Christmas Past has always been interesting for us ever since our kids learned to read. We'd get them a stack of books and within a week every one was read at least twice.

This year we finally got smart and instead of giving them the actual books, we've given them certificates for books. Using business card stock, Melissa whipped up some neat-o little cards that are good for one book after a certain date. This way we spread out their reading for at least a week between books. If they want to inhale an book in one sitting, that fine. They'll just have to wait a week for the next one.

There's still plenty of other books available for their classes and from the library to read. We just wanted the Christmas books to last a little (OK, A LOT) longer than usual. And they can always (and often do) read them again if they want to.