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By Clerissa Lewis
Day #1
‘Twas the first of December and all through your house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Then suddenly one little soul did appear,
It's your Christmas friends bringing holiday cheer.
Tonight calls for a partridge for your pear tree.
Partridges are tough catches, you see.
The bird flew the coop, leaving nothing behind
But some sweet Bartlett pears, the very best kind.
Now beware of this warning your friends will be here,
But you better not look, or we'll disappear.
Then all your gifts that were carefully planned,
On some other porch will surprisingly land.
Gift: can of Bartlett pears
Day #2
Turtles and doves are coming your way;
Eat all the chocolate that you may.
Because in your family you have a few,
We've left on your doorstep more than just a two.
This glad Christmas season is so full of fun.
We're happy to share with your family, then run.
How grateful we are that you're playing our game.
You'll now find that Christmas won ‘t be the same.
Gift: bag of dove chocolates and bag of turtle chocolates
Day #3
Night three arrives, but we're not in France,
And three French hens don't come by chance.
It cost us a bundle to have it shipped,
the French hens insist that their soup be sipped.
Gift: family size can of chicken noodle soup
Day #4
Four calling birds speak highly of you,
You're kind and you're thoughtful, generous, too.
They gave us a message over the phone
Saying, “Friends like you make us feel right at home.”
Gift: toy cell phone
Day #5
On the fifth of December, with things rather tight,
It's important to us that we all travel light.
Gold rings are too heavy (and not very yummy),
So please be content with sweet rings in your tummy.
Gift: bag of donut gems/rings
Day #6
Six geese-a-laying an interesting sight,
Till one of them squawked and they all took to flight.
What they left in their nest, you'll just have to look,
A basket of eggs that you'll sure want to cook.
Gift: carton/dozen eggs
Day #7
‘Tis the 7th of December and we're halfway done.
Remember no peeking or you'll spoil the fun.
Finding swans in December sure gave us some trouble.
But for clean and white feathers use a blend of bath bubbles.
Gift: bubble bath
Day #8
On the eighth of December, we're busy as bees.
Eight maids-a-milking, no where do we see.
But there in the barn we spy something now,
It's the rich, creamy milk from a pretty brown cow.
Gift: gallon of chocolate milk
Day #9
Nine ladies dancing would be a big crowd.
Besides their music is way too loud!
We have for you some Christmas songs,
To listen to all season long.
Gift: CD of Christmas music
Day #10
Ten lords-a-leaping would be an awesome gift,
But they got stuck while jumping ore a big snowdrift.
You'll have to be content, you see, to watch the popcorn fly,
And if you've got a sweet tooth, here's a recipe to try.
Gift: bag of mini marshmallows, box of light or no butter microwave popcorn; recipe
Microwave Caramel Popcorn
1 C mini marshmallows
Ā½ C lightly packed brown sugar
Ā½ cube butter
1 package microwave popcorn
Combine marshmallows, brown sugar, and butter. Microwave on high for one minute then mix until smooth. Spoon over popped popcorn. Enjoy!
Day #11
Eleven pipers piping reminds us of our plumber,
To leave him on the doorstep would be a real bummer.
Now make your water piping hot, and fill your cups with care.
We're giving you some hot coca we know you'll want to share.
We simply can't believe that this game is almost through.
We've had a jolly time bringing all these gifts to you.
With only one more night left, don't you wish you knew
Just exactly who we are and why we're doing this for you?
Gift: box of hot chocolate
Day #12
The final evening had arrived, and on our ending night
One dozen drummers at your door would be a splendid sight.
But drummers are too noisy with their drums they're always beating,
Instead we'll let you softly drum your ice cream as you're eating.
In the end we wish you a Merry Christmas.
We're guessing you'd like an announcement from us,
But our names stay a secret; we just cannot share.
It's the kindness of strangers that really is rare.
Gift: box of drumstick ice cream cones
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
The thing I love about this, is that it’s not overwhelming. It’s actually really simple. Most “projects” like this make me say, “Wow, that’s neat, I just don’t have time this year.” This is fun and manageable.
Thanks so much!
NO worries, it was way cute and thought out, and like you said simple little things that still made us feel special. The night we got the toy cell phone, Jasmin was so excited and after playing with it for a little bit, she would point or run over to the door and ask ” knock knock?” It was way cute. We were hoping to know who did it, but as you can see they didn’t reveal it, but we left them a gift bag of goodies the last night, so we were still able to say thanks though we never found out who they were.
Very good idea, Lewis. The “goodwill toward men” thing. Giving AND receiving. I love this time of year. I even love the traffic jams. I look at the people in the cars beside me and think, “I’m in a jam right now because all these people are willing to face the traffic and the crowded stores to buy gifts for people they care about.” I love that. I’ve always been a people-watcher, but I especially love to watch people this time of year.
What a neat twist to a familiar song! Thanks for sharing. I agree that these gift ideas are simple and easy to implement, without being overwhelming. Lewis, your daughter’s reaction is priceless.
Davidson, Wow! You have changed the way I view the crowds/traffic that I HATE so much at this time of year. Thanks for your thoughts — people willing to face the crowds in order to buy gifts for those for whom they care. What a different perspective. It will make a difference in how I think about shopping crowds from now on!
Bumping this to get people thinking for december, it can be done the first 12 days or done so ending on christmas… also I am trying to think of a cute poem *cough* davidson *cough* to do a thanksgiving “boo” that you take to neighbors and they have to turn around and share with others…. anyone know of any? I was thinking of a Tom the turkey or something…
FWIW: The 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas and end on “epiphany”…ya know, the day the wise men supposedly came barely gifts. I know the church doesn’t get all celebratory with all the so called “normal” Christian hoildays but Advent is before, not the 12 days of Christmas. Darn liturgical seasons.
Guess we can change the title to 12 days in december to be p.c.
Cough, cough. (Must be catching!) (But I was glad to catch it!)
Here’s a little poem for you, Lewis. Feel free to tweak it, if necessary, or ask me to try again.
Thomas the Turkey is making the rounds,
loaded with goodies, but minus all sounds,
leaving a treat at the home of his friends
for whom he is thankful, on whom he depends.
He left in a rush, but he lost this one feather.
Perhaps we can join him and spread thanks together.
Tape his “remains” to the front of your door,
so others will know Tom has been there before.
Fix a nice treat, put a feather on top;
think of a house where you’d most like to stop;
copy this poem and attach to the treat;
plan out a way to be quick and discreet,
then gather your goodies, the whole splendid plateful
and privately thank those for whom you are grateful.
Surely you know it! Surely you do!
that one of your neighbors is thankful for you!
(The feather can be a real or paper one.)
That.is.amazing.! Thank you so much, we are going to make cookies and do it tonight or tomorrow. I will make the feather on white paper so the kid/s of the home can color it and put it on their doors š You don’t want to share this poem with all?
its a really cool idea though. didn’t want to seem snippy.
So we made brownie mix cookies and did 4 families tonight! My husband free handed a big feather that I then traced to get 4 and we went and “tom-ed” 4 families š Jasmin is still talking about how we had to be quiet and hide :bigsmile: WE even did a non member family, so that counts for double points right? š
Thanks so much, it really was an amazing poem that you totally did in amazing time. Thank you again!
Ah, I just figured they’d heard enough from me for a while. š Do what you think is best.
Your evening sounds so fun! What a good heart you have! Double points? Heck no, if you did four families, you get quadruple points!
Thanks for the kind words.
Lewis! Would you mind sending me a copy of the feather in an email? My email address is davmas@msn.com. (If you don’t have a scanner, no worries.) Thanks.
Ha, it was fun. Yes, it was just a free hand like doodly feather, nothing special, just so that kids could color it in, but yes, we don’t have a scanner, I just googled feather clip art and found one we liked and had my hubby free hand it. I think if you don’t mind I will share it and challenge others to spread the spirit, if that is ok with you? Unless you want to share it, either way you will get credit for it š
If you’d like to share it, that would be fine with me. I don’t need credit for it. In fact, if you’d like to just say you found it (which you did; it just happened to be here at this website! :bigsmile:) I’d be happy with that. Really, there are too many people here who already think I’m arrogant and obnoxious and difficult ; I don’t want to do anything to further that right now. š
Googling the feather clipart was a good idea! Maybe I could freehand it if I had something to look at. (My drawing skills are of the stick-figure type.) š
I stamp, I don’t draw, that is hubby’s forte š ok I will list it, but won’t credit you š
Here we go! We totally did this tonight, we just drew a feather on a half sheet of computer paper and printed off this poem on another half and made brownie mix cookies and went and tom-ed people tonight.
Anyone else feeling the neighborly love and going to give it a whirl?
Thomas the Turkey is making the rounds,
loaded with goodies, but minus all sounds,
leaving a treat at the home of his friends
for whom he is thankful, on whom he depends.
He left in a rush, but he lost this one feather.
Perhaps we can join him and spread thanks together.
Tape his “remains” to the front of your door,
so others will know Tom has been there before.
Fix a nice treat, put a feather on top;
think of a house where you’d most like to stop;
copy this poem and attach to the treat;
plan out a way to be quick and discreet,
then gather your goodies, the whole splendid plateful
and privately thank those for whom you are grateful.
Surely you know it! Surely you do!
that one of your neighbors is thankful for you!
Isn’t that the cutest poem you have ever heard? So incredible, and will totally make people’s nights ( the treats help, too š )
PS I make cards, I love to do it ( and sell scrapbook and card making supplies now, so as to buy from myself š )
but yes, if you want to be on my Christmas Card list, please whisper me your address. I know it might seem weird to do, davidson asked last year and I didn’t give her mine because she was making gifts and I didn’t want to seem greedy, but for real, don’t feel that way like I did, because then you miss out on some Mormon Momma Christmas love.
Wow! A homemade card! I would love that. Yes, Please!
Serena Davidson
3237 Olsen St.
Iona, ID 83427
Now, can I have your address this year?
I didn’ tsee this last year. This is so cool. Thanks i think we’re gong to do it.
Ok this is the cutest poem and idea ever! Oh, I need your brownie mix cookie recipe!!! Yummo!
Yes, this is darling! I’ll whisper you my address, I’d love to see one of your cards!
Angie Gardner
1023 Sterling Oaks Blvd
Slidell, LA 70461
Send me yours and I’ll send you one too – although mine will be store-bought (I bought them last year on clearance!)
Ha, I used to do that, then I learned how to make cards and haven’t bought any since š
Clerissa Lewis
1988 W. 600 S.
Provo, UT 84601
This is the recipe
1 pkg. (21.5 oz.) Betty Crocker fudge brownie mix
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. vegetable oil
3 tbsp. water
2 eggs
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1 c. chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips or M&M’SĀ®
Combine all ingredients, mixing by hand. Bake until just set at 350 degrees about 9-10 minutes.
I added more flour since the package isn’t as big as it called for, also to make it more cookie dough like and we added white chocolate chips, or you can dip them in powdered sugar. They are SOOOO yummy š
Do you roll them into balls, squish them down??? They sound awesome!
They are drop, so I use two spoons and just put them on the sheet, oh and it is good to use foil or use a spray so they don’t stick. They spread a little and you need to let them cool a bit before moving or else they fall apart.
i’m such a perfectionist. sorry to bug. how many cookies do you get from one batch???
no worries, I got 24 in the first and then like 30 in the second, so I guess depends on spoon size?
This is really cool. I think we might do one or both of these this year. š
I can’t believe I never whispered back, I am so sorry, I thought it let you whisper to two people, so it went to angie but not you, please forgive me.
Ours is 1988 W. 600 S. Provo, UT 84601
I only got like 2 addys… come on people, ante up.
Thanks, Lewis! I’ll write it in my address book right now. :bigsmile:
I am seriously so sorry, for real, I was bumping this and say that there wasn’t a whisper back to you, and felt so bad.
No worries!
I am not sure of my new adress yet… you can have it when I figure out what it is!
we tom’d people tonight. 7 families & 9 dozen cookies later we are home. my daughters soccer coach who is a member was fun! we knew she couldn’t out-run him, so i pointed out an awesome hiding spot & it worked. we had so much fun.
I love this Christmas idea. I have a family in mind I think I would like to try it on.
Address call again, if you read this forum, whisper me your address and I will send you a homemade christmas card š
Mine is Stephanie Probst, 1009 Ann Drive, Wylie, TX 75098. Can’t wait to receive it! Thanks!
Thanks for the addy, I have them made I just need to decide on a fam pic to send in them, so hopefully will have them off by the end of the week:smile:
kiar, I’m so sorry you are lost! Shall we send out a search party to locate you? :bigsmile:
I would totally love one. Yes, I am greedy!!!
Alison Moore Smith
767 E 750 N
American Fork UT 84003
Lewis, that is so nice. Yes, I want one! I couldn’t make a cute card if my life depended on it, but I love what creative and talented people can do!
Sarah Patino & Family
906 Jacobs Street
Marysville, CA. 95901
Thank you, thank you… hopefully I get them out this weekend š
Thank you, thank you… hopefully I get them out this weekend š
Okay – I can’t resist! I would love to see one of your homemade cards!
Jennifer Ort
6504 E 110th St.
Kansas City, MO 64134
PS,
I’m going to try your brownie cookies finally!
Right on, for real, I have only gotten 6 addy, thought I had made more friend than that on here š I will send them out this weekend, once the pics arrive to put in them and I got those off snapfish for free :bigsmile:, so hopefully you get it next week.
The cookies rock, enjoy!
:fingersear: yes.
Clerissa, love, I received your card today. It was beautiful, and you are beautiful! That long, dark hair. . .I am thrilled to have a picture of you.
The card is a keeper. Thank you very much!
Thanks:shamed: glad you liked the card, it got there fast š