Christmas in April...Handprint Snowmen!

If you're a regular reader, you know I feature a Christmas ornament idea on the 25th of every month.  I know, I know...it looks a bit strange to see "Christmas" in April.  My goal however, is to help you prepare in small ways all throughout the year, so that when the season arrives, you'll have some breathing room admidst the chaos.  If you're one who cannot bring themselves to think of Christmas until after Thanksgiving, that's fine too.  By then, there will be quite an archive of ideas for you to choose from! 

I'm especially excited about this month's ornament.  It's one of the cutest I have ever seen!  I found it originally at Confessions of a Homeschooler, and saw other versions at Home Grown Hearts and My Family My Forever, as well.  I already had all the necessary materials...well, almost everything, that is.  The one thing I needed most were some tiny hands!  As I began to think of who I might recruit to help, a light bulb went off! 

Meet my friend Stephanie and her adorable kids Rheya and Zander. 

She and I work together at the law firm.  She is a computer whiz and absolute sweetheart. We became Facebook buddies a while back, and I soon discovered she was also a busy and very devoted wife and Mom.  Her love for her family just beams and she loves doing things with them.  I wondered if she might like to make these ornaments with her kids, and guess what?  She was all for it!  I gave her the materials and printed the tutorial found at Confessions of a Homeschooler, and she took it from there.  With two of her three kids, they created these...

Rheya's...

...can't forget her little thumb snowman...

Then Zander's...

and his thumb snowman...

Aren't they ADORABLE!?!?  Those sweet and priceless handprints get me every time!  This is truly one of the sweetest ornaments, ever!  Can you imagine what a terrific gift this would be a for Grandparent?! Add some filler inside (snow, tinsel, paper shred, cotton batting, etc.) and you're good to go! 

There is even a poem you can print and attach to your ornament: 

These aren't just five snowmen

As anyone can see.

I made them with my hand

Which is a part of me.

Now each year when you trim the tree

You'll look back and recall

Christmas of 2010

When my hand was just this small!

I got even more excited that in the process of all this, I learned Stephanie had always wanted to start a blog.  Well?  Now she has!  Please stop by her place, Adventures in Mommyland 101 and give her a warm welcome to blogworld.