another bonus to doing this, I know what we might want to pick up. I like greenery when it comes to my decorations, and outside elements. I tend to pick up some garland or floral each year as a result. We've had another week where a few of us have been sick. When Jake and I shake the cough, we have a date to go to Michael's, just the two of us, so odds are we'll spot some stuff then too.

           K, Luv Ya, Bye 

           Nancy, Cale,  Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post # 6 Linens and Toiletries

           

  This week is mostly housekeeping chores, things to tick off your list early. Typically when I do this step, the biggest part of the project is cleaning out, reorganizing and an inventory of our linen closet. I turf incomplete sets of sheets, and tattered towels. I figure out if I need to pick any up. By this time of year my linen closet is usually a mess, and I start from scratch. However I had a nesting phase in July, so this part was pretty basic.

          The other part of this is taking a page out of the early covid playbook, pick up your Toiletries and paper towels. Yes, I just said to pick up and store away toilet paper....and paper toweand hand soaps. I swear this is not a covid thing, I do this every year. I also have no intention of buying out any stores. Just grabbing an extra pack of them, so you don't have to worry about it later. 

           K, Luv Ya, Bye 

           Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post #5 Happy Thanksgiving

           This week was made easier by an earlier post, when we made a game plan for travel. I simply needed to execute the plan. We went to my in laws for Thanksgiving, and unfortunately what a two month old needs vs a toddler are two very different things. Part of the plan was to be ready for the plan to change.

            

            Brock slept for most of the drive, we stopped twice to feed him, though one stop could have waited until we reached his grandparent's house. Brock is more how much we actually needed to pack. I also set up the third row of our van as a nursing station.

            Meanwhile Jake wouldn't sleep, he almost did, but we had to stop to feed his brother. To be fair the last feed only happened because Jake needed to stop. With Jake we required more stops to change up the entertainment. At one point he was happy snacking on the frootloop necklace we made. Another his toys were enough. Then he had a sandwich on his tray, and colored (only one marker fatality).

The drive was honestly pretty painless.

              We had dinner Last night, provided by my mother inlaw. There was a little baby juggling because someone wasn't going to sleep through the meal, but it was a really nice Thanksgiving.

          Now this is an old picture of it, but a tradition we have had since the year before Jake was born was the white pumpkin. Anyone we share Thanksgiving with, is asked to write something they're thankful for. We forgot it last year, but this year we filled it. So now it will be a decoration for years to come...and we need a new one. 

          Hope your Thanksgiving has been a good one!

          K, Luv Ya, Bye 

          Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice

             

Planning A Matheson Family Christmas Post # 4 Plan for Halloween

           

          When I do these posts, I make sure I cover the Holidays in between. Christmas seems to require a lot more work, which is why I start when I do. This year the hardest one to plan for is actually Halloween. If everything shuts down again on us, I can still celebrate every one of them with my family...except Halloween.

            We have made some alternative plans, but it still requires us making some plans, including costumes, and treats.

            We will still be decorating. I never used to decorate, but Jake likes it ( there are several things I never worried about, but do now for Jake). I went to the dollar store and got some new decorations. 

             Getting my ducks in a row for Halloween has been my latest project.

         K, Luv Ya, Bye 

       

         Nancy,Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice