December Daily™ 2011 | Day Eighteen

Welcome to December Daily™ 2011 | Day Eighteen.

This is one of those stories that could have gone on any day. It's one I've been wanting to tell this year as it was a new tradition for us.

24 Christmas books got wrapped up and we've been opening one each night (and a couple mornings before school while waiting for the bus). It's been fun to do it this way vs. bringing them all out on December 1 in a basket (I put them away in my Christmas tubs when it's not December). The kids have taken turns opening them and even though some have been more for Simon's age or Anna's age it's been totally fine. I think I purchased about four or five this year to make the total 24 (and we received a couple as gifts). The rest I've been collecting over the years.

I went back and forth one too many times about adding anything to the first photo.

So I just stopped and decided the photo was enough.

This is one of those photos I know I will love down the road. It shows something simple that most people might not think about taking a photo of that's actually a meaningful part of our holiday season (reading Christmas books). Over the years some of these books might disappear but I'm hoping they are around for some grandchildren someday in the far future. It would be cool to be able to show them what they looked like when their parents read them.

In addition to the shot of the books on the floor (we keep them under the tree) I also took a shot of the ones that are still wrapped.

Thinking I'd like to add a list of the 24 books we used this year once they are all opened.

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78 thoughts

  1. Kathy says…
    12/19/2011

    I love the pictures of the Christmas books.....might wrap mine next year. I was thinking of doing it this year, just ran out of time. We go visit lights a few times a week so the books are missed on those nights. Beautiful and simple pages...a list of the books would be a great idea.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. dawn says…
    12/19/2011

    I love the photo Ali and it's perfect just like that. It's always fun to look back at these moments and the books. As a mom to teens now it's kinda sad not to still have these books. We sit and read our own books now by the tree. Thankful for that but it's still sweeter when they are younger. Can't wait to do this with grandchildren one day either.

    Can you believe it's less then a week away, going by fast. Have a great week home with the kids this week. Hope it is filled with laughs and snuggles and precious memories.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Lynn says…
    12/19/2011

    I didn't wrap our books but we have been trying to read one Christmas story a day this year. I am writing the title of the book(s) we read on each day of my DD album.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Susan says…
    12/19/2011

    great idea. i went to the library and picked out some books to read to my grandkids (they came into town for the holidays) and my teenage boys still have a few. taking a picture of the books is a great idea as it was a purposeful decision to select christmas books to read. thanks

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Deb A says…
    12/19/2011

    The red and white in the photo is strikingly festive and graphic - love it! Continued inspiration. Thanks for sharing with us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Estelle says…
    12/19/2011

    Love this tradition, my girls love books and night stories.
    And the title of your post is wrong, i was afraid to have made a mistake, and ouf !!! we are on the eighteen day of december !!!

    Kisses from France

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Monika T says…
    12/19/2011

    Hi Ali,
    We have been doing the book a day during December too. I started this tradition about the same time I started creating a DD back in 2008 and I read about it on your blog.(There have been some great ideas and traditions from your followers) This year I pasted ledger paper behind one of the main cardstock pages and then used my date stamp to number each day. After each book that we open, I record the title & author. This is the first year I recorded the books, I thought it would be cool to remember the book titles. I love how your DD is coming about. xoxo

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Cathy says…
    12/19/2011

    You are making me want to buy those stamps. The Hero Arts one. They're super cute, and you know me. I don't really stamp. Love this tradition as well. You're cool.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Lorette C says…
    12/19/2011

    This is a terrific idea and a great tradition! Lovely wrapping paper too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Michelle M says…
    12/19/2011

    I love the picture of the books and I love this tradition. I think I am going to have to copy this idea next year because we haven't been doing very well reading our Christmas books because they are just in a box! Thanks for sharing this idea!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Marsaille says…
    12/19/2011

    Love this tradition! May try it next year using library books to supplement. Our children's librarian refuses to get rid of (or cycle out) Christmas books, so our library has a huge collection. We just have them on a special shelf, and I like the under the tree idea too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Gwen says…
    12/19/2011

    Hoping to 'scraplift' your errands page today. Your album is looking great and I love December and getting up to read your post each day. I couldn't see Day 18. It just showed a couple lines of text but not the actual post. Hoping it fixes today.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Lisa W. says…
    12/19/2011

    Again..your work, your thoughts, and sweetness making Christmas SO special for your children is awazing. I truly admire you:)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ilona says…
      12/19/2011

      I second that!! So lovely!

  14. jude says…
    12/19/2011

    we do this same thing too! this is the first year I actually wrapped the books, and our boys are LOVING it!! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Jessica Barnes says…
    12/19/2011

    I saw your original post that you were doing this. I thought it was such a lovely idea, we are doing the same. I was wondering how you were going to document it! I love the way you did it. What a great spread for today.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. J Allen says…
    12/19/2011

    I love this, wrapping the books, we did it this year! The only thing is I wish I had done it in Christmas past!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Loydene says…
    12/19/2011

    I LOVE this ... and wish that I'd thought of it years ago when DS was still "read to me" stage! We had some of those same Christmas books!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Elaine Bieman says…
    12/19/2011

    what a great idea. Now what to do about them picking all the books up after they read them....

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Katie Scott says…
    12/19/2011

    We have Advent presents in our house but they don't always come every day - just when the situation calls for it - the kids have been good & need something busy to do & I wrapped them all up in November & used a very similar wrapping paper that I got at the dollar store - I still have a stash of these presents - I need to remember to take a picture. Thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Melissa says…
    12/19/2011

    Oh my lord have mercy! The patience to wrap all those books. My hat is off to you! Love, love, love this idea. Seriously. So perfect. So classic.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Deb J says…
    12/19/2011

    What a great idea. It gives the month some excitement and gives the kids something to unwrap as they WAIT for Christmas.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Mrs. b says…
    12/19/2011

    (Looks like day 18 ended up in the blog post for day 19?)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      12/19/2011

      Yep :) - I fixed it.

  23. Nathalie Hardy says…
    12/19/2011

    I love that you took a picture of all stages of this new tradition agree a list with all the books will be the perfect final touch.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Mallory says…
    12/19/2011

    I think a list is a great idea! I've kept mine in a basket this year, but I def want to wrap them up for Taylor next year. Great tradition!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Marilyn Nimmo says…
    12/19/2011

    Fabulous tradition and love the photos. You have the most wonderful traditions. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies

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