If your house is anything like ours, it will be filled with lots of marvelous gifts, pictures, toys and food. All given with love and good will from those around us in our lives. Our family traditions do not amount to much, the token walk after Christmas lunch before diving back into more eating of cold turkey, salads, pickles and homemade chutneys for dinner (like we need more calories) and the start on Boxing Day (26th) of writing our letters of thanks to those who have remembered us with gifts. Not many people do it these days and yet as Candace pointed out in her piece Take Note to Give Thanks, a simple card with a few select words can mean so much. And let’s face it, it is the polite and right thing to do. My boys may still be a little young to actually ‘write’ a thank you, my eldest can sign the first letter of his name and well, my 15 month old would probably try and eat said card or letter. However, this is one tradition that I want to keep going and to do that I need to make it fun and move into the 21st Century. Emails are simple (albeit that there goes the ‘signing’ of names in our house), quick and if that is all your tween or teen or indeed you can do, then so be it. But in the essence of fabulous finds I have trailed my way through that world wide web to find some slightly different.
Ours will be a mix of cards, letters, and pictures. I like these from Kid Printables as they have lines for your children to write on and don’t give the daunting task of feeling like they have to write an essay. There are a good selection of designs for you to use.
This little selection you have to order from My Expression but they are cute never the less and have a great selection to choose from. Prices and quantities vary by style.
What about Smile Box? Move the thank yous into the 21st C in 3 easy steps. 1) choose your design template 2) drag and drop music, photo, movie or words 3) then simply email, blog or print!
I love the selection that Laurie Attheden has on esty. The mittens below are adorable, but may be you’d like to personalize her cute reindeer in circles. You’ll get 12 cards for $8.50.
So that is me for 2009. Next time our paths cross we would have leaped into 2010. If my calculations are correct there will be 52 Sundays no less to fill with fabulous finds. This site it is about us, mothers, parents, i.e. you and me. So what is that you’d like me to ‘Find’? Ideas please, they will be noted down and I promise that I will do my best to search them out and share with all.
All that leaves me to do is wish you all a very happy new year. May it be filled with exciting adventures, experiences, laughter and memories.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Having been the recipient of one of your thoughtful thank you’s, it should be of no surprise that you found these great ideas. Or that you will be passing this on to your boys.
That is one thing that I am not very good at keeping up on, but is actually on my new year’s resolution list. So thank you! This will help!
As for finds for the coming weeks…hmmm…how about some great destinations to travel, with kids, I need some help there!
I love reading your posts, I can hear your English accent in every word and phrase…
Okay so I noticed I said “one” of your thank you’s…I just had to clarify, there have been many!
Thank you for your thank you! Noted. The escape with children, note that I didn’t say ,escape from children’ although I reckon that that might be an idea too! Now where did I put that list of thanks?
I love the idea of having the kids color a quick cute little Thank you. You are so smart. So- as for the finding stuff. Things I like are: Chunky necklaces and other fun jewelry, Special Chocolates that maybe I could hint to my husband about ordering for the big V-Day coming up, Recipe organizers or cute recipe cards, cool belts, and I am also in the look out for some cool tub toys, it seems like most of the ones I see at the stores are all the same and I am just wondering if there is something better out there. (I am not sure why I ponder about this all the time, my kids are totally content with a cup, a medicine dropper and a few bowls or pans from kitchen. I guess I would just really like them not to use MY pans anymore.
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Ok, my list is growing, thank you. We had a great bath toy from mumma P (grandma) comprising of pastic bath drums… I kid you not. Both of them love. Gonna take some searching as these came from England but pretty sure we can find something out there…
Kate,
We’ve not met and even I tend to read your posts with an English accent! Thanks for the “shout out!”
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more environmentally conscious and to involve my children more in the process. I would love to see some different types of recycling receptacles that are stylish and user friendly (especially for little ones).