Arlington Mama's Profile

I hang mine off of a bookshelf. I usually have stocking holders, but my kids keep pulling them off. So this year I have a 1 inch ribbon strung from one side of the bookcase to the other (tacked onto the back) and have the stockings hanging from that. It works pretty well.

I agree that letting the kids have a say in what goes is a good idea, too. Although, I do see the merit in doing it while the kids are away. I usually do a combination of the two. As a first run-through, I let the kids tell me what they're willing to part with. Then I later go through and take out the things I KNOW they never play with or the random pieces of a set that are missing several pieces, etc.

Good post! It's a great reminder because I usually do this AFTER Christmas, but this year I'll do it BEFORE! Thanks!

I definitely agree with applesnkids that too many rules are too hard for little ones to understand. We used to have a chart with too many rules, and it just didn't work. We have a 4 year old and 2 year old boy, and so we only have 4 rules:
1) No screaming (inside)
2) No climbing (inside)
3) No throwing (inside)
4) No hurting (each other)

We have each of them posted on a piece of paper with a circle and slash through it on their bedroom door so that we can point to it and remind them when they break the rule and they're on their way to timeout in their room.

Then they have 4 chores also that they do before bath time each night, which are:
1) Pick up the toys in the living room
2) Clear the dishes from the table
3) Pick up the toys in their bedroom
4) Pick up the clothes in the bathroom (after bath time)

They get a quarter upon the completion of each chore. It's working MARVELOUSLY so far. We've been taking them to the store to buy something with their money, if they choose to. The 2 year old doesn't get it yet, but the 4 year old loves it.

These handmade clothes make such great keepsakes. I have a beautiful dress that my great-grandmother made for my mom's Barbie in a little shadow box on display in my house. I just love it. It's a great little conversation piece.