Christmas Countdown 2013 - 17 Sleeps to Go!

Make a Picnic and go to the Carols

One of the key things for making these Advent activities a success in our house is being flexible. On the days that I get hung up about everything being executed in a certain way or exactly as the card says, the whole event is stressful and everyone is miserable. Today was one of those days where we simply had to let go of the plans - two exhausted pre-schoolers at a community Carol Service that runs until 10:30pm really wasn't going to work.

It is good to have a couple of contingency plans up your sleeve in case the planned activity needs to be scrapped. Thankfully Santa helped us out on this front by giving the kids some money boxes to paint when we had the photos taken the other day. Unfortunately, DS was too tired for even that so he gave up on his painting very quickly. DD enjoyed it though, and was very thorough with what she did.

To finish the day off we hired some Christmas DVDs, watched one all snuggled up on the sofa together and then sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
We don't even have many pictures to show as it really wasn't a day where happy snapping was appropriate. 

So to make up for that, here is the Hoff.....

Christmas Countdown 2013 - 18 Sleeps to Go!

Decorate the Mantle

One day we will have a beautiful hall table to decorate, but I have been looking for one that is just right for a couple of years now and still haven't found it. Until I succeed on that front, the rather unattractive mantle above our unused fireplace gets the attention.

It was a good day to do this activity today. The little ones were tired and fractious so having an activity that didn't require too much of them was perfect. Last year we had lots of decorative items that the kids had made at daycare which were ideal for the mantle, but this year it was rather slim pickings. So we had to make do with stuff I had in my decoration stash. 

  
But first off, I had the kids string their decorated cones from the other day. I had some spare beads lying around so we knotted on on at the end of some gold cord and threaded on a cone used a large upholstery needle (because I couldn't find the kid-friendly plastic craft needles that I put in a safe place recently). Another bead was knotted on about 10-15cm above the threaded cone and so we continued until there were 3 cones on a string. 

We hung the cones and then continued with placing the rest of the decorations. Somewhat conveniently I happened to have a box of 3 red felt sleighs that I had bought at Ikea last Christmas. They went perfectly with the little reindeer that I *ahem* splurged on when I took the kids shopping for their decorations the other day. Throw in a few mini candy canes and hey, presto! Decorations sorted.

The most difficult part of this activity was getting the kids to smile for a photo. 

Christmas Countdown 2013 - 19 Sleeps to Go!

Make Gifts and Cards for Teachers

Well, it was mainly a card making exercise as I have been having problems figuring out what to give approx 10 teachers that isn't just junk for them to surreptitiously dispose of. Having said that, I think we are about 75% of the way there now. 

First off the rank today was the fairly boring job of designing the cards. I got the kids to choose some graphics and frames from the same sources as mentioned in this post. They then chose the colours for the frames. At that point they went stir crazy waiting for me to print and cut or trim the various bits and pieces. Due to some very poor organisation on my part, when I was finally ready for them to resume doing their bit, I was unable to locate the very important double-sided foam dots for layering the images. If the activity was to be finished today, we were now required to go to the local crafting superstore.

Before leaving on our expedition, the kids completed one other task - making the artwork for some of our gift packaging (thanks, Aunty Jane, for the clever idea).

While out at the shops, I decided to pick up some "Merry Christmas" stickers to add to the cards as well as procuring the all important foam dots. Once home, it was a hive of industry as the children engaged in some elementary paper tole. I was impressed at how accurate their placement was given their diminutive size.

Applying the "Merry Christmas" stickers was not quite as impressive, but that was one of those things that I tried to let go of (not 100% successfully I might add). I should have realised that if some wonkily (yes, that is a word in my world, I think) placed stickers were bothering me, letting the kids write in the cards was just asking for trouble. My inner-control-freak had a really hard time letting go of the wrongly placed words, even though I know that is what makes a handmade card from a child worthwhile. I ended up hurting my son's feelings and I am not feeling the best about today's efforts.

I am glad that today's activity is over. I think the kids are too. These Countdown Activities are supposed to be fun and this one turned bad in the end. I hope the teachers like their gifts anyway, because even though my mood spoiled the fun, the children still made them with affection. 

Finally, there is no Christmas Song today. After a long and inspiring life, one of this generation's "greats" achieved his final freedom today. 

RIP Nelson Mandela - thank you for all that you have given humanity.

Christmas Countdown 2013 - 20 Sleeps to Go!

Colour in Christmas Cones

Months ago I found these really cool colour-in Christmas cone printables doing the rounds on Pinterest. They appeared to be the ideal activity for a girl who has just spent 7.5 hours at preschool, so they were slated for today. Only problem was that when I went to download the files, I discovered that not only were they not free (just cheap at US$4.49) but I would also need to set up an account with all my contact details etc in order to purchase them. Really! I am not willing to give all my details for a digital download purchase of $4.49. 

So, what to do? Go and consult with my friend Google, that's what. And that is where I found these cool AND free cone decoration printables. The only drawback is that they come pre-coloured, so rather than a "colouring" activity, it became an "embellishing" one. Did the kids care about the change of plan? Absolutely not!

In a fit of uncharacteristic organisation, I actually prepared (almost) everything that was required for the blinging session before I left to collect DD from preschool. 

Fortunately I had the forethought to do a full set of cones for each child. I suspect there may have been blood spilt had they been required to agree on who got which designs. The industry was amazingly focused and there was a lot of glitter everywhere (there still is). DS demonstrated amazing precision dotting his Christmas Tree cone with my not-as-cheap-as-poster-paint Liquid Pearls. He then demonstrated some very "interesting" creativity when he stuck mini googly eyes on top of said Liquid Pearl spots (while I tried to not run off screaming words like "sacrilege").

We had to leave the artworks to dry before we curved them into their cone shapes. That was a pre-bedtime reprisal. If you are going to try these cones yourself, go straight for the double sided tape to secure the sides - I ended up just sticking my fingers together with glue.  

So, now me and my industrious little elves need to find a home for today's creations while you experience the Elves Lament....

 

Christmas Countdown 2013 - 21 Sleeps to Go!

Dress Up for Photos with Santa

There is something that I am not overly keen on with regards to Santa, but I can't tell you what it is. I spent the first couple of years of parenthood trying to avoid Coca Cola's Big Red Fella. But, as with a lot of my parenting theories, this was an epic fail. EVERYONE expects the kids to be au fait with Santa and his role in their consumer driven lives. So unless you want your kid to be a social oddity, it is hard to stand firm on principles that aren't entirely clear in the first instance.

I have now decided to not be such a grinch and I have even started letting my kids have overpriced photos with Santa. However, if I am going to relent to such ridiculousness, I am certainly not going to take it seriously. That's why I fully encourage the kids to dress up.

Last year they went in Elf suits which were very cute. This year, DD got to choose the Christmas Dress Ups back in early November. I was a little bemused when she went the way of the Reindeer, particularly as her costume involves a mask. But hey, we roll with these things!

So, dressed in Christmas T's (which me made as one of last year's Christmas activities) and reindeer headwear, we set off to Santa's "grotto" (well, that would be less "grotto" and more "stage"). Watching people do second takes as they saw DD go past with her mask on was very entertaining. Even Santa was a little taken aback by the outfits - he actually asked for a copy of their picture!

Following the strenuous activity of being photographed, we refueled on babycinos and Gingerbread Santas (there's something a bit wrong with that, huh) in one of the department store cafes. That involved passing another Santa who was equally as taken with my little reindeer.

Thanks to the Reject Shop for having such tacky but entertaining antler sets! Now over to Bon Jovi for the final word...

Christmas Countdown 2013 - 22 Sleeps to Go!

Make Paper Decorations

Today was a Preschool Day for DD so the activity needed to be relatively simple. Along with the two previous activities, this one is a repeat on last year. I have to admit that making paper chains and snowflakes wasn't a particularly engaging activity last year so I thought I might have a few other alternatives up my sleeve. In my travels I found a couple of fun sites:

• Snowflakes
• Paper Streamers

Thinking that streamers might be the way to go, I went out and purchased some crepe paper streamer rolls. I guess I had rather grandiose notions of the play room being heavily decked out in streamer goodness.

What I keep forgetting is that my children's memories are long and they are creatures of habit. As soon as they saw what the activity was they were off looking for paper to make paper chains. We have a good supply of coloured construction paper so they just chose the colours they wanted to use, I cut the sheets into strips, then they got stuck into assembling (stuck - haha, i made an unintentional pun). The construction paper is somewhat repulsive to sellotape so it was a good thing that we happen to have 2 staplers in the house!

  
DS, who is only 3, found the stapling somewhat tricky so he required a fair bit of help. DD fared better and both of them persevered until their chains were about 1/2 a metre in length. From there it was a quick segue into paper snowflakes before I had a chance to suggest anything else.

I hadn't really been prepared for Snowflakes, so I had to do a bit of a rummage in my paper stash. I found some lovely lustered paper and set to folding it, only to find that it was impossible for the kids to cut through. After a bit of head scratching, I remembered that we had kept the tissue paper from yesterday's Christmas ornaments - problem solved (with the added bonus that I now feel like some kind of recycling superhero!).

So, we made paper chains (I finished the rest) and snowflakes (DS required a fair bit of help with the scissors on that one) and there is absolutely no sign of those streamer garlands that I thought would look so pretty. 

Who cares! These activities are supposed to be all about the love...

Christmas Countdown 2013 - 23 Sleeps to Go!

Choose a New Ornament for the Tree

Well, actually, we go shopping for a new ornament.

When the children grow up and go forth to seek their fortunes in the big wide world they will, if nothing else, have enough Christmas Decorations to adorn their own tree. Hopefully they might have a few social skills and a decent work ethic to boot, but those aren't quite as sparkly. 

There is a part of me that actually cringes at the thought of buying decorations. I love how they look etc, but I was brought up in a family with a bit of an environmental conscience along with a disposition towards financial prudence. Christmas decorations, particularly commercially produced ones, really do seem to be an antithesis to such principles. So, I have to tuck my nagging scruples away and indulge in this crazy frivolity, justifying it all by telling myself we will make some frugal, eco-friendly decorations later on.

Today we went looking in 3 different shops for decorations, but DD had already decided where she wanted to buy her decoration from so the first 2 were visited very briefly. By the 3rd shop, DS was more interested in looking at toys so really wasn't very amused with being dragged over to the Christmas display. Perhaps I should have just let him buy a toy seeing as he really gets more enjoyment from flipping the card over than doing the activities anyway.

The bonus of shopping for these decorations after November 30th is that the stores start reducing prices to shift excess stock. I would lay claim to a bit of frugality by doing it this way, but the kids decorations were joined by a few other bits and bobs seeing they were going cheap. Consequently I blew my budget. Oops! 

So, we now have a Santa bauble for DD and a Slinky Dog (that does look suspiciously like a toy) festooning our tree. And while David Bowie & Bing Crosby sing of peace on earth, I hope that perhaps we might just have peace for 5 minutes while we enjoy the tree.

 

Christmas Countdown 2013 - 24 Sleeps to Go!

Put up the Christmas Tree

I have always liked having a Christmas Tree. In my early 20s I bought my first good quality artificial tree along with some matching swags. While I like the smell of a real tree, I have always hated the mess they make and the nuisance of having to dispose of a tree carcass in January. Plus I have a small fixation with symmetry and it is really difficult to get a perfectly shaped tree that stands up to my nitpicking.

 I have traveled a fair bit over the years and I have enjoyed collecting tree decorations. I thought going into Harrods at Christmas time was a bit special until I got let loose in Germany and Austria. Dressing the tree has a wonderful nostalgia as I bring out all of those little baubles of memory.

Keeping the tree "tasteful" and "balanced" is something I love to strive for, but I have had to loosen up my expectations now that I have little helpers. And the little helpers do love to rearrange the ornaments as the season progresses.

So today, we have put up the Christmas Tree. Hopefully that will bring some relief to DD as she has been pestering me about the tree for a few days now.