Keebler Fun by Denny Lynn

Since Keebler stays all month, things get a little crazy. We get up each morning excited to see where he is. Mama didn't get out his stocking, but Keebler wanted to be included, so he put it up himself.

Me and Mama tried to play a trick on him by hiding his stocking in a bucket in my room.

He showed me...He put his stocking back up and then put all my underwear in the bucket!

He went to space on John's rocket - he even had a space helmet. John did not like Keebler on his rocket and he pulled him off.

I don't know if you know about elves, but a child touching them steals their magic and they can't go to the North Pole. Mama called the Santa hotline to find out what to do. We made Keebler a special place to rest - it was a dumptruck bed - I even donated my blanket for the cause and a pair of socks for a pillow.

I turns out that snow from the North Pole can help restore the magic. One of the neighbor elves was nice enough to bring us some. We found it in the freezer.

We sprinkled it on and hoped it would work.

Sure enough, the next day Keebler was up and about, reading a Charlie Brown Christmas to the animals.

The next day he was just hanging around - we think he wanted to be a Christmas card.

Next he wanted to play Spiderman!

He brought John and I new Spiderman Christmas shirts so we could play, too!

He staged a sack race in the living room - he was beating Buzz, Woody and the Rescue Bots when we found him.

One morning he turned the milk green to celebrate Christmas. I did not like this - the milk tasted green and I couldn't drink it.

After we built our pumpkin snowmen, Keebler wanted to join the fun. He built his own snowman out of toilet paper.

He found a Christmas coloring book and went to work. It made me want to color, too!

I thought about it all day long until I got home from school and could color, too.

You never know what Keebler will do, but we love him and appreciate that he can tell Santa what good boys we are!

My Christmas Program by John Lee

We practiced and practiced, and it was finally time for my school Christmas program! I got all dressed up and couldn't wait to go with my friends.

I was right up in front and ready to sing.

I sang and did the motions for most of the songs.

When I didn't know the words, I just sang Frosty the Snowman.

I liked being part of the group and Mama and Daddy were so proud that I went with my class and participated. I hope I get to be on stage again soon!

Pumpkin Snowmen by Denny Lynn

Mama promised we could make our leftover pumpkins into snowmen. I had been saving up branches for arms just to be ready. Finally, we had some time.

Mama used a long paint stir stick as a base to stack the pumpkins on. I helped put them all together. It is important to use the smallest one for the head and remember to turn it side-ways to make the nose.

Once they were all stacked, we taped off the noses and painted them white.

I got to use the spray paint - it was harder than I thought, but I stuck with it.

John got to pick first, and he made Frosty.

His snowman had a yellow scarf and a tophat.

We used foam shapes to make buttons and faces. Frosty came out great and looks so friendly on the porch.

I named my snowman Rudolph - it was hard to pick a name since John took Frosty. I wanted him to have blue eyes and different colored buttons.

I used a marker to make his mouth.

I was really proud of him - I wish the snowmen could stay forever, not just for Christmas!

Christmas Presents by Denny Lynn

Christmas time means giving and I love to make homemade gifts! This year we had stockings in our class and we each got to bring things to fill them. I decide to make bath bots and tub monsters. We used mint tins (the really small ones) for cases. I counted out enough for my whole class.

Then I added labels - one with the instructions and one that said they were from me.

Next came the fun part - adding the foam shapes! Everyone got enough to make robots or monsters in the bathtub. Once the foam gets wet it sticks to the wall or tub and you can used and reused the shapes to make cool stuff.

I filled them all up and then bagged them for school.

I made bigger sets for my other friends and cousins. This time I used soap dishes.

And put their name or initial on the outside with foam letters.

I am really happy with how they came out! Next John and I made gifts for our teachers and the neighbors. We are good counters - that was our job, counting out the papergoods to make gift bags.

I even helped tie the ribbons and add the tags.

It turned out to be a fun, practical gift. I can't wait to make something else!

Christmas Presents by John Lee

I love making treats for my friends and family! It is even more fun at Christmas time. For my school friends this year I made candy cane J's. Because J is for Jesus and John, I thought this was an excellent choice.

Mama made the tags, but I helped put on all the candy canes.

I even got to use the stapler - being careful to make sure each cane was turned up to make the J.

Denny and I helped Mama make gifts for the neighbors and our teachers. We counted out paper plates...

...with napkins and cups.

We added forks and spoons and a fun tag. It said "Sending you warm wishes for a holiday with a few less dishes". It was easy to make and something everyone can use. I think they will all really like them.

For my other friends and the cousins, I made shadow puppets. I got to help make them with the Cricut.

I was good at pushing the cut button and the unload paper button. The hardest part was the waiting!

Once they were cut, I glued on a stick to make the puppet. Mama made a booklet of nursery rhymes - some for boys and some for girls.

They came out really fun, and I hope my friends love playing with them!