Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

Christmas time is here

Happiness and cheer

Fun for all that children call

Their favorite time of the year

Our Christmas tree is up, the inside and outside of our house is decorated, and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care.  

As we enter the Christmas season instead of just talking about what we want from Santa and if they are being Naughty or Nice.    I want the boys to experience the true meaning of the season.   As we countdown to Christmas I want to encourage the boys to Give, Serve and Help Others by doing small acts of kindness. 

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”   

Acts 4:32

We had a wonderful time last year doing the Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.  It really helped remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.  

I wanted to update and change a couple on our list.  I got some ideas this year from Here and Here.

If you want to download my list and some extras.... CLICK HERE.

If you want to just print the RACK activities with bible verses on 3x5 blank index cards that we are doing this year... CLICK HERE!

We be handing out these little RACK cards with every delivery of kindness.   We handed these out last year.  You can pick which one you like best.

source & google doc link

RACKed 2012

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

Saturday, Dec 1 – Have your child write a note to a friend(s), telling them why they are special

Sunday, Dec 2 – Take a few minutes to hold the door for everyone that walks in an office or store or restaurant or church

Monday, Dec 3 – Tape money with a note to vending machine or soda machine

Tuesday, Dec 4 – Surprise a stressed-out mom with a free babysitting coupon good for the month of December

Wednesday, Dec 5 – Bring an apple to your teacher with a note of why they make such a great one.

Thursday, Dec 6 – Visit the public library and pay for someone’s overdue fines and deliver Christmas treats to the librarians and while there, put dollar bills in some of your favorite books

Friday, Dec 7 – Tape microwave popcorn to Redbox machine

Saturday, Dec 8 – Buy lunch for the car behind you in a drive-thru

Sunday, Dec 9 – Tuck money into the toy section of any store with a little note for one happy boy or girl

Monday, Dec 10 – Tape candy canes and happy holiday notes to ATMS, vending machines..

Tuesday, Dec 11 – Give out coupons for free services you can perform for those you love. (Think free back scratch, hand massage, or porch sweep!)

Wednesday, Dec 12 – Call cousins, aunts or other family members just to say hi and you love them

Thursday, Dec 13 – Leave happy notes & candy canes on cars in parking lots.

source & google doc link

Friday, Dec 14 – Leave holiday books in the mall play area

Saturday, Dec 15 - Go into Starbuck’s and hand out gift cards to people standing in line

Sunday, Dec 16 – Bring treats to CCD teacher and office staff

Monday, Dec 17 – Leave small Christmas treats/gifts in shopping carts for folks to find

Tuesday, Dec 18 – Many of us have far more than we need. Clean out your closets and take a bag full of toys and clothes to donate

Wednesday, Dec 19 – Tape quarters to bubble gum machines

Thursday, Dec 20 – Deliver Christmas treats to neighbors

Friday, Dec 21 – Leave treats in mailbox for mailman

Saturday, Dec 22 – Buy a bunch of flowers, give one away at a time as God prompts you or your child

Sunday, Dec 23 – Deliver homemade cookies & cards to the local fire station/police station

Monday, Dec 24 – Bring $1 or more from piggy bank to church to put in the collection basket

Tuesday, Dec 25 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Jesus Christ was born into our world on Christmas day. But where does Jesus live today?  Jesus wants to live inside of me – in my heart.  When I let Him in, He is born in me, and I am born again


EXTRA:
Pass out candy and spread cheer to folks mailing off their Christmas cards at the post office

What's for Supper??... this week

Monday

Nachos with Queso Blanco Dip

Grady had gymnastics but Keith made supper when he came home.

source

Tuesday

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

Wednesday

Grilled Fish & Steamed green beans

Thursday

Lasagna Roll-ups

Friday

Frozen Pizza

Saturday

Turkey Gumbo with rice, potato salad and rolls

I am using leftover fried turkey. 

Sunday

Leftovers

Thanksgiving Week

Photo by: Reece

Monday 
Grady woke up Monday morning with a sore throat, runny nose and fever.  He was really not feeling good he laid around on the couch most of the day.

Photo by: Reece

Tuesday

We decided to bring Grady to the doctor the doctor said it was just a virus.  Grady was feeling better that afternoon so we decided to go to the movie theater to see Wreck it Ralph.

Wednesday 

We went to Mandeville for thanksgiving.  It was pretty warm out and the boys convinced Keith and papa to get their suits on to be the lifeguards for them.

 Thursday

Thanksgiving Day

We had a nice small thanksgiving with my parents, my brother and sister in law Amber.  We had two fried turkeys and a lot of other wonderful foods and desserts.

After lunch Papa turned on Cars 2 movie in 3D for the boys to watch, Keith and I napped.

 Friday

 We hung out at my parents house, watched the LSU game and then headed home after supper.  After we put with boys to bed Keith and I put up the Christmas tree so we could start decorating tomorrow.

Saturday

Wake up call from Reece!  We went to Lafayette for an O'Meara Thanksgiving.  The boys showed everyone the big I Love You sign that Grady came up with.

After removing a huge splinter Grady got on his foot from dance in just socks on the porch while we hung Christmas lights, we hung Christmas ornaments (or ingredients what Grady called them this morning).   Grady reading the Mister Bingle story to Reece.

 Sunday

After church we went to Best Buy to buy a new bigger tv for us (really Keith).    We also bought a movie for the boys that we watched tonight.  It was a nice lazy day to our busy but wonderful Thanksgiving Week/ Weekend.   I hope everyone had a wonderful and Safe Thanksgiving.

Reece's 3rd Birthday Weekend

 

Thursday night Keith and I put up a Birthday Surprise for Reece (a pinterest find).   But it turned out to be our surprise when Reece came in our room at 3am Friday morning and would not go back to sleep in his bed.  Once it was time to get Grady up for school, Reece told me he was trapped in his room last night and he had to break though.  

 

Reece was so excited to see all his birthday gift, that I let him open his gift from Grady before Grady went to school.  

Later that morning Reece and I went to a Turkey Day Play that Grady was in at his school.  

After Lunch Reece helped me make cupcakes for his birthday.  

Once Keith and Grady got home, we iced and decorated the cupcakes.  Since Reece told he wanted candy cupcakes I chopped halloween candy in the food processor and the boys dipped the cupcakes in the candy after I iced them.   We skyped with my sister Stephanie so she could she Reece open his gift from her.

On the boys birthday we let them choose where they want to go for supper.  Reece had been talking about having pancakes for supper but after making/tasting the cupcakes & icing I really did not want something sweet.  Reece easily agreed that cheeseburgers and cheese fries at Sammy's sounded good.  After supper we came home to eat cupcakes and open gifts.  

Saturday I made pancakes for breakfast since I knew Reece really wanted them yesterday.   Then that afternoon was Reece's Birthday Party at The Little Gym.   I made Reece his birthday shirt, another pinterest find.

The party was awesome it seemed like all the kids had a wonderful time.  All Keith and I had to do was sit back and enjoy it.  After the party we invited our family over for pizza. The boys had a wonderful time playing with Grandma, Papa Johnny, Shay-Shay and Papa Andy.

Photo by: Grady

Sunday we had a our friends over for a Pre-Thanksgiving Supper.  Keith fried two turkeys for the first time, he always helps my dad fry turkeys but had never done it alone.  Both the turkeys turned out great.

 We had a wonderful night hanging out with our friends and eating a lot of wonderful food.

Here is the kids table, two more were not sitting yet.

We had a wonderful weekend and we are all taking it easy this week before Thanksgiving in Mandeville (Grady has off of school and Keith used up his vacation time to take the beginning of the week off too).  

Insta-Friday!!

 Saturday

Grady had the last soccer game of the Fall Season.  After the game we had a team party at Dunkin Donut and gave out trophies.   Then we went to Mandeville to have a mini photo session with Melissa Breedlove.  

Once we were done with the pictures we went to watch the LSU game at Rachel and Adam's house.  The boys had a great time playing with there cousins.  

 Sunday

We spent Saturday night at my parents house after church we got beignets at Cafe Du Monde.  Kevin came over to visit and we had popeyes fried chicken for lunch.  Once we got home on Sunday we installed the new taller leg for Grady's activity table and Keith shorten the legs on the new stools.

Tuesday

Reece went to bed with a pj shirt on but came down with out one this morning.

Tried a new pumpkin bread recipe this week and it turned out awesome.  I will be posting the recipe soon.  

Thursday

Banana roll for lunch... Banana with peanut butter and rolled in crushed cereal.   

!!Pinterest Find!!

 Friday

Reece's 3rd Birthday!!
I will be posting about Reece's Birthday weekend next week :)

We have started letting the boys pick any place they want to have their birthday supper.  Reece had been talking about having pancakes but after making all those cupcakes I really did not want something sweet for supper.  Reece easily changed his mind to have cheeseburgers at Sammy's.  We had a wonderful day!   I will make him pancakes for breakfast tomorrow :)