Friday, November 19, 2010

Fun holiday idea...What's something fun you have done?

The other day I took the two younger boys to Starbucks for hot chocolate. If you get the "kids hot chocolate" it's $1.00 or $1.25. They make it at "kid's temperature" and we usually have them add something fun, like pumpkin spice or caramel. After our hot chocolate's we headed home to bake some holiday cookies. Nothing amazing, but they felt special... and thought having their own hot chocolate was pretty fun.

What is something fun (simple or not) that you are doing to celebrate the holidays?

11 comments:

Wife. Mother, Friend said...

I work with my kids every year to help them make a new ornament each for our tree. One year I took pictures of the kids, and used green and red foam craft 'paper' and cut them in the shape of a wreath. I cut a circle hole in the green one, and put the picture of each kiddo between the red (as the pack) and green foam 'paper' and glued them like that as a "picture frame" .. then I had the kids dip their finger tips in different color paint and make 'ornaments' on the wreath with their fingers. I wrote the year on the back, and glued a string loop and that was our ornaments for that year.

This year a friend from the NE US sent us a bag of different leaves in their fall colors ... I had each of my kids pick one they liked, and had them think of a favorite Christmas memory. I had them write their name on a small piece of paper and then "KISS" the memory into that name tag. we then put the name tag against their leaf, and laminated them, SEALING the memory forever into their leaf. we punched a hole on the extra laminated plastic, and put a loop, and theres our ornaments for this year.

Every year when we decorate our tree, my kids ADORE picking out THEIR ornaments they have made in the past and putting them on the tree. :)

Jenn

Joseph and Tiffany said...

The kids get a kick out of making Christmas goodies and helping to deliver them to neighbors. I was surprised when one neighbor (we don't know very well) was so touched by us bringing cookies that she cried! I was glad the kids could experience giving the cookies away and seeing how happy it made our neighbors.

This year I'd like to take the kids to the toy store to let them pick out some toys to donate to "Toys for Tots."

The Baker Family said...

Somthing fun for us is we get the video camera out and go over basic information from them like what's your name, how old are you, what are your favorites... and then have him sing some fun songs of the season. We'll have him show us his room and some of his favorite toys. He has fun with it and I get a great documentary of him at the end of each year and all the whole capturing his personality and cute little voice.

jenichild said...

Speaking of hot chocolate- have you ever had steamers? Mmmmmm. Rock n Java has them. It's basically hot, flavored milk. So good and festive!

Cherise said...

Jeni, where is Rock 'n' Java?

AllisonEsplinPhotography said...

Something we do is once we get our Christmas decorations up we have hot chocolate and make our Family Gingerbread house it is something the kids look forward too. I have heard of larger family gatherings where they make it a competition.

One more thing we do is I always have hot chocolate, marshmallows and candy canes during the Holidays and it usually ends up being somthing they have each morning with their breakfast.

Allison Fraclose said...

Cherise, Rock N Java is on Twin Peaks and Coachline, within the Continental Ranch community.

We've only had one Christmas with the little guy so far, but this year I'm determined for us to judge the winter lights contest that they have in Rancho Marana/Solara. Either way, at some point we're going to forgo his bedtime for a bit and take a nighttime walk to look at all the decorations in the neighborhood.

Any other ideas on what to do with a toddler?

Cherise said...

Thanks Allison! I think your toddler might enjoy Disney Lane! It's located on Old Father Rd between Ina and Coratro. We like to go in our pajama's and drive thru. I wouldn't go until the second week of Decemeber to ensure all of the lights are up. Also, my toddler LOVES making sugar cookies. I roll it out, and he uses the cookie cutters to stamp them wherever. You could take it a step further and deliver those cookies to neighbors!

Elizabeth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Elizabeth said...

Over here we love to bake holiday cookies and treats,go look at lights wherever we can find them and watch holiday movies all month long!! And this year we're going to head up north to the polar express!!

NewBini said...

It's not a very simple thing, but we like to go cut our Christmas tree fresh from the forest. We have been going for 4 years now and it's always a fun trip. You can visit any ranger station to find an area & get a tag. Also, you can order a steamer from Starbucks & add a flavor, my favorite is Irish creame.