Amazingly website, I like how your page looks! The layout is amazing!…

One good one we've done to reduce stress was to cut back Santa's involvement on gifts. He no longer gives the biggest and the bestest secular type gift. We had a sit-down talk with him a few years ago and told him that we would appreciate gifts that were tied to the Faith more! He was very relieved to hear of the good news and has since brought the kiddos two gifts each that he says he finds good deals for his elves from http://www.catholicchild.com.

I also try to do all my shopping prior to the start of Advent. I sit here and tell you this, yet I have dropped the ball this year. I'm not too worried b/c the intent behind it was to reduce the monster shopping trips – I'm virtually doing all online shopping, so it's not a huge hassle like it normally is. I think doing the "tying up loose ends" kind of shopping during Advent is a FAR different experience than the 'OMG, GOTTA GET EVERYTHING DONE NOW!!!' disaster, kwim?

We have also started a new tradition this year with a book called The Elf on the Shelf which was bought for us from http://www.catholiccompany.com – it's VERY cute!

I think one of the hardest things we have to do during this time of patience and waiting is to learn to say no to the madness, however that is defined for us. I choose not to go to ten million activities that take up our evening schedule. I like our down time in the evening and so we take advantage of that family time – it is the time we have carved out just for us to bond, to pray, to be with each other.

As a side note, my wife is Polish and she feels that Americans begin the process much later than in Poland, causing the longer process.

Don't know if that helps — just thought I'd share.

I am wondering what YOU do when she is wet–how closely you are monitoring and how often you are reminding her to use the bathroom. It's clear she is not going to "get it" on her own at this point, and she may need more help from you.

If I were you, I think I'd focus on the 2yo at this point and see if her toilet-training inspires her older sister. If you ignore 2yo now, you will soon have another struggle with a 3yo who's past the point of easy learning. I've talked with a LOT of parents who saw signs of readiness in their kids around 18mo, thought, "She's too young," did nothing, and had a big struggle later…and some who started training then, accepting that it would require some effort from them, and had complete success in 6-12 months with even bedwetting becoming very rare.

I don't do the cookie thing either. What I do is make these super simple candies to share.

Melt one pound of almond bark in the microwave. Stir in one cup of peanut butter.

This is your base, now add in one cup of whatever stuff you have available, here are my favorite add ins:

Peant Butter Captain Crunch Cereal
Mini marshmallows
Pretzel sticks
Rice Crispies
Peanuts

I typically add in at least 3 different items.

Next you can either take the long approach and drop spoonfuls onto parchment paper, or speed up the process and just spread the whole mess out in a parchment lined 9×13 pan.

I usually use the pan method, once cooled and hardened I pull out the candy block and cut it into little half-inch pieces. The almond bark, PB base tastes almost like a peanut butter fudge and people think you spent HOURS on an item that takes less than 15 minutes.

Enjoy.