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!! :)

I addressed all my cards yesterday iloveholidays. I'll write the insides once DS is born (due 15th Nov).

I've been drinking Whittards Mulled Wine tea as I start doing little jobs. Their instant teas were 3 for 2 when I bought it at the beginning of the week.

EdOrEric, I look forward to your activities update. I have collected a few ideas on Pinterest, but am all ears for fabulous ideas.

reastie, from what I've read on here most people seem to do a hamper on Christmas Eve, but we are doing one on the first, a) to start the build up, and b) to get more use out of the festive pyjamas AND we will also do a small box of stuff on Christmas Eve!

I'm still planning what will go in them, but my thoughts currently are:

On the first, the hamper will have:
Elf On The Shelf
Pajamas
Special Hot Chocolate
Festive Bubble Bath
Festive Socks
Template for Letter to Santa and Christmas-Scented pen
Advent candle
and some Christmas books - both story types, and activity types (colouring, crafts etc).

On Christmas Eve a little box will arrive with:
The Night Before Christmas book
A new DVD
A special festive bath bomb
Some festive pants and socks
Something to jazz up the hot chocolate, e.g. Marshmallows and fudge

To jazz up hot chocolate spray whipped cream onto greaseproof paper on a flat baking tray and freeze then cut with Xmas shaped cookie cutters (make sure the shapes are small enough to fit in cups) and put on top of hot chocolate

I can't wait first of December for the Christmas hamper and advent calendar
Those of you who have done it before do you have a real hamper or use big cardboard box?

Wow that frozen cream thing sounds amazing! Do you spray it evenly on the tray so it's flat?

How do you spray whipped cream onto greaseproof paper edward ? I'm trying to decide if you have a fancy pants machine to do it or if it's a typo and you mean spread

Interested to get hamper ideas too (as in the actual hamper itself) - I'm not sure whether to buy a hamper or fashion something myself. I'm tempted to buy one as it will get use every year.

i read it on pinterest, i assumed it meant skushy (sp?) cream you know the cream u get in like an aerosol can? i would imagine actual whipped cream spread would work better too though

yeah so that its flat, i'll try and find it now and link

hope this works

I think I'm going to do a couple of gift bags rather than a hamper although maybe decorate a pampers box!!! :).

1st December - Christmas activity books, Christmas DVD, Christmas story book and potentially PJs depending on whether I get festive ones or just new ones.

Then planning to have another christmas DVD each weekend leading upto christmas.

Christmas eve - PJs if not festive ones, can choose one of the DVDs we've watched, night before christmas (although we already have this), carrot, mince pie and drink, bubble bath, slippers and chocolates/biscuits.

ok here's my list of activities (some of them will be done a few times and they are in no particukar order atm.

make salt dough tree decorations
pine cone tree decorations
mini xmas trees from pine cones
make xmas cards for nursery teachers
xmas cakes
make ice bubbles (go outside when below freezing blow bubbles and catch on the wand until they freeze)
xmas cookies
xmas book
xmas dvd
visit santa
xmas markets
winter walk (there are several different walks near our house)
decorate xmas tree and put up other decorations
build and decorate a gingerbread house
make paper chains
panto
write and post letters to santa
learn a new xmas carol (my DC are still v young)
go to a local xmas light switch on

and all usual xmas eve activities. (reindeer food santa key etc.)

before the beginning of december i need to make my advent calender which i've managed to scavenge boxes from all over the house so i dont need to stalk smokers
and make up my hamper

i've also got some adult only xmas activities, cause some of my tree decorations need to look good
i'm making my own baubles from foam balls covered in wet raffia secured and decorated with pins, ribbons, sequins etc.
i've got a recipe off pinterest for xmas stove top air freshner so i'm gonna do that too.
and make cinnamon pine cones to hang on the xmas tree.

think i'm more excited for xmas than the kids

Giggle giggle @ "adult only activities" :o :o

for my hamper i'm using a big wicker basket (its DD's toy box so i already have it) it will have,
xmas books (most we have but put away after last year, again i get away with this as kids are still really young)
xmas dvds (also recycled from last year)
new pjs
advent calender
xmas music cds
mince pies
letter to santa kit

our elf on the shelf will bring them in the morning on 1st december

hahaha i've just realised what that sounds like

In regards to our hamper I've always used the same pink sparkly gift box, it's rectangle shaped.

I put all the bits and bobs in the box all standing up and propping each other up (1box for all 3 DC) and use the lid propped up behind all the items to help them stand and then wrap it all in florist cellophane and finish with a big bow.

I hope that makes some sort of sense!!

It's like a big florist wrapped bouquet of pj's and hot chocolate

I normally send DC up to start a bath or find pj's etc and then ring a little bell and have the hamper waiting at the front door, it's worked every year and so far I have never been rumbled even last year when DD1 was 9 she was still when she heard the bell

Hamper is for Christmas Eve and eons arrives with advent.

I'm doing a posh hamper for my grandparents this year and would like a really nice reasonably priced wicker hamper, so if anyone knows where I can get one from please let me know!

I have seen wicker baskets in B&M or Home Bargains. Have you got one near you? All the actual hampers are really expensive.
I like the idea of florist cellophane round the hamper too.

I am going to do the hamper on 1st December and in it will be:-
Advent calendar
Xmas PJs
Xmas book number 1 - I need to check that I have got 24 and wrap them
Letter to Santa kit
Xmas colouring book
Xmas DVDs - We have a few. I am going to put them away now

I am intruiged at the adult only activities!

Anyway our list of activities to put in the advent calendar:-
Make paper snowflakes
Make paper chains
Decorate the tree
Donate a toy for a child who won't have any this year
Decorate a gingerbread house (bought from Lidl)
Make a Christmas cracker
Practise a show for the family
Go on a night time walk and look at all the Christmas lights
Make Christmas biscuits
Write letter to Father Christmas
See a pantomime
Watch Santa Claus the movie
Make reindeer food
Ask mummy to check her emails - Father Christmas has sent you a message
Go to a carol service
Read the Christmas story
Make Christmas cards for your family
Learn a new Christmas song

Oops posted too soon

Visit Father Christmas
Go on train to see Xmas lights in Manchester
Make a decoration for the tree

Wow, I am so doing that whipped cream thing! Thanks! :)

Ed and Sharon, thanks for your list of activities! Bring it on! I am getting ridiculously excited!

Not sure what I am doing for the hamper itself. I'd like to find a nice hamper, but if I can't, I'll wrap a cardboard box in Christmassy wrapping paper. I like the cellophane wrap too, will see if I can source some.

Vegan, I have just checked and there is loads for sale on eBay for about £5 per roll. Are you home for Xmas? I don't know if they do delivery to Europe.

Don't they celebrate St Nicholas day on 6th December in Germany? Maybe you could do your hamper then?

Thanks, Sharon. No, not in the UK for Christmas, we want to experience Christmas German style while we are here. I'll look on eBay.de!

Yes, they do! Think we will do the shoe thing and keep it as traditional as possible. Part of the reason we are embarking on a life of travel and adventure, to experience how different countries do things. I'm also going to do the Christmas Pickle, maybe that will be our new decoration for this year!

More presents turned up today... Getting very excited but seriously need to work out where to store them!!!

Tempted to get some wrapping paper and start wrapping... I usually leave it all to the end to get festive but thinking it will be a huge benefit nearer the time if already wrapped :)

ilovehilidays I have wrapped well in advance before and when I got the stuff out from loft/cupboards/under bed etc in Xmas eve the wrapping looke really tatty. I'd leave it till nearer the time if u can

Oh thanks for the advice. I'm not overly keen on wrapping yet, its just with DD3 due in November I kind of feel like I'm going to need all the time I can get nearer christmas although DP has said he'll help. I usually like doing it but maybe I'll just take him up on his offer!!

I'm still pulling together my list of activities for December. :)

We have just gotten back from a weekend in the UK for a family wedding, and I've brought back all the stuff I ordered that I had delivered to the PIL! Oh dear! Books are heavy! Had to borrow a suitcase, as we also had DS's birthday present to lug back (balance bike). I did find his festive outfits from last year and they will fit fine, so that's nice!