Christmas Joy Check-In

I’m so excited that we have officially entered the second half of our Christmas countdown days! That means we are in the home stretch and Santa will be visiting sooner than later. Are your gifts wrapped? Is your tree decorated? Are you preparing to celebrate in other ways? Did you buy the Turducken yet (this one’s for my dad)? But, most importantly, has anyone participated in the Days of Joy who would be willing to share a story that filled your heart with those warm fuzzies I talked about in the original post? I’d love to hear all about your family’s adventures!

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Need some motivation? Below is a short breakdown of how our family has been doing on our holiday endeavor. It’s never too late to give a little, anywhere. It can mean a whole heckuva lot.

Day 1: Decorate Christmas tree and write letters to Santa Claus

The perfect way to get into the holiday spirit! This year, we stopped by Leverty’s Tree Farm in Stillwater to have our first self-cutting experience. Our dainty little six-footer stands proudly in our living room and is decorated to the nines. I felt a little like Monica Geller, biting my tongue as the lower three feet of the tree got dowsed in ornaments and tinsel and the top half looked like a blank pine canvas. But, whatever. The kids had fun and reached as high as they could. Their letters to Santa were short and sweet this year. We sent them off to the Crystal Community Center where they collect them, read them and even write you back (from Santa, of course). Hopefully Santa doesn’t mind that Mabel’s letter mentioned her liking Rudolph better than the man in red himself. Hey, who am I to edit a two-year old’s honesty?

Day 2: Attend Muddy Paws Cheesecake STEP and Toy Drive event

This event was really a nice gathering of local businesses (with wonderful cheesecake) that was put on for a couple very great causes. After work, the family headed over to Muddy Paws in St. Louis Park to donate some unused toys to their STEP toy drive (they were also collecting pet food for The Pet Project). We checked out some cute costumes from The Whimsy Factory, smelled some incredible soaps from Hannah & Hobbes, got a couple photos from The Traveling Photo Booth and even met the queen of ice, Elsa (who was there promoting Tiny Diva Princess Parties). The amazing Muddy Paws cheesecake, however, took the (pardon the pun) cake.

Day 3: Purchase gifts for the Treehouse Youth Program

Our whole family hit up the Dollar Store to collect blankets and warm winter gear for the youth who use the services of the Treehouse in Edina. This organization saves the lives of so many teens in Minnesota. I had no problem exceeding our budget for this place!  Check them out here.

Day 4: Deliver gifts to the Treehouse and attend company holiday party

Oh, you guys, I can’t even begin to tell you how many warm fuzzies I got from this day’s activity (not to mention a very small hangover I received thanks to the holiday party). Delivering our gifts of blankets, hats, mittens and socks to The Treehouse brought tears to my eyes. The kids and I walked up to their office and were greeted by the most grateful women ever! I told them we were “just there to deliver some donations” and the lady at the desk replied immediately, “Not JUST. This is so kind.” My daughter got a hug. My son got a handshake.  I got a heart full of happy. The same night, Nate and I attended my company party at The Butcher & the Boar. Wine, meat, beer and more meat. Oh, and awesome people! No complaints there.

Day 5: Compile and hand out Evie’s Bags

I’d love to someday meet the generous little 6-year old mind behind Evie’s Bags! It’s the sweet story of a little girl who spotted a homeless man in downtown Chicago and told her mom she wanted to help. (Read the whole story on the Simplicity in the Suburbs blog.) The project launched in early November and they have collected 350+ bags filled with supplies like gloves, water, granola bars and more. So, my kids each made a bag, accompanied by a hand-written note, and we set out to deliver them. Although my kiddos fell asleep in the backseat before we entered downtown, I took it upon myself to hand out two bags to two different people sitting on a corner holding signs that read “Homeless. Anything Helps” and “Unemployed, but looking. Please help.” I got a “God bless you” and a “Merry Christmas” as thanks and wished my children were awake to hear those words. We will do it again. So simple. But so good.

Day 6: Attend Murphy Christmas party

While my husband took my son out to play, I was home all day with a sleepy, crabby little girl catching up on blog posts, freelance work, Bubble Guppy birthday party invitations…a lot. I needed and welcomed a drink at our friend’s annual Christmas party. The Murphy’s throw a good one, inviting in a real live Santa Claus with a bag full of gifts (that parents supply pre-party), listing off each child and telling them what he is proud of and what they can work on (also provided pre-party). Coen has been working really hard on chewing with his mouth closed since Santa mentioned it. Thank YOU, Santa!

Day 7: Cookie decorating with friends and ride the Holly Trolley

Our Sunday was spent at a birthday party, decorating Christmas cookies and ornaments with our little friends and celebrating baby Max turning one. Nate and Coen also took a ride on the Holly Trolley, checked out live reindeer in Linden Hills and stocked up on free candy canes. It was a sugary day, but their smiles certainly went for miles.

Day 8: Collect gently-used toys from basement and deliver to Sharing and Caring Hands

This is one activity I personally look forward to all year long. Bon voyage, old toys! It’s finally the season to pack up the miscellaneous stuff that has been outgrown, underused or shoved into a corner for so long that no one even remembered it was even there. My kids understand where their toys are going, and more so, who they are going TO. Sharing & Caring Hands is located downtown near Target Field and provides shelter, meals, transportation, clothing, and general assistance to the poor (more than 20,000 people per month). We delivered our bags with hopes that the children who come through this program find great joy in them, bringing smiles to their faces this holiday season.

Day 9: Purchase and deliver pet supplies to the Animal Humane Society

My daughter has a soft spot for animals. She wouldn’t call herself a “dog person” or a “cat person.” She’s an animal person, and I admire that about her. Every year, our family tries to give a check to the animal shelter from which we acquired Chloe, but this year we chose to provide goods to the Humane Society in Golden Valley. This place has the greatest adoption center and such nice workers, plus they host fun events such as Furry Tails Storytime. The Target Dollar Spot had $3 fleece pet blankets available last week, so I stocked up and Mabel enjoyed helping me pack them up in a Christmas gift bag and deliver them early in the morning. She was convinced both dogs and cats would lie on the blankets together in perfect harmony…ahh, innocence. If you’re an animal lover as well, consider donating to this cause.

Day 10: Shovel a neighbor’s driveway  Shop for gifts due to severe lack of December snow

I’m not complaining one bit, but no snow in Minnesota in the middle of December? What. Is. Going. On? I thought scheduling our shoveling activity on the 10th was a sure thing. I was wrong. Mission postponed. We spent the day gift shopping instead. Don’t hate me, but I think I’m completely finished and that brings ME joy.

Day 11: Create a shoebox for Samaritan Purse’s Operation Shoebox

This project was so simple and fun for my kids. While we missed the deadline for actual tactile shopping and packing, Operation Shoebox still offers a virtual shoebox-packing experience (and Coen could do it in his robe from the kitchen table). Before starting, I showed my kids the video on their website so they knew who would be receiving our box. We then went through the process of building our virtual shoebox. I let my son do the driving. He selected a boy, age 5-9. He was able to select one big toy, two smaller toys, three accessories and some additional essentials. At the end, he wrote the recipient a note. I let him do this all on his own (with some spelling assistance) and it was simple and sweet: “merry christmas. have fun getting your presents. i like getting stuff for other boys like you. i think you will like the calculator the best. you will learn math.” From one little boy to another, this was perfect and I know it brought delight to Coen’s heart.

Day 12: Donate bags of clothing to school Winter Clothing Drive

Right up there with my elation for cleaning out the basement full of toys is cleaning out the closets full of clothes. We had just filled three bags with gently-used, outgrown (yes, all of us) clothing when we got word that my son’s school was organizing a clothing drive for those in need in Africa. Timing was perfect! I was thrilled to see how many people were already participating, and also wondered where the principal was going to work all day since her entire office was strewn in donation bags. Happy day. Proud to be a member of such a giving community.

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Feeling inspired to do your own bit of good? It’s never too late to do some good, and if you feel so inclined as to write out your ideas with the family, here is a sheet to help you get started. Read more about the 25 Days of Christmas Joy here.