Christmassy things to do!

[Ismeyes]

I am stupidly excited because I have the whole week off work to spend with DD before Christmas. I want to fill it with lovely special Christmassy things to do - I have already booked tickets for Arthur Christmas, will take her to see Father Christmas and we will be seeing a Christmas show too. I need more ideas because I have promised DD (and myself) a stress free Christmas week, I work in a high pressure job, so this is for both of us to really enjoy.

[minicorrect]

Not sure how old she is but how about driving/walking round to look at all the Christmas lights in the area? My DD is nearly 3 and I think she'll love that as she's excited every time she spots a Santa or snowman on someone's house at the moment.

[Alliwantisaroomsomewhere]

How about doing some Christmas crafts at home - salt dough tree decorations, making your own mince pies, doing your own christmas cards. Or watching Christmassy movies at home together...

I have also seen some fake snow in craft shops. I am not brave or stupid enough to try it myself, but you may well be .

[thisisyesterday]

i'm going to be honest and say stress-free for me would be doing as little as poss!
so don't forget to spend some time just chilling at home.

cut out paper snowflakes
chill out with hot chocolate and some (christmassy) dvds
make some mince pies

[PiratecatClaus]

your ideas sound great! i am stupidly excited with you. Looking forward to that week before so much, and am wishing this week away.

Cannot wait to pick her up friday!!

[Ismeyes]

Ah sorry, she is 5.5.

There are not many Christmassy lights around here unfortunately, I tried to persuade DH to let me buy some for our house, but he gave me this look

I think I am having trouble winding down, which means I try to plan lots to do Ok, will get stuff to make mince pies that is a good one and I'm sure I can sit though the Grinch for the 565th time (her favourite christmas film).

I've seen that magic snow, but I'm scared of it! What do you do with it when you have made it?!

[thisisyesterday]

if i had that fake snow, then after i had made it i would throw it all over the children!

yes, you;ll make a helluva mess, but am sure it can be vacuumed up?

[macsaid]

some Christmas baking - something smelling beautifully Christmassy and tasting... well tasty.

Another nice thing is to visit churches which often have lovely nativity scenes/cribs appealing to young children and which also dilutes the over frenetic, commercialised, stressful aspects of Christmas..just a thought

[Ismeyes]

I don't know if it can vacuumed up, I think I assumed it was squishy? Someone must have some magic snow experience!

Baking is definitely on the list, will look up some recipes.

I'm atheist (I know, I know - and I love Christmas) , but DD is obviously undecided so will see if she would like to visit a church, I'm happy to take her.

[Alliwantisaroomsomewhere]

I believe that the snow can be dried and then reused? also can be vacuumed up? Not sure and I will not be trying it out.

How about some really simple pasting sparkley Christmassy things on paper to make pictures or on cardboard to make cards?

[worm77daisy]

Local garden centre to see christmas decorations.

Shopping for a gift

Feeding birds

make paper chains

print paper and wrap presents

ice skating

make crackers

learn and practice a christmas skit or song

elf yourself: elf yourself

[Oubliette0292]

Take her out for hot chocolate and marshmallows (DD loves doing this - especially if DS isn't around and she has mummy to herself)

Go to a carol service (and sing along)

Make your own chocolate truffles - really easy and they make great presents

Decorate the tree together (if you haven't done so already) and hang up the Christmas cards

Sit on the sofa and cuddle under a fluffy blanket while watching something christmassy

[Ismeyes]

I like the bird feeding - she would love that, she is always making 'nests' for the birds and putting them in the garden.

Tree is done, I said I was excited! Do you have a simple truffle recipe?

[Oubliette0292]

Truffles:
240g dark chocolate
150g whipping cream
2 tsp golden syrup
34g unsalted butter @ room temp
cocoa powder to dust

Break up the chocolate in a large bowl.
Heat the cream and syrup gently in a pan - as soon as it simmers pour over the chocolate (you can do this while she is breaking the chocolate into pieces).
Stir until all the chocolate has melted.
Beat the butter into the choc/cream mixture.
Pour through a fine sieve into a clean dry container (I always skip this step and it still works fine)
Refrigerate until set (at least 2h)
Use a teaspoon to create cherry tomato-sized truffles.
Roll in cocoa powder
(try not to eat them before giving them away as presents)

[Ismeyes]

Thank you

[Oubliette0292]

P.S. Really jealous - I'm working all the way through to lunchtime on 23rd Dec :(

[Whatevertheweather]

Make mince pies this is the best recipe ever Sainsburys (and I'm sure other places) do teeny sugar snowmen, Christmas trees, Holly etc to go on top

Christingle Service

See if any of your local garden centres/farms are doing a live nativity with real animals

Buy some Christmas pyjamas and snuggle down with a stack of Christmas dvd's. Must include Elf

Pantomime

Have fun!

[yogabonkers]

i take the kids to any local xmas fayres (spelling?) that are on locally, so they can buy aloadofcrap-- nice pressies for relatives...

[girlsyearapart]

Salt dough tree decorations is what we did today.

Well the first stage anyway..

Have made them before & given them to family as presents.

Kirstie allsop did home made snow globes on her programme the other day- though you needed glycerin don't know where you'd get that?

Ice skating?

[MrsTwinks]

Chemists sell glycerine

[girlsyearapart]

Thanks.
They did actually look easy

[BlueChampagne]

Make a stained glass window with black card and coloured tissue paper. I'm planning to do this instead of a wreath on the front door, as it has a glass panel.

[BiddyPop]

String cranberries and popcorn to hang from the trees outside for the birds.

Make paper chains and paper snowflakes to decorate (her room if DH does that face again!)

Make Oranges stuffed with cloves

Get a few christmassy books from shop or library to read together

Pick a few nice tv programmes/films to watch

Make a snowman/santa/crackers from toilet roll middles

Make potato print paper, that can then be used as wrapping paper for her presents to others

Go for a walk to collect some pine cones to cover in glitter, or find holly to hang etc.

Make cookies for the local police/firemen who keep us safe all year.

Print off a few (free) colouring pages, worksheets, mazes, Christmas crosswords, sudokus etc to do.

Just trying to think of a few things on my list that I have been doing with my almost 6 year old.

[BiddyPop]

Make reindeer food (glitter and oats)

[EatMeDates]

Trying to thing of things we've done or will be doing...

Have a lazy afternoon in watching Christmassy films and eating chocolates
Go ice skating at an outdoor rink
Make decorations for your house
Go into your town centre and see the Christmas lights
Visit a church that has a nativity scene (we arent religious, but I still like to do this)
Go to a carol service - or have your own carol singsong at home?
Buy a Xmas CD or download Christmas songs so you can have Christmassy music
Bake Christmas treats and bring them round to a friend / invite a friend over

[TheHoHoHouseofMirth]

Bake and decorate a gingerbread house?