Ellie the Lamb

Kids Stocking Stuffer Ideas

If you are struggling with what to put in your kids' stockings, here is what I am putting in mine.


1. Reece- small pack of legos, ice age continental divide movie, monkeys in a barrel, gum, candy cane w/ m&m's, truck book, flashlight, mini toolkit, crayola markers, nerf gun bullets, scissors, Duck call from Duck Commander

2. Avery- Brave movie, gum, candy cane m&m's, pick up sticks game, littlest pet shop, early reader "novel", crayola markers, mini nerf gun, earrings (Shane picked them out in Disney world!), fun socks, ear muffs

3. Ellie- Doc McStuffins movie, gum, candy cane m&m's, little lamb book (has a puppet on it), playdoh, color wonder paper, small gymnastics Dora doll, little people car that's a jeep w girl in it (score!)

Through the Week

Busy and fun week with NO pictures :(

We had a fun week. I am getting a few hours a day with no nausea and my energy level is coming back up. Wow, first trimesters are rough! But I am 14 weeks now and feeling a little better in the mornings. I cleaned all the bathrooms on my hands and knees this week, decorated for Christmas, and threw a party for our home group. Whew! And I didn't take ANY pictures last night. I made a hot chocolate bar and it was divine! I used a recipe off of pinterest HERE and it could not have been easier.

Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

2 cups of milk chocolate chips ( I used ghiradelli and it was worth it!)
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
6 cups of milk
1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla

Cook on low in crock pot for two hours and stir every 30 minutes or so or the chocolate chips will just stick to the bottom.

On a platter I  had candy canes, peppermint candy canes, chocolate candy canes, chocolate chips and mint hershey kisses. Everyone brought a dessert and appetizer and there was plenty of delicious food! I am so thankful for this group. I love the girls and our kids all get along. The guys all get along really well. So it was an easy non stressful night.

This year we started Advent right on time and have not missed an evening yet. I am so proud of my hubby for initiating each night when I am feeling so yucky. Some nights the kids are so enthralled and asking so many questions. Hearing everyone pray each night together is just so sweet. I really would like to do this every night and not just at advent time. Of course there are the nights when one of them has cried through it or they fought over who got to blow out the candle, but all in all it has been wonderful. I am praying this keeps us centered on Jesus's birthday. The kids are LOVING the Jesus Storybook bible and it is so fun to read passages from the creation and ending at Christ's birthday.

Today will most likely be spent in my flannel pajama pants and college sweatshirt. Lots of extra hot chocolate to drink now that the weather got cold. (come back 70 degrees!) I read the entire Twilight series last weekend and now am on to the movies. Can't wait to snuggle in and watch Eclipse this afternoon.