My Busy Books & Peanut Butter Cookies

     So we recently discovered My Busy Books made by Phidal publishing. We first purchased a My Little Pony - My Busy Book at Borders. My daughter was and still is in love with this book even after months of use. It came with 12 figurines and a play mat that fit nicely into the back of the book. Recently during another trip to Borders she found a Disney Pretty Princess - My Busy Book. It came with all of her favorite princesses and again the play mat. I am not kidding you when I say that she has not gone a day without these toys! 

     Knowing how much she loves them I picked up a Dora the Explorer one for Christmas and I plan on finding the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and My Friends Tigger and Pooh books also. At Borders and Barnes and Noble I paid under $10 for each one. They have many other choices like Toy Story, Cars, Thomas the Train, etc...that little boys can even enjoy. I would not recommend them for younger children because the figurines are small and could be a choking hazard. But if your little girl loves these characters like my daughter does, and has left the putting toys in my mouth stage then these books are perfect!

World’s Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups peanut butter 
2 cups white sugar 
2 eggs

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). 
Combine ingredients and drop by teaspoonfuls on cookie sheet. I like to use my fork to make “plaid” pattern before baking. Bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Obviously the recipe is equal parts, 1-1-1 so its easy to make double or triple batches.

Start a Tradition

     When I came across this idea and I knew that I had to do it! This Christmas book Advent Calendar not only counts down to the exciting day but it also creates a family memory every night for 24 nights! Choose 24 Christmas/Holiday themed books, they can be ones you already own or ones you buy new, if you reuse them each year it pays for itself, and wrap each book in Holiday paper. Then use gift tags to number them from 1-24. You can use store bought gift tags or make your own. You can place it across a buffet table, a window seat or like myself you can place it on top of our fireplace mantle.

This is our calendar this year: 

1. Bear Noel By: Olivier Dunrea
2. Christmas Mice! By: Bethany Roberts
3. Things I See at Christmas By: Julie Stiegemeyer 
4. Down Through the Chimney By: Twin Sisters Productions Staff 
5. The Littlest Christmas Tree By: R.A Herman
6. Little Engine That Could Snowy, Blowy Christmas By: Watty Piper 
7. The Littlest Christmas Star By: Brandi Dougherty 
8. Donald’s Christmas Gift By: Sheila Sweeny Higginson 
9. D. W.’s Perfect Present By: Marc Brown 
10. The Christmas Cookie Case By: Scholastic, Inc. Staff 
11. Funny Hunny Christmas By: Random House Disney Staff 
12. The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving By: Jan Berenstain 
13. The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet By: Deborah Hautzig 
14. The Christmas Star By: Elizabeth Raum 
15. Willow At Christmas By: Camilla Ashforth 
16. Mickey’s Twice Upon A Christmas By: Gemstone Publishing, Inc
17. The Little Christmas Tree By: Mercer Mayer 
18. Clifford’s First Christmas By: Norman Bridwell 
19. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: A Holly Jolly Christmas!
20. Frosty the Snowman: A Musical Book By: Jack Rollins
21. Duck & Goose It’s Time for Christmas By: Tad Hills 
22. Merry Christmas, Stinky Face By: Lisa Mccourt 
23. Snowmen at Christmas By: Caralyn Buehner
24. The Night Before Christmas By: Clement C. Moore

     Each year you can also change the order of the books, leaving your child wondering when their favorite will be read…of course always leaving the best book for last! You can also take out the books your children outgrow and replace them as your children get older. The point is that during a time that stress can be overwhelming and time can get away from you, this will make you stop and enjoy a few minutes with your family every night until Christmas! A tradition your children will remember for the rest of their lives.