Christmas is such a wonderful time to remember our Savior, Jesus Christ, and to create memories with friends and family. As moms, a lot of this responsibility of making the Christmas season memorable is up to us! I have created a list of a few of my favorite things that our family likes to do during the Christmas season and some new things we're going to try this year. A few of these ideas may be new to you or you may already do them yourselves. But my hope is that I get you thinking about some things you can do with your families this year to make this Christmas one to remember. Have the kids decorate their rooms for Christmas *I love to see my kids being creative and have an opportunity to contribute to Christmas decorations. Decorate their own Christmas trees Pick out a new ornament together Do a secret service activity for neighbors Create Christmas carols books so we can remember all the words *Christmas songs really bring in the Spirit of Christmas into our homes and helps us to remember what we're celebrating. Sing a Christmas song with the kids each night *Give each of the kids and instrument like bells to play. Set up different battle stations in the house and have a snowball fight with the fake snowballs if there’s no snow Have the kids shop for Christmas presents for each other *I really love the idea of them making each other a gift I just don’t know if that’s going to happen this year. Wrap Christmas books like a present and read a new one each night Paint a wooden nutcracker or ornament Make gingerbread houses *Maybe it' s the lazy mom in me or because my kids are all still little, but I like to buy the gingerbread house sets from Costco. If you have little ones like me this the way to go! The walls are pre-made and it gives the kids more time to actually decorate, they taste good and I don't have to buy a million bags of candy! Trust me it's worth it! Find old toys to donate and make room for new ones Go ice skating Play "Minute to Win It Games" Christmas edition Make Gingerbread cookies * These are seriously my favorite cookies and I have never made them so we're doing it this year! Watch”White Christmas” Make Christmas smelling potpourri with cinnamon sticks, oranges cranberries etc. Have the kids make their own “Find it” game for their friends gift Go see the outdoor lights downtown or drive through the neighborhood Go caroling to neighbors *We used to do this with friends in our neighborhood, and it was some of the best memories I have from Christmas growing up. So get your friends together and go Caroling. Christmas Activity List
Have the kids decorate their rooms for Christmas Decorate their own Christmas trees Pick out a new ornament together Do a secret service activity for neighbors Create a Christmas carols book so we can remember all the words Sing a Christmas song with the kids each night *Give each of the kids and instrument like bells to play Have a snowball fight with the fake snowballs if there’s no snow Have the kids shop for Christmas presents for each other or make them for each other Wrap Christmas books like a present and read a new one each night Paint a wooden nutcracker Find old toys to donate and make room for new ones Make gingerbread houses Go ice skating Play "Minute to Win It Games" Christmas edition Make Christmas smelling potpourri with cinnamon sticks, oranges cranberries etc. Have the kids make their own “Find it” game for their friends gift Watch”White Christmas” Go see the outdoor lights downtown or drive through the neighborhood Go caroling to neighbors
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Thanksgiving at my home growing up was a wonderful time, full of yummy food and great traditions! We always gathered with family or friends and reminisced on the year. Well...I think that’s what they did at the adult table. Being the youngest of five kids my sister and I were always lovingly assigned to the, “Kids Table”. I am pretty sure that I was still at the kids table well into my teen years. Don’t feel to bad for me I eventually made my way to the adult table after I was married and had my first child. I am exaggerating a little, but in memory of all those fun years I decided that this year I am going to devote my attention away from the typical adult formal table and focus on the most important table at Thanksgiving, “The Kids Table”. 1. Buy some flowers fresh or silk and let your kids create the table centerpiece. 2. Buy a napkin folding book and let your kids learn how to set the table and fold the napkins in fun ways. (This way always my job growing up.) 3. Take pictures of the kids showing what they are thankful for or fun memories from the year. Have them printed and place them on their table as a decoration. Let each child explain to their table why they chose that item or memory from the year. 4. Make them feel fancy by getting special plastic champagne glasses and plastic silver silverware at the store. (I actually found some great ones at the dollar store). I also like to buy Martinelli's to make Thanksgiving special! 5. Use butcher paper or chalk paper for your table covering. It’s always a hit at the kids table. If you think ahead you can create word searches on it using Thanksgiving words, draw place mats, or simply have the kids color on it while they’re waiting. It’s always a good idea to have something for the kids to be doing if the meal prep takes longer than expected. 6. Let your kids help with the food for their table. I like to let my kids either wear my aprons or use their own to feel special. When they lose interest after 15 minutes and you need to get the kids back out of the kitchen, send them on a Treasure Hunt looking for Thanksgiving items. 7. Create conversation starters. A couple years ago I wrote questions on slips of paper and put them in envelopes for each of my guests to answer. It made Thanksgiving more than just meal and made the conversation around the dinner table memorable. Also having the questions in individual envelopes made them feel special. (Ex. What was something that you did for someone else this year that made you happy?) 8. Have the older kids organize games to play after dinner like: “Spoons” or “Spot it after dinner. It is always a fun way to end the day! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and you have been able to enjoy these helpful ideas! |
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