(Part 2) Best products from r/christmas

I really like the Grimm's toys. They are kind of expensive, but super cool for kids to stack and build, organize by size/shape/color, and they are made out of wood which is a nice different texture than all the plastic toys kids have. My 4 year old son loves playing with all his Grimm's stuff. We have the large rainbow, some of the little peg people, the trees, fairy houses, and some blocks. I would also suggest kinetic sand, play silks and costumes, a rocker board, and water beads. All the above are great sensory toys and are big hits with kids with or without autism!

Here's some ideas:

• Lights/garlands around walls with command hooks to get this look. If your decorations are heavier, get bigger hooks. These are temporary and very easily removed and put up.
  
• Decorating around the TV looks so cozy.
  
• Sticky Tack to put up things like snowflakes on walls or doors (also very easily put up and removed!)
  
• If you don't have space for a tree, you can try things like this or get a little tabletop one.
  
• This wreath hanger might work (depending on how thick your door is). Does no damage, I use one just like it!
  
• Window decals don't take up any space and are temporary.
  
• Hanging ornaments on cabinet handles (surprisingly hard to find pictures of this, I do this all the time, just have to make sure you don't use ornament hooks and tie things with string or they might fall off and break).
  
• Holiday decor for the rest of the house can make a big impact for how your space feels. Things like bedding or bath decor.
  
  I would focus on decorating by area to make the rest of your home feel festive, if you can't focus around a fireplace like you seem to have in the past.
  
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During heavy rain, water can blow the individual fuses within each string of lights -- but more often this is caused by having too many strings of lights connected. Limit it to however many it says on the box.

Water will also trip a breaker. This happened to us with any amount of rain. For years, we'd tape up the ends with a piece of tape, but this gunked up the connecters after a while.

The best solution we found is to use electrical outlet plugs like these

They're cheap and they keep the water out. Good luck!

In a stocking? Toy blocks or the like, unwrapped and placed into the sock individually. I wouldn't be thinking in terms of a stocking because many items won't fit.

With my kids, I didn't give much the first couple Christmases because I looked at the lifespan of the toys. Like, if It's October and my kid could handle this toy today, then by waiting until Christmas I'm knocking two months off the usefulness of a toy that may only be played with for 12 months (or whatever).

Books are always a good choice. Everywhere Babies was our favorite, with my kids wanting it read to them through at least age 3 because it's all about how parents love their kids. And the rhyming is well done. The linked version is a larger format board book. When I tossed out our well-deteriorated copy years later, my wife made me buy another one for herself. Here's a read-through.

Edit: My wife saw me with the video open and began reciting the first several pages to me.

Every Christmas, My sisters are the first ones up and go around the house to wake everyone up. Now I'll go downstairs to make some Coffee and Hot chocolate and put those in those Bunn Dispensers like this https://www.amazon.com/36725-0000-3-8-Liter-Lever-Action-Airpot-Stainless/dp/B001REFF62

Then my sisters will wake up Mom & Dad who take like 30 mins to get up and Call my Brother and Sister in Law to come over and we can open presents. We always give out presents from youngest to oldest one at a Time and watch each person open up presents on average everyone gets some clothes, 2 things on there wish list, and items from the extended family.
Also we do Secret Santa, we use Elfster cause it's easier for everyone cause we're not always there and the Wish lists can be seen by Everyone which makes it easy.

Then once we're done opening presents and giving gifts we usually watch some movies like The Star Wars Saga, Lord of the Rings, The Santa Clause, and Christmas Carol usually the Jim Carrey Version.

Yeah, if you hear Christmas music to soon, it is just not special anymore when it should be. So last year I startet hearing some Christmas music on the 100. day before Christmas, and then only every tenth day. So I looked forward to every tenth day hearing it, and it was still special. Don't know, maybe this year I am strong enough to wait for November :D

I just have to look some up. I read them in German, so I have to look for the english version :D Last year I really loved the The Christmas Cookie Club i also love The Christmas Train, but that has some romance if I recall correctly. So I have some more, if you want I can look some more up on monday, as I am not home the next days :D

Same here! I'm a huge fan of the sacred side of Christmas music. Perhaps my favorite album of sacred Christmas music is Christmas With The Tallis Scholars. It's a 2 disc set, so very reasonable for $17.99. The music is extraordinary. The Tallis Scholars are one of the finest early music groups ever, and every single song is produced to perfection. I strongly recommend it.

It’s gorgeous. First pick lights and put those on. Use Large decorations. If you need big ones dollar tree has some nice ones. Toss everything you have on that. If you use anything ribbon you probably want to go the 10 inch. Like this. 10 inch x 30 feet Deco Poly Mesh Ribbon - Metallic Silver: RE130126 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HNORUDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_9sB4DbW84A21W it’s usually cheaper if you find locally like hobby lobby. There’s draping it like this. http://www.marcelrich.com/elegant-christmas-tree-decorating-ideas-2019/5-christmas-tree-decorating-ideas-2019-modern-50-stunning-best-regarding/

Edit: to clarify I don’t believe there’s a wrong way to decorate. Do it how you enjoy it.

Last year, I bought some cable clips and cord wraps to put in all the adult stockings. These are practical items anyone with a phone can use. I also like to buy the Christmas editions on everyone's favorite candies, like the tree-shaped Reese's, Hershey's in Christmas wrapper, etc. Last year, I bought some word search books for my mom and aunt. I like buying little, fun items people might not buy for themselves.

My GF and I designed these cards and think they are funny. Hopefully you do too :)

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All proceeds go to my Holiday Season beer fund ;)

Fave Albums

• Jingle Bell Swing - Various Artists
  
  
• Lou Rawls - Merry Christmas Baby
  
  
• A Very Special Christmas - Various Artists
  
  
• Joy to The World - John Williams and the Boston Pops Robin Williams narrates The Night Before Christmas on this album
  
  
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
  
  
• Diana Kralls - Christmas Songs
  
• Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas
  
  
• The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas - Various Artists
  
  
• ChristmasTIME - Swingle Singers
  
  
• Handel's Messiah - A Soulful Celebration
  
  
• Afroman - A Colt 45 Christmas

Sure! Here’s the site: https://www.scentsicles.com and here’s an amazon link: Scentsicles Tree Ornament White Winter Fir Scented Sticks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014J7UQ9E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Sz3RDb08PB1GN

Kitchen Cabinet Door Festive Ribbons and Bows Decoration - Set, 4 Pc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H6XDZY6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_qHQwDC4kMZEWK

https://www.amazon.com/Scentsicles-Winter-Scented-Ornament-Fragrance/dp/B014J7UQ9E

It's a simple google search away lol. Here's one example.