Sunday, November 30, 2014

Jesse Tree Advent Celebrations

 
Last night we started our annual Jesse Tree Advent Celebration.

We read from The Advent Jesse Tree by Dean Lambert, color a coloring page and then hang an ornament on our Jesse Tree.
 
 
 
 
 
We have used this book for 4 or 5 years now.
 
.

"This book offers 25 devotions for each day from December 1st to December 25th, Christmas Day... the day Christians celebrate that God's purpose was finally revealed in the coming of the savior, Jesus Christ.  Each devotion traces the heritage of Jesus through the stories and prophecies of the Old Testament. 

These daily Advent devotions are written in two versions (one for children and one version for adults) including a scripture, a story & commentary, questions to ask, a prayer, and a song.

* The Advent Jesse Tree -  ORNAMENT CRAFTS
 
Each devotional story is paired with a representative symbol that traces the heritage of Jesus…such as a lamb, a dove, a rainbow, a heart, a star, etc.   Children and their parents can utilize the symbolic line art printed with each daily devotion to craft meaningful ornaments.   These symbols coincide with the prayers, a memory verses, questions for children, and songs found in the devotions for that day.
 
Finally, on Christmas day, your tree will be filled with reminders of 25 Bible stories that led up to Christ’s birth." ~Amazon description
 
 
 
This Kindle book is available for immediate download if you have the urge to start an Advent
Devotion today.
 
 
 
 
 
 
I see Ann Voskamp has put the Jesse Tree into a book also. 
 
 ALL links are Amazon Affiliate Links

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Crib to Toddler Bunk Bed

We converted a crib into a very low toddler bunk bed.  We used a convertible crib and an extra rail from another convertible crib we have. 

       

We cut the legs down by about 6 inches so the horizontal rail was even with the top of the bottom mattress.    
 
   

This is the completed conversion.  The little girls are in the first picture, my tow seven year olds are in the second picture and the last photo is showing the lowness of the top bed.  It is actually lower that the bed we have in the master bedroom.  
 
      

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Super Frugal DIY Give Save Spend System for a Large Family

I wanted to buy the divided banks to set up a Give, Save, Spend system for the kids.  Those banks average about $20 each.  For seven of them, I was looking at big bucks that I did not want to spend.

Instead of purchasing something, I repurposed pencil bags we had on hand.  Using a zigzag stitch, I sewed three sections into each pouch, labeled them with the child's name and Give, Save, Spend.  Then I put them all in a binder and tucked it away above the stove to keep little hands out of binder.

It took about 30 minutes from getting the sewing machine out, until it was put away and I did not have to spend any money.  Win!!!


 
Here is a set of binder pencil holders similar to what I used.