On Christmas Eve, you can track Santa’s travels by visiting the NORAD website.  Follow his journey around the globe and make sure you’re in bed before he gets to you!

 Visit http://www.noradsanta.org/

Every once and a while we come across a website that is really neat, even as a parent you enjoy it. We are sharing some of our favorite holiday website finds with you here.  If you have a great site, let us know about it by posting it in the comments!

Make-A-Flake
Description: Browse a gallery of virtual snowflake designs or create a masterpiece of your own.

Website URL: http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/

Hunterdon Moms Online Comments: We found this website when looking for instructions on how to make paper snowflakes for a class project. This version is soooo much fun! Kids and adults alike love to see what creations you can make and view the gallery of everyone else’s creation. You can even email your creations to a friend.

We encourage you to share your creation with us by posting your URL link in the comments below.

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Elf Yourself

Website URL: http://www.elfyourself.com/

Hunterdon Moms Online Comments:  This super fun site brought to us by Office Max is always a hit for the holiday season.  On this site you can upload up to four images at a time and then crop out your faces to add them to the bodies of dancing elves.  During the process you can even call a special phone number and record a personalized message to add to your clip.  The end result is your photos as dancing elves!

The whole process is absolutely amazing (like magic really) and the end result is hilarious.  We not only did our families but our pets as well!  The possibilities are endless fun and then you can email your creations to friends and family. 

We encourage you to share your creation with us by posting your URL link in the comments below.

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Disclaimer: Although we have checked each of these sites for appropriate content, we encourage you to preview the following sites before allowing your children to visit them. Due to the everchanging nature of the internet, we cannot be responsible for links to outside material over which we have no control.

The season for searching for that perfect Christmas Tree is upon us.  Take a look at our list of local Christmas Tree Farms to see where you will go this year.  We also have some farms listed from Warren County, NJ in case you want to make a day-trip of it!  Be sure to comment on this post and let us know your favorite place to get a tree!

Alger Tree Farm, Califon
Species…400 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir
Open…8:30-5 (Sat & Sun), Dec. 2 – 24
908-832-2298
www.algertreefarm.com

Black Oak Farm, Bethlehem Township
Species…900 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Canaan Fir, Mexican Border Pine
Open…9-5 (daily but closed Wednesdays), Nov. 24 – Dec. 17
Also: gift shop, wreaths, trimmings, refreshments
908-537-4133

Brightlands Christmas Tree Farm, Milford
608 Milford-Mt. Pleasant Rd
908-996-4681

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree Farm, Milford
Species…2,000 trees; Douglas-fir
Open…10-4:30 (Fri, Sat, Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 24
Also: wreaths, trimmings, hayrides
908-995-4365 or 610-258-7305

Cherryville Farms, Franklin Township
Species…1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, Concolor Fir, Canaan Fir
Open…9-dark (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 – Dec. 24
Also: wreaths, refreshments, gift shop, trimmings, treewheelers
908-806-4580

http://www.cherryvillefarmsnj.com/

Cole’s Country Tree Farm, Alexandria Township
Species…600 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas Fir
Open…9-5 (daily), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23
Also: wreaths, roping
908-735-5706

Deerfield Farm, Whitehouse Station
Also: gift shop, Precut Christmas trees, trimmings, refreshments, wreaths
908-534-2523

Demicco’s Farm, Pittstown
Species…500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Balsam Fir
Open…8:30-dusk (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 – Dec. 24
908-806-7638

Essig’s Trees, Glen Gardener
Species…200 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir
Open…10-4 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 – Dec. 17. Early bird tagging on first three Sundays in Nov.
Also: wreaths, trimmings
908-537-2706

The Evergreen Farm, Lebanon
Species…500 trees; Blue Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir
Open…10-5 (Fri, Sat, Sun), Nov. 18 – Dec. 17.
Also: precut trees, gift shop, refreshments, Santa Claus visits, trimmings, wreaths
908-236-9550

http://www.theevergreenfarm.com/

Holly Bough Plantation, Whitehouse Station
Open…9:30-5 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23.
908-534-2622

http://www.hollyboughfarm.com/

Jugtown Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, Pattenburg
Species…400 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir
Open…9-dusk (Fri, Sat, Sun), Nov. 25 – Dec. 17
Also: trimmings, wreaths
908-735-5593

Mac’s Trees, Clinton Township
Species…500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Scotch Pine
Open…dawn-dusk (Sat & Sun, most weekdays), Nov. 24 – Dec. 24
Phone: 908-236-2794

Merry Morris Tree Farm, Quakertown
Cut your own: (White Spruce, Fraser Fir, Blue Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Norway Spruce)
Also: gift shop, trimmings, wreaths
908-806-8733

Peaceful Valley Orchards, Pittstown
Precut and fresh cut trees: (Balsam and Fraser Firs)
Also: decorations, wreaths, boughs
Phone: 908-730-7748

Penwell Mountain Farm, Port Murray
Species…250 trees; Douglas-fir, Fraser Fir
Open…8-4:30 (Fri & Sat), 10-4:30 (Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 17
Also: Wreaths, holly, greens or garland, grave blankets
908-763-3064

Rosemont Tree Farm, Rosemont
Species…1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine
Open…9-4:30 (Thu – Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23
Also: Wreaths, holly, greens or garland, refreshments and handicapped accessible
609-397-1809

http://www.rosemonttreefarm.com/

Tewksbury Tree Farm, Tewksbury
Species…500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine
Open…8:30-4:30 (Sat & Sun), Dec. 1 – Dec. 24
Also: Decorations, ornaments, stands and refreshments
973-751-4662

Wildflower Meadows, Pittstown
Species…300 trees; Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir
Open…8:30-5 (daily), Dec. 1 – Dec. 24
908-788-4975

Valley Brook Farm Market, Lebanon
Precut Christmas trees
Also: decorations, live nativity
Phone: 908-236-2959

And for those of you who like to make a day trip of it, check out some of these farms in nearby scenic Warren County, NJ

Apgar’s Cider Press, Harmony
908-859-2988
Open daily 10am-5pm. Choose-and-cut or pre-cut trees, also wreaths and grave blankets made on the premises. Store features fresh cider, preserves and country crafts.

Dutch Valley Tree Farm, Washington Township
908-689-0793
Open daily 9am-5pm, Nov. 19-Dec. 18. Pre-cut and choose-and-cut Christmas trees, wreaths, grave blankets, roping, arrangements and centerpieces.

Evergreen Valley Christmas Tree Farm, Washington                 
609-397-0615
71 Jackson Valley Road…From Washington at Route 57 and 31. Take Route 31 North 1.5 miles to Jackson Valley Rd./Route 628. Make left. 1200 feet to farm on left. Directions from I-78 and I-80 are available on our website.
Species…10,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine
Open…9-dusk (daily) Closed Mondays, Nov. 27 – Dec. 23

http://www.evergreenvalleychristmastrees.com

Hidden Hollow Farm, Washington Township
908-689-5678
Open Friday-Sunday 10am-5pm. Choose-and-cut Christmas trees, Christmas shop with local arts, paintings and pottery, cider and refreshments available. Have an ox pull your cut tree in from the field. They also have some pre-cut trees. NJCTGA member.

Mt. Bethel Christmas Tree Farm, Port Murray
908-852-5811
Open Thursday-Sunday, 9am-dusk, but self-service tagging may be done at any time. Choose-and-cut trees, wreaths, garland, decorations, tree stands, free hot cider & cookies. NJCTGA member.

Mackey’s Orchard, Belvidere
908-475-1507
Open daily 9am-5:30pm. Decorated wreaths, grave blankets, roping & bundled greens, crafts, bakery/farm market with pies, cakes and cider, hot soup on weekends.
www.mackeysorchard.com.

Perfect Christmas Tree Farm, Phillipsburg
908-835-7840
Open daily 9:30am-dusk. Custom wreaths, garland and pre-cut trees; refreshments available and antique Christmas items on display.
www.perfectchristmastree.com.

Well-Sweep Herb Farm, Port Murray
908-852-5390
Visit their Christmas Barn, gift shop and greenhouse, and enjoy complimentary hot mulled cider and homemade cookies. Fresh, hand-decorated evergreen wreaths, sprays and arrangements available. Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm, plus Sundays 12/5 & 12/12, 12-5pm. Various courses offered where you can create your own projects (wreaths, centerpieces, etc.) Registration required.
www.wellsweep.com.

Wyckoff’s Christmas Tree Farm, Belvidere
908-475-4508
Open daily 8:30am-4pm. Choose-and cut, plus fresh cut trees. New for 2005: Christmas Country Gift Store offering wreaths, ornaments and gift items. NJCTGA Member. Due to short supply of trees this year, please check the web site or call for availability prior to making the trip.
www.wyckoffs.com