Week 2

• December 8th - Snowflakes anyone? Take time today to teach your children the art of paper snowflakes! Hang them from the ceiling, or stick them to the windows. Need some help? Check out these websites for instructions on how to make them. http://highhopes.com/snowflakes.html or http://www.papersnowflakes.com/

• December 9th- Teach your children about giving today. Find a store with a Salvation Army Bucket, and let them put in a bit of money to help those in need. And if your children are older and can hang out for awhile, consider signing up sometime this month to ring the bell!

• December 10th- Take time out today during dinner or after to talk about the many symbols of Christmas. There are may websites that have different ideas on what the symbols represent, this is one of my favorites: http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/chr/symbols.html

• December 11th- Gingerbread! Gather up all the fix'ins and make a gingerbread house! You can buy ready made kits in the store, or get brave and make your own gingerbread! For little kids, put the house together the night before, then let them decorate to their hearts content! (recipe and instructions for making a gingerbread house: http://homecooking.about.com/od/specificdishes/a/gingerbreadhous.htm

• December 12th- CAMP OUT! Get out the blankets and camp out under the Christmas tree! A great chance for some fun pictures, and to look at the lights on the tree. :)

• December 13th- Ice cream in December? Sure why not? Make some homemade ice cream (or buy some if you can find it) in various Christmas flavors! Peppermint, Eggnog or even a gingerbread!

Week One

Christmas time is upon us! While the stores have been in full swing with decorations and music since before Thanksgiving, Christmas doesn't get underway in our house until the day after Thanksgiving. This year I decided that my daughter and I would do something Christmas related for the 25 days of Christmas. If you celebrate Advent as well, don't forget to get your wreath ready. There are also several places on the web that have some great resources for Advent as well. I will post things early to help with planning, and getting supplies ready.

Not every idea or suggestion will be appropriate for all ages (like on the 7th), but take the idea and run with it. My daughter will get to watch a Christmas movie that night instead. Another thing that we will be doing is something called La Posada . If your area does this, it is a wonderful tradition to start.

• December 1- Work on Christmas cards. Have your child make hand prints or even drawings that you can turn into cards to send family. (make sure to mail these out in time to get to where they need to go)



• December 2- If you haven't started already, have your child help you with putting up the decorations. My daughter has her own tree with plastic ornaments on it, that she helps decorate. Make it an all day event. Fix hot chocolate and play Christmas music.
  
  
• December 3- Short on ornaments? Now is the perfect time to make some handmade ornaments for the year. Hand prints are always a good one, and many examples can be found at this website :http//www.artistshelpingchildren.org/christmasartscraftsideaskidsprojects.html


• December 4th- Let even your youngest child get into the spirit of gift giving. Make a trip to the Dollar Store today (or any store of your choice) and let them pick out their own gifts for family. Not only will your child feel special getting to purchase their own gifts, but the memories through the years of what they think Daddy needs, will be something to treasure!
  


• December 5th- It's Friday! Find a Christmas light display and go for a drive looking at all the neat lights! If you live in the New Braunfels Texas area, there is Santa Ranch off of I-35 heading to San Marcos!
  


• December 6th- Has your child sent their letter to Santa? Take time today to write your letter to Santa and send it out in the mail.
  


• December 7th - See a holiday play. Does your town do the Nutcracker? If so, get tickets to go. Sunday's usually have matinee prices! In my hometown they are putting on A Christmas Carol. While my daughter is still a bit young for the theatre, you can bet I will be there!