Loving the Christmas threads... Getting so excited! Anyone want to join me?

[iloveholidays]

As the title says really... I'm getting organised early this year as DD3 due in November and getting very excited. DD1 is 3.5 and DD2 18 months so keen to properly start th Christmas traditions this year.

Going to start a Christmas hamper on Christmas eve and want to plan some christmas activities for December although might be being a bit adventurous with a newborn!! :)

Hello

EdwardorEric - not really set a budget, however my DCs will be 3.9, 1.9 and 2 months so unlikely to spend a similar amount. I doubt the 2 month old will get much at all (although need to get some bits so DD's 1 & 2 don't find it odd) :)

We're planning on a bike for DD1, as she's been totally uninterested in the balance bike we got her last christmas, however loves riding bikes with stabilisers!! Then they'll be the stocking and few bits under the tree. DD2 probably won't get a "main present", just bits under the tree. They don't really have any concept of money at the moment, so I'll be focusing on quantity rather than amount spent (no doubt that will change in a couple of years!!). Personally though, I'd like to keep it all within £200 for them all. (whether it happens like that is another matter!! :))

I'm trying to compile a list of activities to do over December. Thinking of buying a fabric advent calendar (as seem a bit cheaper than the wooden ones) to put the activities in.

i also love the idea of a fabric advent calender, and i've seen one on pinterest with a picture of santa and you glue on a piece of his beard for each day of advent that also looks good, but i need the chocolate ones too though (even DH and I have these each year)
at this rate i'll have 6 advent calenders, where am i going to put them all

WhatWouldVegansDo and any curious parties... my wooden advent calendar 'gamble' arrived (finally!).
It's a good one!
After searching online it's a 2007 issue I think, but whatever, it is delightful
Santa's Workshop wooden advent calendar

Forcookssake - that's fab. I was trying to decide whether to go for a wooden advent calendar but think I'm going to go for a fabric one (mainly because they're a little cheaper).

Going to use it to put in Christmas Activities. Then have a chocolate one for DCs and us :)

Glad the gamble paid off!!

Yes, I've seen lovely calendars made of fabric during my extensive bordering on obsessive searches. I think putting Christmas activities in each day is a brilliant thing to do - shifts the focus of the season onto experiences and events rather than solely about acquiring "stuff". IYSWIM!

I'm really :) that people like the idea of activities too - we did it for exactly that reason forcookssake - to shift the focus onto experiences and events is a great way of putting it. Building memories and all that gushy crap :o

I'm keen to start building memories and as DD1 will be 3.9 this year it seems perfect year to start :) I've started my list although to be honest I've filled in the few weekends leading up to Christmas first - need to start working out what I feel brave doing midweek when DP is at work :)

Any recommendations for a fabric calendar before I take my gamble? There appears to be quite a few on amazon...

EdwardorEricCantDecide - hi sorry I vanished went to view a house and got side tracked.
Got some Christmas decorations delivered today and a few small presents for my sister and some stocking fillers. So feeling pretty festive.

Haha! That's exactly how I did our calendar last year ilove - that's why we've also got lots of 'draw a Christmas picture' when I knew it would be me with the three wee ones alone.

I did collaborate with the kids though, and they loved coming up with ideas too.

Well iloveholidays in terms of fabric calendars, there's a lovely one for ~£20 in Lakeland. I always like buying things that I'll be using for years from Lakeland as they're so so good with any issues that may arise after a long time BUT I appreciate twenty quid might be more than you'd plan to outlay.
Santa with long long legs!
And now I've strayed onto Amazon I am quite charmed by this one too!
GG Christmas Tree

That one in Lakeland is lovely... Have you physically seen it? I was looking at the one you've picked on amazon although think the Santa one is more fun for the kids!

Flubba... I hadn't thought about getting DDs involved although not sure DD1 will come up with that much and also kind of planned it to be a surprise... Nice to have other views though and can think it all through.

DP laughed at me today when I text him to say which weekend we'd be putting up the tree!! :)

Any recommendations for cheapish cards? It's the one thing I hate spending much on at Christmas as personally I don't think people are bothered on the quality of the Christmas card they receive!! :)

Can't write them yet as DD3 hasn't arrived but keen to have them ready... Maybe I should pack them in my hospital bag!! :)

When is dd3 due?
A lot of birthdays stores near us are shutting down and getting rid of Xmas stock. Have Oi got any near you?

9th November so plenty of time and chances are she'll arrive early if DD1 an DD2 are anything to go by!!

I think there is one in our local town, I'll have to pop in. My MIL suggested writing all the cards and leaving a gap for DD3s name but I'm not keen on that idea for couple of reasons.

I recommend card factory if you have one near you they are fab, cards are much cheaper than anywhere else (including supermarkets) and the cards are great quality.

Thanks - I think there is one in our local town, (although not a lot else) so maybe I'll venture in soon.

I watched 'love actually' last night - I am now feeling exceedingly festive

EdwardorEric, please share your activity ideas! Thank you!

cook, that is a gorgeous advent calendar, wow, the gamble paid off. It's fabulous. Enjoy!

holidays, Etsy is worth a look for lovely bespoke fabric advent calendars.

I'm very excited about Christmas, will be doing eons and Christmas Eve hamper.

DDs are 10 8 & 4 so I feel like I've been doing them for years now this year the eldest 2 are in on the whole thing so eons for DD3 will be fun, I have a scrap book to put pics and letters etc from elf to keep for years to come!

I'd like to do My elderly grandparents a lovely hamper this year as we are with thm this year so any ideas are welcome, thinking food and treats as well as things to make them smile.

I need to find:

Whicker hampers
Small kiln jars
Jam jar lids and ribbon
And a cute funky elf for this year.

I'm so excited for Christmas this year, dd will be 4 so will be über excited.

This year our elf will arrive on 1st Dec with advent calendars and christmas books. Then everyday, he will have a new activity for dd to do - making cards, trip to pantomime, baking cakes etc. My craft skills are not great, so if you have any great tips let me know!

sharpobject I love that idea of scrap booking elf letters! I may have to steal it!

I have to say I love the elf idea, but what with the advent activities and probably going crazy (again!) trying to make most of the Christmas presents, I just can't see myself having the time but I do think it's a great idea.

May well be nicking the hamper idea - probably on 1st Dec - especially as it falls on a Saturday this year. I was thinking homemade PJs, a biscuit mix in a jar, some Christmassy DVD and maybe a crocheted scarf or something similar. Any other easy and preferably home-makeable (it is a word! :o) ideas for under 5s?

Hello Christmas fans :o

I'm quite excited too, although things are really crazy at home right now (DH recovering from an operation) so I'm not sure how we will get organised but I am enjoying thinking about it!

Hello Christmas fan here so excited to see Christmas threads already
Settling in for a lurk ands a

whatwouldvegansdo I've only got quite a limite list at the moment but I'm gonna spend some time brainstorming tonight and will report back with list
I've also now decided that I'm going to make my advent calender by sticking 24 cigarette packets onto a big board papier machet them and decorating them just need to find someone who chain smokes

Right, so this christmas hamper idea - are people doing it on Christmas eve or 1st December then? I was assuming christmas eve but I quite like flubbas 1st december idea - the elf can bring the hamper and it can have festive PJs (to get a ful months useage out of them!) and an advent caendar and maybe a christmassy book.