What to Put into Your Advent Calendar

Starting on December 1^st, counting down the days until Christmas is a tradition many families enjoy. Checking an Advent Calendar is a fun way to get kids involved in the festivities, plus a great way for kids of all ages to learn and practice the art of patience.

The im”çŸșapp My First Advent Calendarℱ is a great choice to customize year after year and grow with your child. The large bins give you the flexibility to incorporate your little one’s ever-changing interests each year to keep the countdown tradition relevant and fun.

If you find yourself asking “What should I put in my Advent Calendar?”, we’ve got you covered! Here are some of our favorite ideas to help your little ones count down to Christmas with the My First Advent Calendarℱ toy.

Kid-Friendly Advent Calendar Ideas

Puzzle Play

As a visualization of what being patient means, fill each bin with a few puzzle pieces. Every day, your child can put a puzzle together to reveal a bigger picture! This works great with a custom photo puzzle of your family, holiday-themed puzzle, or a scene from their favorite movie or tv show.

Guessing Game

Leave clues in each bin to reveal a gift your child will be receiving. As Christmas gets closer, discusd with your child what their guesses are each day until the big reveal. Challenge their problem-solving skills by writing clues on slips of paper. Is the gift a im”çŸșapp Shootin’ Hoops Junior Basketball Set? Word clues like basketball player names, game positions, and characteristics of the set will inform their guesses!

Big Announcement

Taking a family vacation to a special place soon? Reveal the destination with word clues or images leading up to Christmas.

Introduce A New Toy

All month long, work toward building a zoo playset full of animal figures, create a fleet of mini cars to race, complete a building block set, compile new art supplies, and so much more. Break out a larger gift into small pieces so your little one can start to play before Christmas Day, and renew their interest in the items day after day!

Storytelling

Practice reading and memory skills with your child throughout the month. Take a new or favorite story and type out a sentence or more, split out into 25 segments. Print and cut into slips of paper and put them into each bin. As your child reveals the story during the month, have them read it out loud to you as they go. Together, discuss characters, what today’s addition means to the overall story being told, and explore how you and your child think the story will end!

Sweets & Treats

Treat your little one to something sweet without going overboard all season long. Fill the Advent Calendar with individually wrapped candies, mini cookies, or even savory snacks like mini pretzels. Small portions of these treats can be dessert after dinner or a special snack once per day.

Don’t have a im”çŸșapp My First Advent Calendarℱ yet? Get yours today! Plus, check out our selection of adorable seasonal toys too! SHOP NOW >>

Absolutely adorable and cute as a button, this little guy is full of unexpected surprises. For starters, he comes with 15 bright and colorful parts (from ears and eyes, to mittens and buttons) that your tot can mix and match for the wackiest, silliest expressions.

His hat, which is actually electronic, gleefully lights up and plays the catchiest holiday tunes. (Just watch your little one’s face when this happens!)

And last but not least, his hollow belly secretly hides all the extra pieces and parts for easy cleanup and neat storage.

Activate your child’s imagination and get ready for some frozen fun with My First Snowman by im”çŸșapp.

Exciting and fun, the brand new My First Advent Calendar by im”çŸșapp is yet another delightful foray into the company’s booming seasonal toy collection.

Introduce your little one to a beautiful new tradition—or continue an already treasured one—with this adorable advent calendar, which so cutely resembles a snowy cottage and offers a daily surprise for all the December days leading up to Christmas.

There are 25 individual, fancifully decorated bins to hold the treats you put in them (not included). Go ahead, be creative! Tuck in some special sweets, mini trinkets, or even activity coupons for fun things you can do together (like baking cookies, making snow angels, or visiting Santa).

Seriously, counting down the days ’til Christmas will never be so much fun again! Delight your child and reward their giddy anticipation with the new My First Advent Calendar by im”çŸșapp.

It all started back in 2017. im”çŸșapp felt its expertise in fanciful designs and sturdy construction naturally lent itself to creating a brand new line of seasonal products. So, they premiered with one single introductory toy for that year’s holiday season
called My First Christmas Tree.

Almost overnight, it became a huge hit! Kids loved its pint-sized height, the bright plastic ornaments, the reachable star on top, and the adorable toy train set underneath. Parents loved the fact that their little ones weren’t getting hurt on prickly branches or fragile ornaments. They loved how it was both sturdy and cute. And they loved how happy it made their kids.

The overwhelmingly positive response and high demand caused im”çŸșapp to develop yet a few more special versions of My First Christmas Tree (one with bonus clear bulbs included and one with a light-up musical star). It also encouraged them to expand the line, leading them to introduce the following new additions to this year’s line-up of seasonal toys, available now:

My First Gingerbread House

Whimsical-looking frosting swirls, candy canes, and gum drops that light up offer a sweet way for your tot to decorate this beautifully detailed house. Extra accessories include a gingerbread man, snow caps, and a wreath that also lights up. When the fun’s all done, just store the pieces inside the house—until it’s time to decorate all over again!

My First Advent Calendar

This adorable advent calendar resembles a snowy cottage and offers kiddos a daily surprise for all the days of December leading up to Christmas. There are 25 whimsically decorated bins to hold 25 individual treats (not included). Use your imagination to reward your child’s giddy anticipation!

My First Snowman

Cute as a button, this little guy comes with 15 colorful parts that your tot can mix and match for the silliest expressions. His electronic hat, which lights up, plays the catchiest holiday music. And his hollow belly secretly hides all the extra pieces for super easy cleanup and neat storage.

Rudolph the Rocking Reindeer

This sweet rocking reindeer—complete with antlers and a squeaky red nose—will provide hours of giggly fun for your toddler. Built to help prevent tipping or over-rocking, it also boasts a comfy contoured seat and easy-to-grip handlebars—all while still being lightweight enough to pick up and carry.

Lucky parents today have so many more choices than last year to surprise and delight their little ones during the upcoming joyful holiday season. Which one will you pick?

As part of im”çŸșapp’s growing seasonal collection, this adorable rocking reindeer—complete with “antlers” and a squeaky red nose—will provide hours of giggly fun for toddlers everywhere.

Whether they’re pretending to guide Santa’s sleigh through the night sky or using their imagination in any other inventive scenario, your little ones will feel safe and secure riding im”çŸșapp’s Rudolph the Rocking Reindeer. That’s because it boasts really durable construction and a sturdy design that helps prevent tipping or over-rocking.

It also features a contoured seat that’s awfully comfortable and handlebars that are easy to grip, all while still being lightweight enough to pick up and carry around or store away.

Add real festive cheer to your child’s holiday this year with the new Rudolph the Rocking Reindeer by .

Grandma, grandpa. Gigi, pops. Memaw, pawpaw. Nonna, nonna. No matter what your grandchildren call you, you’re now part of an exclusive club where wonderful, magical things happen. That’s because grandkids hold an indisputably special and valuable place in your heart—and vice versa.

Encourage and support your unique relationship by doing things together as often as you can, but especially on (traditionally observed on the first Sunday in September after Labor Day). There are so many ways to celebrate your bond. We’d love to suggest the following 10 activities for kids and grandparents to enjoy together:

OUTDOORS

Visit a Playground

Playgrounds and swing sets are a great way for both generations to have fun, get some fresh air, exercise, and laugh ’til it hurts! (Pssst, it’s also the perfect outlet for hyped-up, amped-up energy, usually on the side of the kids.) Squeals of “Push me! Push me!” are guaranteed. Then again, you may both need to take a nap afterwards.

Teach Rock Skipping

Virtually a lost art, rock skipping (also called stone skimming) has brought hours of fun to all sorts of generations. Yes, even Gen X. Renew this fun outdoor pastime—and enjoy your bonding time—by teaching your youngster how to . As they say, “It’s all in the wrist!”

Plant a Garden Together

Flowers. Vegetables. Herbs. Berries. It doesn’t matter what you plant. What matters is that you’re working together, and that you’ll have something to show for your efforts before too long! Imagine gathering a beautiful floral bouquet, snacking on crispy carrots, snipping aromatic thyme, or making juicy strawberry shortcakes from your crop. We like to call it memories (and green thumbs) in the making. There’s nothing better.

Fly a Kite

Choose a mega-fancy model, a dollar-store version, or even a simple . The type of kite doesn’t matter. The giggles do. Find an open space (park, field, beach, etc.), check for wind direction, then let ’er rip! You can certainly discuss geometry, physics, velocity, and aerodynamic lift if you want. But frankly, pure child-like fun is much more, welp, fun!

Play Hopscotch

Yes, hopscotch. That fun, timeless game you used to play as a kid yourself. Whip out that chalk, draw those squares, fill in the numbers, and teach your munchkin the . Maybe even share a funny story or two of you playing this game as a kid yourself. Children always love hearing what their grandparents did when they were young(er).

INDOORS

Bake Cupcakes

Whether from a box or from , cupcakes are always a fun way to celebrate any occasion—special or not. Measure, stir, pour, bake, cool, frost
it’s all in the yummy details, working together and having a blast. Of course, finally eating them is the best part. (Sneaky, stealthy detail: You’ll be teaching the fine art of following directions and developing patience—and maybe even a little math—along the way as well.)

Watch a Classic Movie

There are the children’s movies of today. Then there are the classic, of the good ol’ days. You loved them as a kid. Now show your own grandkids what they were like! Print . Make popcorn. Even build an indoor drive-in movie theatre by out of cardboard boxes, pillows, and blankets. Then dim the lights. Cuddle up together. And let the movie begin!

Sketch Each Other

Calling all mini Picassos and amateur artists alike! Put paint, markers, or jumbo crayons to paper and sketch each other as you see each other. Artistic talents not required. Just a whole lot of lovin’ and a good sense of humor. Afterwards, discuss what features you emphasized and why. You may even decide to frame your masterpieces afterward. A great gift idea.

Put on a Puppet Show

Good, old-fashioned fun always involved a puppet show. So let your creative juices flow as you and your grandkids buy or . Script a play based on a funny story from your past or a modern-day adventure involving your grandchildren. Build a . Then invite friends and family to your show. However, the real fun, as you’ll clearly see, will have all taken place behind the scenes—together!

Interview Each Other

What better way to get to know each other than by asking questions? Set up a mock interview and let the inquiries begin! Hint: Be sure to ask each other the same questions. Record your responses. (They may surprise you!) Afterwards, you may even want to jot them down and turn them into a to give as a gift to your grandchild. They’ll treasure it always. To help you get started, here are 10 sample questions:

• What makes you happy? Sad? Scared?
• What’s your favorite thing to do and why?
• One word to describe yourself is ________.
• If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
• What’s your favorite color?
• Who’s your best friend?
• What’s your most favorite food? Least favorite?
• What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer? Winter?
• If you found a magic lamp, what 3 wishes would you ask the genie to grant?
• What do you love most about me?

im”çŸșapp is proud to introduce the KidAlert Ghost! The first of its kind, the KidAlert Ghost is expanding im”çŸșapp’s presence in the seasonal category, joining the im”çŸșapp My First Christmas Tree.

Mike Laudi, the designer behind the KidAlert Ghost, says the objective was to stay true to the KidAlert legacy, with safety at the forefront, “We did this by incorporating a light fixture to, both, ensure that walkways are properly lit, and to alert motorists to proceed with caution. But, we also wanted it to function as playful Halloween dĂ©cor. ”

Place the light-up KidAlert Ghost at the end of your driveway to alert motorists to proceed with caution in front of your home or use it around your house for decoration!

This Halloween-themed safety signal by im”çŸșapp will enhance your holiday dĂ©cor and keep your little trick-or-treater safe! Place the light-up ghost at the end of your driveway to alert motorists to proceed with caution in front of your home or use it around your house for decoration!

Not only will this Halloween-themed safety signal by im”çŸșapp will enhance your holiday dĂ©cor, it will help keep your little trick-or-treater safe! The bright white ghost includes an electronic light and a reflecting sticker to stay visible during twilight hours! The large “BOO” decal reminds drivers to slow down with a touch of Halloween fun! This whimsical light-up KidAlert Ghost signal will stand out against the twilight hours, enhancing both the fun and safety of Halloween night!

NOTE: KidAlert Ghost is not intended as a toy for children.

Some bunny gave us a few clues to get your hunt off on the right foot! Golden Eggs might be found in the following categories on im”çŸșapp.com:

• Playhouses
• Combos
• Pretend Play
• Coasters
• Wagons
• Play Kitchens
• Swing Sets
• Climbers

Maybe the product you’re reallllly hoping to find in your Easter basket doesn’t have a Golden Egg? Have no fear! Take 10% sitewide with code EGGS10 during the Golden Egg Hunt*!

The eggs are hidden and ready to be found, so HOP to it!

*20% off discount only applies to products with a golden egg on the main image. In order to receive the discount, you must enter the coupon code found on the product page at checkout. 10% off sitewide discount excludes clearance, pre-order and select combo items.

While your little ones may associate the holidays with oodles of presents, visits from Santa, and sugar cookies galore, they may not yet recognize another important aspect of the holiday season – spreading joy to others.

Although presents are awesome to unwrap on Christmas morning, the excitement of playing with new toys only lasts for a bit. However, if you give your children the opportunity to give back this holiday, that fulfilling feeling will last all year round. Try one of these holiday charity ideas with your kids to show them the joy they’ll get from spreading holiday cheer.

1. Volunteer at a food kitchen

Giving your kids the opportunity to help those who need it the most can be an invaluable experience. Spend a night volunteering at a food bank or homeless center – older kids will enjoy serving food to those visiting the center, while younger kids can contribute homemade holiday artwork, decor, or cards to bring some holiday spirit to the meal.

2. Choose a family to sponsor

If your kids believe in Santa Claus, they may think that every child gets what they want for Christmas. If you want to teach your kids to give back, explain to them that sometimes Santa can’t find little children who move around or don’t have homes.

Tell them that they can be Santa’s helper by helping him give gifts to some kids. Find a family in your community to sponsor, and have your kids pick out and wrap gifts based on the family’s wishlist. Your kids will love being one of Santa’s elves and helping out other kids.

3. Give out cards at nursing homes

Nursing homes can be lonely for some residents, especially around the holidays. Fortunately, there’s nothing like a visit from kids to spread some joy and cheer around the home. Have your little ones create handfuls of holiday cards, and bring them to your community nursing home for your kids to give out. They will not only be proud of their artwork, but they will also get a chance to meet and learn from the older generation.

4. Donate a gift

From now until Christmas, pay your child for performing chores around the house. However, instead of pocketing the money, encourage your child to put half (or all) of the cash in a piggy bank. When the holidays near, take your little ones shopping for a toy with their saved-up cash and donate it to a child less fortunate than them. They’ll love to see how the efforts of their hard work put a smile on another kid’s face.

5. Deliver holiday meals

Many organizations bring meals to people’s homes when they are alone and unable to venture out on their own. If a food shelter is a little too intimidating for your youngster, helping out with a program like Meals on Wheels is the perfect happy medium. Have your kids make cookies and cards to accompany the meals and provide a little holiday cheer with each delivery.

To truly get your kids in the holiday spirit this year, focus less on the presents and more on how they can bring cheer to others in their community. These five holiday charity ideas will teach your youngsters to appreciate the gifts they’ve been giving and the joy that comes with helping others.

Whether they need a place to prep holiday cards for people in nursing homes or wrap presents for the sponsored family, im”çŸșapp has the perfect workspaces for their crafting.

Grand Walk In Wood Kitchen

Your little cook will sautĂ© the day away with our newest addition! The Grand Walk In Kitchen is a premium wooden play kitchen that features a look-through refrigerator and oversized oven that matches the modern design of today’s kitchens. Your little chef will be able to clean up after dinner with the goose-neck style faucet. The extended breakfast bar creates added space to enjoy their morning meal. In addition, this play kitchen provides a ton of storage for their play food, dishes and so much more!

Extreme Coaster

Turn your backyard into an amusement park with the im”çŸșapp Extreme Coaster! Your kids will have a blast climbing up the stairs to reset the coaster car to take a ride back down the track. Your thrill seeker will ride the day away in the coaster’s easy-entry car that allows for balanced mounting and riding. Because the Extreme Coaster is extremely durable, it can be left outside year round.

Grillin’ Up Goodness Wood Grill

Your grill master will be able to grill all year long with the Grillin’ Up Goodness Wood Grill. Little chefs can use the clicking knobs to fire up the grill. While their main dish is cooking, they can use the attached side burner to prepare their appetizer. Your little one can keep an eye on their meal with the look-through window to make sure their dinner isn’t overcooked! After they eat their delicious meal, they can store all of their spices and utensils in the oversized cabinet.

For more age appropriate toys for your 4-year-old, shop our Holiday Gift Guide by age here.

Midtown Modern Wood Kitchen

Whether your little chef’s favorite color is pink or blue, we have the perfect present for you. The Midtown Modern Wood Kitchen features realistic clicking range knobs to allow little ones to “pre-heat” the oven for Christmas dinner. The oven, fridge and microwave doors include a “window”, just like today’s modern kitchen appliances that Mom and Dad use. Last but not least, the premium wood finishes give this kitchen a truly unique look for an enhanced role play experience.

Clean Sweep Wood Laundry Center

We know how great it is to see your child’s playroom or bedroom neat and tidy. With this wooden laundry play center by im”çŸșapp. Little ones will be able to do all their laundry just like Mom or Dad! The wood finish features bright, fun colors to give this play set a modern look. Your kiddo can toss their clothes into the washer and turn the clicking knobs to “set” the temperature! Plus, the included laundry bin allows for additional storage or as a hamper for dirty clothes.

Thomas the Tank Engine Up & Down Roller Coaster

We’ve taken the classic and transformed it into the character Thomas the Tank Engine! This coaster features over nine feet of up and down coaster track for endless hours of coaster riding fun. The Thomas the Tank Engine roller coaster car features a high seat back, coaster hand-rail and foot rests for a secure coaster ride. Along with non-slip steps and recessed wheel wells!

Jumbo Art Easel

This kid’s double-sided art easel comes with a white board and chalkboard for twice the coloring fun! This sturdy, artistic play set encourages kiddos creativity and allows for them to develop fine motor skills through drawing, writing and coloring. When they’re finished creating, they can store their art supplies in the large storage bins and built-in storage pockets.

For more age appropriate gift ideas, or to shop our Holiday Gift Guide, please visit our website.

How many times have you thought about what to get your 2-year-old, but can’t figure out what the perfect present might be? Probably more than you’d like to admit. Well, have no fear, im”çŸșapp is here! We’ve put together a gift guide for your tiny tot that will make their two’s terrific.

Whisper Ride Cruiser

Whether your little one’s favorite color is pink or blue, it’s the perfect gift for you! The Whisper Ride Cruiser makes trips around the park, neighborhood or zoo an enjoyable cruise. Complete with life-like decals and interactive features, this ride-on resembles a real car! The Whisper Wheels make pushing around your racer an easy, quiet ride.

Disney Princess Chariot Wagon

Let your little ones arrive to Christmas in style with the Disney Princess Chariot Wagon from im”çŸșapp. They’ll be riding just like their favorite princesses with built-in cup holders and molded-in seat backs. Our Whisper Wheels make for a quiet and smooth ride around the neighborhood or park. The chariot shade canopy provides shade for your little royalty, but can be also be removed!

Dash & Go Coaster

Get ready. Get set. Go! The Dash & Go Coaster lets your toddler dash downhill in a trendy, bright coaster car. The raised seat back, foot rests and large-grip handles make for a fun, safe ride. The coaster set also stacks for quick and easy storage!

LifeStyle Custom Kitchen

Your little chef can cook up a Christmas Eve meal in a kitchen that looks just like Mom or Dad’s! The Lifestyle Custom Kitchen is designed to match today’s dĂ©cor trends. Featuring a compact design, it is perfect for your toddler’s bedroom or playroom. They’ll be cooking all day with the fun electronic sounds that resemble the sounds of real appliances. The faux “stainless steel” oven, refrigerator and microwave look great, but also provide storage! For help on selecting the perfect kitchen, click .

im”çŸșapp has even more toys to choose from this holiday season! You can shop more age appropriate toys for your toddler via our Holiday Gift Guide here!

Save BIG on our best play kitchens, climbers, slides and more on now through July 25, 2016 (or while supplies last). Click on the images below to be taken to the product page:

We have another sweet offer for you besides saving a ton on toys! Enter our Christmas in July Giveaway for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree on im”çŸșapp.com. To enter, click here:Entries are accepted July 1, 2016 – July 25, 2016 and the giveaway is open to residents of the 48 contiguous US states. Must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be contacted via email on July 27, 2016 and their shopping spree will be valid August 2016 – December 31, 2016.

*Christmas in July runs through Monday, July 25 at 11:59 PM ET or while supplies last. Sale price and shipping is reflected on each product product page. You must enter the coupon code at checkout to receive the promotional price. These deals cannot be combined with another coupon code or offer. Not valid on previous purchases, future exchanges or replacement parts.

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Looking for more sales? Don’t worry, we have you covered! Our Black Friday sale and select Daily Deals are still going on through Wednesday, December 2. You can check out all of our amazing offers on the best kids playhouses, kitchens and more on the of im”çŸșapp.com.

To stay up to date on our holiday specials, make sure you to receive our emails!

*Cyber Monday, Black Friday and select Daily Deal pricing runs through Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 11:59 PM ET or while supplies last. In order to receive these discounts, you must enter the coupon code listed on the product page at checkout. Cyber Monday, Black Friday and select Daily Deals cannot be combined with any other coupon codes or offers. Not valid on previous purchases nor future exchanges.

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But wait, there’s more! In addition to these 12 Black Friday deals, we have tons more To be first to know about our special offers, make sure you to receive our emails! Check your inbox Sunday, November 29 for our Cyber Monday sale.

*Black Friday sale pricing runs through Wednesday, December 2 at 11:59 PM ET or while supplies last. Only one coupon code can be used per purchase. These deals cannot be combined with another coupon code or offer. Not valid on previous purchases, future exchanges or replacement parts. Must enter coupon code at checkout to redeem promotional price.

Last month we began our HQ and now our holiday cheer is in full effect! Does your family enjoy hanging lights from your home and watching them illuminate the night? You and your youngsters can get even more festive with lights and decorations by adding them to a playhouse. Whether it’s inside or in the backyard, it will add to the holiday fun.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Playhouse (we used the
• (we repurposed this from our )

Steps:

1. Stick the adhesive hanging hook on the front of the playhouse above the entrance and place the wreath on the hook.
2. Wrap the Christmas lights around the playhouse. Make sure you are close enough to an electrical outlet so you can plug in the lights.
3. If your playhouse is inside or you live an area where there’s no snow on the ground, place the spider webbing on the ground and roof of the playhouse to represent snow. Before using the spider webbing, we picked out the little spiders that were originally included in the web.

Does your family decorate your children’s playhouse for the holidays? If so, post the pictures on our page!

Manufacturer’s Note: Please make sure children are the recommended age to play with the product featured in this blog post. Adult supervision is required.

At im”çŸșapp, we enjoy giving back to the community, especially during the holidays. This joyful season we donated toys to the at the in Akon, Ohio. The Summit County Children Services is an adoption agency that is committed to the safety, permanency and well-being of children in the community. Their powerful mission also inspired us to donate $1000 to their work in helping families of foster children in the Summit County area.

The Holiday Toy Room looks like a toy store where foster parents, client families and caregivers can “shop” for toys. What’s so wonderful about this store is that all the toys are available at no cost to eligible families. This toy store is run by volunteers that are determined to make the holiday season special for children of the community. im”çŸșapp is proud and honored to donate toys to such a worthy cause!

im”çŸșapp employees presenting Summit County Children’s Services with the donated toys.

This Thoughtful Thursday, we thank Summit County Children’s Services and their volunteers for their generosity and hard work to put a smile on the faces of the kiddos they help.

The holidays are a time to spend with family, enjoy delicious meals and celebrate one another. This season, you and your little ones can help out in your community to spread joy to those that need it most. Here are three ways kids can give back during the holidays:

Volunteer: There are so many ways you and your youngsters can volunteer! You can serve food at a or take cookies to a nursing home, the possibilities are endless. This is a great way to make people smile that deserve love, affection and some yummy food!

Give thanks: Kiddos can write letters to family members telling them how much they love them. Your family can also give thanks by sending care packages to troops overseas to salute their efforts and hard work.

Donate: Your children can pick out presents to donate to for kids less fortunate in your area. Explain to your youngsters that not everyone is fortunate enough to celebrate the holidays, which is why it’s important to be generous and share the joy of the holidays with others.

How will your family give back this year?

‘Tis the season to decorate! What do you think of the decorations featured around our HQ?

Toys featured: , and

Written by Ashley as part of the series.

For the past six years, my husband and I have spent the Sunday after Thanksgiving going to a tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree. Having come from an artificial tree family, this has been one of the highlights of my adult Christmases.

We’ve had many tree adventures over the past six years. The most memorable was when the tree fell off the roof on the highway. I still remember the feeling of snow falling on our noses and the wind gusting, from both the sky and the 65+ MPH cars flying past, as we attempted to prop that baby back up on the roof. The rope had broken and the only thing we had was a tarp, so we rolled it like a breadstick, threw it over the top of the car, secured it in the side doors and drove 15 MPH in the berm until the next exit. Good times.

Now that we have a family of our own, the traditions, and memorable moments, continue – like the four times that the tree toppled over last year. This year, for the first time, we had two kiddos in tow to cut down the tree. My 3 month old son was wrapped all snuggly in his carrier, while my husband and daughter meandered through the forest in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

It’s crazy what a difference a year makes. Last year, my daughter couldn’t even walk. This year, she was running around the trees proudly proclaiming “Tree! Home!” In toddler language, this means “We’re taking a tree home!” This led to “Tree! Car!” when we strapped it to the roof, this year securely.

After naps and the football game (I’d like to personally thank the NFL for game time starts at 1pm for us parents of toddlers), it was time to put up the tree. Of course we ran into a snag – the tree was closer to 11 feet tall than the 9 feet we had estimated. After more chopping and slicing, it fit in its designated corner, ready to decorate. My husband brought out the step ladder for my daughter to climb to help hang ornaments. She pointed to her preferred destination for each, clustering about 20 ornaments on four branches. After she hung a few herself, all she wanted to do was touch and explore. I tried explaining to her that she could place the ornaments, but not touch them. That went over well – telling a toddler not to touch something always results in listening – right!?

At the end of a long day, everything fell into place (luckily, not the tree). It was exciting to be able to share the memories of the past 13 years (before becoming mom and dad) that hung on our tree with our daughter, from “our first Christmas” in 2001 when we were Juniors in high school to the key chains we turned into ornaments in 2008 when we were recent college grads living on powdered potatoes; and this year, we’ll be adding “baby’s 1^st Christmas.” Nothing is better than seeing years of memories aglow right there in our home.

About Ashley
Ashley is a self-proclaimed fashionista, social media maven, and proud mama of two. She is the Digital Communications Manager at im”çŸșapp and you may have recently communicated with her if you’ve chatted with im”çŸșapp on Facebook or Twitter.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to start decorating for the holidays! This month, we’ve created a craft that allows your youngsters to help with decorations. Making adorable holiday magnets will help spread the joy and anticipation for the celebrations ahead. Plus, it’s the perfect way for you and your little ones to show off your artistic creations!

Here what you’ll need:

• Art easel (we used the )
• (which included snowflake shapes)
• Glue
• Scissors
• Tape (optional)

Steps:

1. Cut foam snowflakes into a circle.
2. Place adhesive magnetic strips on the back of each circle.
3. Use some of the circles to create the faces for the snowmen. Glue googly eyes and cut of pieces of the foam sheets to create a nose and mouth. You can also use the foam sheets to make a scarf for your snowmen!
4. With the green foam sheet, you and your little ones can design a Christmas tree and add lights with the other colors from the sheets. You can also create a star to place on top! Add a magnetic strip to the back of the tree and the star.
5. Place the magnets on the magnetic side of your art easel or fridge and begin “building” snowmen and playing with the Christmas tree!

*Optional step: With the leftover foam snowflakes, you can place magnetic strips on the back of them and add those to your fridge or kid’s easel.

Will you and your little artists create these magnets for the holidays?

Manufacturer’s Note: Please make sure children are the recommended age to play with the product featured in this blog post. Adult supervision is required.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also a season of giving according to , a 10-year-old girl who decided to auction off her American Girl Doll to raise money for U.S. troops. Jordyn asked for a limited edition American Girl Doll named Saige for Christmas. After accidently discovering the present she had asked for in her mom’s secret hiding spot, she decided she wanted to give the gift to those in need.

Jordyn and her little sister

Jordyn was inspired by her school’s character building group that was helping in the initiative , which sends care packages to troops. The donations were very low, so Jordyn and her mom devised a plan to organize a drawing of the American Girl Doll to raise money for service members overseas. They set up a Facebook page called “” to get more buzz around this charity and so far, they have raised more than $1560!

Thank you to Jordyn and her mom for giving to those that protect us each and every day.

Because we’re Moms too, we get it. We know and understand that even our most loyal readers will likely not have time to read what we have to write about during this holiday season. To honor this acknowledgement, we are taking a short break from our weekly Mom Day Monday posts from We’re Moms Too Contributors. We will be back on January 7th with new posts to virtually bond over our tales of Mom-hood. We are sure to have some interesting stories and entertaining posts to share after the holidays and hope to hear some of your stories shared with us.

Even though we won’t be posting, we still invite you to visit our Facebook page every Monday, because we believe that every Monday should still be Mom’s day. Each Monday, we’ll post a quick pick-me-up suggestion designed just for Moms to enjoy. Our weekly and daily deals will also be posted on our Facebook page and Twitter feed.

We invite you to take part in our “” campaign and to share with us what you are thankful for during this season.

Finally, several of our We’re Moms Too contributors will be answering the phones during this holiday season so if you reach one of us, be sure to say hello and let us know what you think of the posts.

This holiday season, im”çŸșapp is participating in . Our Military Heroes mean a great deal to im”çŸșapp. It warms our hearts to let them know how much they mean to us, especially during this sentimental time of year.

Not only is im”çŸșapp sending words of encouragement to our brave soldiers but in order to get into the holiday spirit, we have put up two Thanksgiving trees. Our staff is able to write on orange pieces of paper, located near the trees and tell what they are grateful for then hang it on the tree. Here are some of the things we are grateful for:

What are you thankful for?

Here at im”çŸșapp, we wish you a wonderful holiday season, may it be full of joy!

Vertical writing easel makes developing proper writing skills fun! has vertical writing surfaces that encourage development of proper writing skills and creativity too. It features a chalk board on one side and a magnetized dry erase board on the other. In addition, it includes a clip to secure artwork, two removable and easy to clean storage bins and a 94 piece foam magnet letter & symbol kit!

The is a deluxe activity gym like no other. With customizable features and an interchangeable activity pod system, this toy is like a gazillion toys in one! It offers four different ways to play and allow you to pop, swap, mix and match for endless themes and fun. The Pop & Swap Gym is a removable activity center allows for four different ways to play – Infant Gym, Sit & Play, Crib Activity and Tummy Time. It is double-sided with interchangeable graphic cards. Also, it has 3 swappable Pop & Playℱ Activity Pods and 3 plush toys encourage reaching & grabbing.

Check out the actual magazine clippings below:

Do you think the All Around Easel for Two and Pop & Swamp Gym are toys worth the dough?