She's Making a List... #SearsMom

She's making a list, I'm checking it twice...

3 more weeks till Christmas! 

My daughter turned 5 this year and every year since she was 2 years old and able to grasp a pen properly in her hand, we prepared her Christmas Wish List with her for her letter to Santa.

I cannot think of any other place to go to that is as informative and fun to flip through than the yearly Holiday Sears Wish Book.

We usually do this after our decorations have been put up as we have Ava place her finished letter to Santa anywhere on the Christmas Tree before bed and wake up to find it gone. She thinks Santa has special Elves that pick them up from the tree.

My Mother-in-Law use to tell my husband that when he was little and for some reason that stuck to him and therefore got passed down as something fun to do with our daughter.

Now that she's a big sister (and a very loving and caring one at that), it was a pleasant sight for me to see her circling a few toddler toys on her own. 

"I'm picking the ones Talan wants, Mommy!" Because obviously she knows which ones he wants.

They've got a secret sibling code that only they can understand.

What she circled for her lil' brother. He already owns a Big Hugs Elmo! :)

I also find it so interesting to see the growth in my daughter each year depending on the stuff that she circles.

What I sometimes think she may want, surprisingly she doesn't circle. And you think you know your child really well! It goes to show you how much they are growing each day and that they have their own individual interest. Very helpful!

It's usually followed by milk and cookies and a Christmas movie before bed which is why we often do this together as a family on a weekend.

Do you have any traditions for writing Wish Lists with your children? 

Sears is also hosting an amazing contest on right now called the Sears Wishes of Joy Contest on now until December 15 where entrants can SHARE their wish lists (to win!) PLUS many more opportunities to win up to $10,000 in prizes. It's lots of fun! Check it out here! 

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Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Mom Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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Reflections of Christmas

As the year draws to a close and we near the fun and festivities of the Holiday Season, you start to really reminisce about Holiday visions and what each past Christmas has brought to your memory bank.

Dating back to the days when paying mortgage bills and stressing about work deadlines were virtually non-existent and the only thing that mattered during the Holiday season was if I was finally going to see Santa and especially if the doll I really wanted was going to be wrapped underneath the tree... some of the best memories in my life have been on Christmas Day.

Left: Toothless Grin, happy 7 year old Carol on Christmas Day | Right: 20 year old Carol receiving gift from Grandma         

Age does not exist on Christmas mornings -- I still get that thrill myself (and perhaps even still BELIEVE that Santa does exist... he does, doesn't he?)

Christmas matters a great deal to me and my family.
It's not only another Holiday for us, but a special time to show our love for one another and celebrate the special joy of the season with lots of fun, laughter, and good food!
Our saying: "Always leave with full hearts and full tummies!"

Come with me along the years as I reflect on past Christmas'...

My daughter's first Christmas! [Christmas 2008]

Christmas 2009 - Ava with Grandpa E 

This picture is particularly special to us and Ava. This past year we lost our Father (and her Grandpa) and oh did he adore Ava. This was her first Christmas spent with him at his place when she was a year and a half. Here he is chuckling as he patiently adds the ornaments back to the tree that Ava would constantly remove in her toddler curiousity and playfulness and then run towards her stack of presents!
Such a sweet memory.

Christmas 2010 

Christmas 2011

 Presents!

Santa is here! Ava's excitement cannot be contained. The joy in Children's faces is priceless.

Baby Talan's First Christmas! [Christmas 2012]

What a lovely walk down the candy cane-lined memory lane.

As I prepare for the upcoming 2013 Christmas, one other must-do is to have my children write Santa a letter telling him what was on their Wish list.

Sears makes it so much more easier with their brilliant and jam-packed Sears Wish Book.
We look forward to it every year!

Check out the markings on Ava's Sears Wish Book a couple years back. I told her to mark in purple crayon what she wanted. Can you tell someone loved Hello Kitty? I love that Sears categorizes their Wish Book to fit all ages and preferences for kids of all ages!

Did I mention I was recently selected as a new #SearsMom Ambassador?

This of course is not only exciting for me and my family but fitting as we are loyal and happy customers of Sears! You can follow along on social media via hashtag #SearsMom!

I LOVE their Sears' Top Toys Selection which you can find on their website in their Toy Shop.

Visit the Toy Shop here!

My son has the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Crawl Around Car and it's definitely a MUST-HAVE for growing and exploratory toddlers.

Big Hugs Elmo is also another great gift idea this year for young kids. He hugs you back! 

My daughter has her sights set on the LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra Tablet (this makes me happy as a mother as she's not only playing but learning!) 

My future doctor also has a LOVE for Doc McStuffins and playing doc so this Top Toy, Disney Doc McStuffins Get Better Check-Up Centre is definitely on her Wish List!

EXCITING CONTEST!

Starting Friday November 15th, and each Friday following (until December 13th), Sears will be hosting a Friday Daily Facebook contest GIVEAWAY! They’ll be giving away one of their top and hottest holiday toys – and all you have to do is leave a comment. How easy is that?

Visit them on Facebook here.

Here's to many more special Holiday memories!

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Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Mom Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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